Page 174 of In Love and Revenge

Everything around me fades into a blur as someone jumps down from the helicopter.

‘Dad!’

He’s almost knocked to the ground as I launch myself at him, flying into his arms.

‘What are you doing here?’ I sob.

His arms wrap around me, the familiarity of a hug I haven’t felt in far too long bringing a flurry of ugly sobs to my chest.

‘I was acquitted.’

‘What?’

‘Got out this morning.’

‘But I saw you at the weekend. You never said anything. How long have you known? How did this happen?’

‘I’ve known, well, I’vehopedit was coming for a while now, love.’

‘I don’t understand. How?’

He squeezes me tighter and I open my eyes, meeting Rafael’s intent gaze over my father’s shoulder.

‘He did this?’ I whisper.

‘He did,’ my father says.

‘How?’

He chuckles. ‘The same way I’ve learnt he does most things. With pig-headed arrogance, and a stubbornness that I bet gets him into trouble.’

‘Why?’

‘You need to ask him that.’

I hug my father tighter, reluctant to let him go, but he eases back and holds me in place with his hands curled around my upper arms.

‘Talk to the man,’ he says, his eyes twinkling.

I hesitate, not wanting to take my eyes from my father for a second in case this is all a dream, and he’ll disappear if I’m not careful. But I drag my eyes from him to Rafael.

Butterflies erupt in my core as molten bronze shimmers at me with unconcealed adoration.

‘Is this yours?’ I ask, gesturing to the helicopter, unable to say what I really want to.I love you. I missed you.

‘I borrowed it from a friend,’ he says, drinking me in with his gaze in a way that makes my entire body tingle.

‘Generous friend,’ I reply, waiting for him to give me something – anything.

‘You look beautiful,’ he says.

I’ve been on shift since 5 a.m. and it’s almost lunch time. My hair’s pulled up into something resembling a nest on my head. And I’m pretty sure my uniform still carries the smell from the last room I cleaned that had a blocked toilet that almost made me puke.

I know he’s wrong. But I also know he means every word.

His eyes flick past me to where I left my father, then back to me. ‘And you look happier.’

I nod, emotion threatening to clog up my throat. ‘I am now. How did you manage it?’