We chatted until I arrived in the city. After hanging up with Mamma’s promise to come to Ardnoch soon, I felt so much lighter. My relationship with my mother would never be perfect, but I’d finally stood up to her and the world didn’t end.
She was shockingly contrite about the whole thing.
All this time, I’d been afraid to tell her to back off.
It was true what they said. Fear of the thing was often worse than the thing itself. Now I just had to hope that she stuck to her promise to stop commenting on my body.
I was just nearing the parking lot when my phone rang again. Seeing Walker’s name I answered immediately.
“Aria, where are you?”
The fact that Walker had used my first name alerted me. I tensed. “Just about to stop in at the solicitors’ office in Inverness. Why?”
“Turn around and head back to the estate. Don’t get out of the car.”
“Why? What’s going on?” I got into a different lane at the next roundabout so I could turn myself around.
“North received another letter at his hotel, and whoever is sending them is in his room with him right now. I’ve got hotel security heading up to him. But you were implicated in the last letter, so I need you back at the estate.”
Fear coated my palms in slick sweat. “The person threatening North is in his hotel room? Right now?”
“Aye, but security is on their way. Just come home. I’ll update when I know more.”
“Walker—” My voice shook. “Please don’t let anything happen to him.”
“He’ll be fine.”
He had to be. North had to be okay. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Breathe,” Walker coaxed. “Just breathe in and out.”
“He better be okay,” I murmured, tears thickening my throat. If anything ever happened to North, I realized it would change me forever.
He’d already changed me forever.
Thirty-One
NORTH
Barbara’s eyes narrowed as I crossed the room to stand before her. “Dae ye ken who ah am?”
“You’re Darren’s mum.” I stuck my hands in my pockets not quite knowing what to do. She’d always been a small woman, and even when we’d been kids, her face had a rough haggardness that suggested a difficult life. It was worse now, her skin etched with wrinkles. She looked much older than her years. Her hair had thinned to a wispiness, and she’d scraped it back into a ponytail, her scalp visible in patches all over her head. Dressed in a housekeeper’s uniform, I understood how she’d made it this far to my suite.
“You’ve been sending the letters.”
“Aye.” Her hatred seeped from her pores.
“Why?”
“Tae fuck wi’ ye.”
“You’ve been following me? Found out where I lived?”
She nodded. “Ah leaked the story tae the press and thought, finally, ye were gettin’ whit ye deserved. Ah even stayed in Ardnoch, jist tae make sure ye were miserable. But thensomeone posted that lying video online aboot ma Darren, and ye started tae get yer career back.”
I stiffened, rage simmering in my gut. “Did you drive that Defender into me and Aria?”
Barbara lifted her chin. “Ah did.”
