“I can’t?—”
“You can,” I snap. “You will.” My presence in her life has made her a potential target for Loughton, and I’m not having anything happen to her. Even in disarray, they’re close—only over the border into Essex—and capable of doing something reckless. It’s bad enough that she wants to go to work. The thought of something happening to her makes me feral.
“I really should go to the police.” But it’s not a sincere threat, because she’s half smiling.
“And tell them about this terrible man who is providing you with free luxury transport to work? What will you be trying to do? Make them envious?” Besides, there’s no way the police would do anything about me. Most of them are on my payroll in Woodford.
It’s definitely a smile now, as she shakes her head as though to say, “I can’t believe you”.
And when she leaves for work after having a cup of tea, I admit, I regret not doing more to keep her with me rather than allowing her to go to work. I’m impatient for my little nurse to come home.
5
CALLIE
I wish I could say that my job keeps my brain busy so I don’t think about Reid, but he’s in my head the whole time. There are a few questions from my friends at work about what’s going on with my accommodation, and I mutter an excuse about a renovation project, and they accept it with only a few confused side-glances. I don’t dare tell anyone I’ve been kidnapped in my own home. Reverse-kidnapped? Because Reid has been understanding, but underestimating how dangerous he is could be fatal. I can’t put my friends at risk for something that will be done in a few weeks.
When I walk out of the hospital after my shift, a sleek black SUV—the sort that’s in adverts driving through muddy puddles and up mountains—is waiting for me.
“Please, Miss Flowers,” he says when I glance to the side, thinking about bolting to outrun him. And go… Where? “Maddox will be unbearable if I let you walk home.”
I rub my forehead, and groan. Apparently, being involved with a mafia boss means he takes over your life. He has, after all, basically kidnappedme.
But I admit, it’s nice to be driven home in luxury at the end of a long shift.
Then I walk into the house, and for the second time in two days, I blink in disbelief.
“Oh hey.” Reid looks up from a laptop.
“What are you doing?” I’m distracted from the fact the whole lounge has been renovated, including opening up an arched doorway into the dining room, by my patient typing with both hands.
“Dealing with some payments.” He takes me in with an intensity that fizzes over my skin.
“You’re overstressing your arm.” I’m in front of him in a second, and it’s only then that I realise he’s replaced the scruffy dining table with a sleek marble one that’s set for two, with hotplates and covered pots in the middle and a bottle of wine. “And what are you doing to the house?”
I point at the lounge, at the table, and then notice the wooden floor.
“Some upgrades for you,” he replies smoothly. “Are you hungry?”
“I…” I am incapable of lying. Because I’ve just finished a long shift fuelled by snack bars and coffee. I’m starving. Of course I am. He might be controlling and basically a kidnapper, but he’s offering me food.
And I think I’d struggle not to accept anything this man offered me.
6
REID
“This is amazing!” She looks at the dinner spread on the table, and her eyes sparkle.
It’s just a normal sort of meal for me. Steak, potatoes, salad. Some vegetables. Butter and sauces and herbs on the side. And I realise at that moment that spoiling Callie will be such a joy. She’s a good person, who cares, and works hard, and deserves nice things done for her.
We sit down and eat, and I ask her about how her shift went. It’s all quite careful and considered. We don’t go into any deep topics or awkward conversations. I’m wearing the sling, because it pleases her, and although my arm throbs with pain, the most annoying thing is not being able to properly do things for Callie, even if it’s just passing the salad.
She seems happy with the house renovations, and I mentally tick through the other improvements that will make it more comfortable for us.
Us? Like we’re a couple?
Hmm.
