“Speaking of being there, why are you here?” Tom asked, shifting Reine’s weight again as the house came into view.
“Oh, I have a sixth sense for when things are about to get interesting. I’m a connoisseur of human emotions, Somerset, and I know when something big is coming. Don’t worry, I’ve had Brandon pack my soft lenses. They’ll be kinder on your misshapen jawline.”
“Thanks,” Tom said roughly, opening the door to the house and depositing Reine down.
“Ari?” he called out, still marvelling at the sound of her name on his lips. “Ari, where are you?”
A thundering of footsteps came through the hall, and Tom watched as Ari, her face tear-stained and blotchy, snatched Reine into her arms.
“Thank God,” she whispered, holding their daughter close. “Thank God. Reine, where have you been? I was so worried.”
Another thundering of footsteps followed, and Tom watched as Sebastian, Luis and his mother tumbled into the room.
“I was about to call the police,” Marnie snapped when she saw Tom in the doorway. “I was about to call a private investigator. I was about to callCorentin,” she added, and Tom winced.
“There’s no need for that,” he told his mother. “I found her — she’s safe.”
Sebastian and Luis had crowded around Ari, and Tom could see Sebastian checking Reine’s arms for marks or bruises.
“She’s fine, she’s fine,” Luis was saying, “and Margaret Thutcher is okay too. Sunshine,nos asustaste de muerte. No puedes salir corriendo así. Te queremos tanto... nos asustaste. Qué haríamos sin ti?”
He ran his hand protectively over Reine’s head, and Tom felt a streak of anger.Hewas Reine’s father, not this man. He needed to talk to Ari. He needed to make right his wrongs.
“Ari,” Tom said, looking down at her. “Ari, we need to talk.”
She looked up at him, and there was betrayal written in her eyes. Tom winced once more, knowing he was the cause of her hurt.
“Please,” he begged her. “Please, talk to me.”
“I need to be with Reine right now,” she replied, and her voice was cold. “I thought I’d lost her.”
Tom felt his stomach sink and heart grow heavy. She would never forgive him, he realised. He would never earn back her trust.
Or her love.
“Ari—”
“I wasn’t lost,” a small voice broke in, and all the adults fell silent as Reine spoke.
“Qué quieres decir, Reine?” Luis asked, running his hand over her hair again.
“I mean I wasn’t lost. I was talking with my father.”
Instantly, Ari looked up at Tom with sparks of anger in her eyes.
“You told her?” she asked him furiously. “You told her? You told her that—”
“Wait. She was talking withwho?” another voice asked, and Tom whirled around, coming face to face with Sasha.
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Tom heard Stella whisper over the thumping beat of his heart. “Brandon, get my Leica ready. The one with the soft lens,” she added, winking at Tom.
“Sasha—” he began, but his fiancée was staring at him, her arms crossed over her chest.
“You’rethat girl’s father?” she asked incredulously. “You?”
Tom swallowed heavily, turning back to Ari. He needed to talk to her. He needed to make things right. He needed to put her and their child first. He would deal with Sasha later.
He was a moment too late though, for the space beside him was empty. Ari had already gone, and she’d taken Reine with her.
