“And you can call me Granny Sterling, dear,” put in the dowager as she gave me her own air kisses. “Every other bugger does.”
Lily let out a high-pitched, squeaky laugh. Her hand flew to her face, which went red.
“So you’re the dynamic duo who’ve been sorting out mygrandson,” the earl said. “We owe you a debt of gratitude, I understand.”
“I—well, we—it’s Ozzie who’s done all the work. We just?—”
“Clara, honestly,” Lily cut me off. “Don’t listen to her. Clara’s an absolute wonder when it comes to working with the kids with dyslexia and bringing them out of themselves. And Oz is a great kid to have in class. He’s so bright.”
“Yes, he really is bright,” I managed to get out in a quiet voice.
“Well, of course,” the countess said. “I’ve always known that. Jolly good show, smoothing things over with my ex-daughter-in-law, by the way.”
“Rafe,” the earl said. “If Sophia is giving you trouble again, we could consider––”
“Dad, not now,” said Rafe.
I had no idea what Lord Sterling was about to say, but I did notice that sinister quality come back into his eyes.
If I were honest with myself, I would admit that this family scared the bollocks off me as well.
Chapter 23
Slipping through my fingers
Clara
“Your dad wants a word with you.”
I startled at Pete’s voice and spun around on the pavement to face him, fear stealing my breath for a moment. Pete might look scrawny, but he was just as dangerous as the rest of them.
“Fuck off, Pete,” I snapped, skittering away from him. It didn’t matter that we were on a busy pavement and it was broad daylight; I wasn’t safe near any of my father’s men. I turned to walk away, but strong fingers closed around my upper arm, bringing me to an abrupt stop.
“You can’t ignore him, Clara,” Pete hissed, squeezing harder and then giving me a small shake. “You know what happens when you ignore him.”
I yanked my arm out of his grip and took a few steps back, nearly colliding with a suited businessman walking in the other direction. Pete jerked his head towards an alcove next to a shop, and I gritted my teeth but followed him there.
“Like I said, he wants a word,” said Pete.
I crossed my arms over my chest, swallowing down the bile that had risen into the back of my throat.
“The last time I spoke to my father, it didn’t go well for me, Pete,” I said, levelling him with a steady look. Pete looked away and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. I was surprised when colour crept up his neck, staining his cheeks. He knew what had gone down, and clearly, he hadn’t been working for my father for long enough to lose his humanity completely.
“It’ll be worse for you if he has to have you brought in,” Pete said stiffly.
My eyes widened. “How much worse could it possibly be?”
“What happened was an accident,” he said, his voice lacking conviction.
“An accident?” I said, my voice rising with my panic. “My father’s fistsaccidentallyslipped, did they? Pete, he was teaching me a lesson. I’ve learnt the lesson. I won’t go near him ever again.”
“You know it doesn’t work like that, Clara,” Pete said, losing his patience. “You know you can’t just walk away from your family. No one walks away.”
I huffed. “That’s bloody ridiculous. We’re not the Mafia.”
Pete’s gaze sharpened on me. He didn’t reply. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I went over the facts of my situation.
Shit.
