“I think she wants something and she’ll do what she needs to get it.”
I feel Blair’s lips against my skin, a kissed pressed to my chest. “What do you think of Ivy.”
“I’m glad she’s not my sister.” Although I’d still swap Ivy for mine. “Isaac’s had his hands full.”
“She’s told me. Her pirate should be here any time soon.” She pushes herself up so she can see me.
“He’s staying for a week.”
Blair nods. “Which you know. Because you’ve done around forty-two thousand security checks. Which means Isaac will probably visit.”
“Maybe.”
“Do you think he’ll want to watch again?”
I hear the excitement in her voice, notice how her legs part and I imagine him behind her now as she rode me. Both of us. All of us.
“Yes. I think he would.”
* * *
A sharp rap at the door wakes us before sunrise. I recognize the knock immediately: Franklyn, the man who’s looked after Blair since she was a girl. He sees everything and says nothing. I know nothing about him, because it appears there’s nothing to know. Everyone has their skeletons, just Franklyn’s are kept better hidden.
“Blair?” He cracks open the door and peers through before entering.
Blair’s still asleep, her head on my chest. Franklyn has found us in less savory positions before now.
“Blair,” I start to try and wake her. The slight pinch of light through the curtains shines on Franklyn’s face and I see that his expression is grim. “You need to wake up. Franklyn’s here.”
Her eyes flutter open and she sits up, the sheet covering her breasts. I sit up with her, put my arms around her because I have a feeling I know what’s coming.
“Your father’s taken a turn for the worse. An ambulance is on its way to take him to hospital. Your mother thought you should know.”
“I’ll be with him in five minutes.”
Franklyn nods and leaves, the room becoming full of fear. There are no words I can give her that will make it better. There’s nothing I can do to change the inevitable.
“I’m going to head to the stables. I’ll be there if you need me.”
She nods as she pulls on a hoodie. She has no words either.
Chapter Ten
Seven years ago
“Do you see what they’re planning to do?”
My sister isn’t asking for an answer, just a nod. She doesn’t want to hear what I actually think. She wants me to agree.
“They want to control Scotland again. That can’t happen. The country’s poisonous.” She shakes her head and then takes a long inhale of the cigarette that she rolled herself earlier. “Iain understands that.”
Who’s Iain?” I didn’t want to actually know. My sister’s choice of lovers had never been something that held my interest.
“I met him at a protest last month. I think you’d like him. He lost a parent like we did.” She looks wistful.
“How did they actually die?”
“His father was from Russia and had to leave England because they refused him citizenship. He wouldn’t leave and one of the pro-English groups set on him. He died of his injuries.” She looks almost happy at the story.
