From behind the steering wheel, I watch as Hardcastle staggers to his feet, his hands still clutched to his stomach. As I gun the engine, he scoops up the camera bag. He shuffles to the stairs as I head down the alley, and in the rear view I see him tentatively take the first step up to his flat.
Right then. That was incredibly stupid and risky.
I know I shouldn’t have done that. But if Hardcastle learned his lesson, it’ll be worth it.
16
MIA
Darkness has welland truly fallen, but Dom still hasn’t come by. It shouldn’t make me feel this sad, but it does. I don’t understand what he had to do that was so important right then and there.
Char brought me home and fussed over me, washing the blood off my skin and rinsing it out of my hair. She insisted on helping me get dressed, as though I was bound to faint at any moment.
“It’s just a bump on the head, I haven’t lost any limbs,” I’d told her, and she’d told me to shush and that I needed looking after.
She made me some dinner and I picked at it, not feeling nauseous exactly, but my stomach was in upheaval all the same.
“Where is he?” I mutter as Char stacks the dishwasher and puts the kettle on.
“Who knows, he said he had something to take care of.”
I look over at her, and she’s pointedly not looking at me. I was still foggy at the hospital, but now my brain is mostly functioning again and her meaning settles in.
“He hasn’t,” I snap. “Oh my god, tell me he’s not going to beat the shit out of Paulie Hardcastle.”
Char straightens up and wipes her hands on a tea towel. “He never said that exactly. He simply implied that-”
“He’s going to beat the shit out of Paulie Hardcastle.” I tip my head back with a groan. “Fucking hell, this is the last bloody thing we need.”
“Dominic might have a very diplomatic way of dealing with it.” Char gives me a pointed look. “You shouldn’t assume he’s just going to go and use his fists.”
Tank starts yapping, and in the distance, we hear the door opening.
Char gestures with an open hand. “See? He’s here. No time for beating the shit out of someone.”
I frown as Tank growls. “But he doesn’t have a key.”
Tank comes scurrying in, growling and huffing. And a few steps behind him… is Archie.
“Hi babe,” he says with a smile.
“You are fucking kidding me,” Char exclaims, rounding the counter. “How dare you show your face here!”
Archie chuckles and rolls his eyes. “Nice to see you too, Char.”
“Don’t you give me any lip!” Char is up in his face now, Tank behind her growling and snuffling, like an army of two defending me from my returning husband. “You have no right to be in this fucking house.”
Archie is completely relaxed, his hands in his pockets, and he looks down at Char with a non-plussed expression. “This is my house in case you’d forgotten.” He looks over Char’s head, at me, and gives me a crooked smile. “I missed you.”
“Are you joking?” Char’s going to kill him, I know she is. “Get out!”
“Char, it’s alright.”
She turns to look at me, eyes filled with rage, and I wave a hand.
“Really, it’s alright.” I give her a smile and nod.
She spins back to face Archie and I can feel the anger rolling off her.
