Page 31 of The Devil’s Lair

“Yes.” He drops a wry smile. “That probably sounds like boasting, but it’s all I know. All I’ve ever known.”

“Not boasting at all. Just stating the facts. It must’ve been something else growing up here as a kid.”

“It was, for a time. Then Annabel and Xan were kidnapped, and everything sort of went sideways from there.” His face twists in pain, and he turns his head to the side as though to hide his grief from me.

I let him have the private moment, turning my attention to Isla. “I’m sorry. No child deserves to suffer like that.”

“No.”

I’ve taken a couple of steps when I realize Tobias has stopped. I pivot.

“I will make this go away for you, Rebecca. For you and Isla.”

“Money doesn’t solve every problem. If the law thinks I’m unfit, they will take her.”

“Not happening. Trust me.”

I release a steady breath. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think I’ll ever trust another man.”

He nods. “That’s fair and understandable in your circumstances.”

I half expect him to trot out some trite comment like, “You’re young. You’ve got plenty of time to fall in love again.” He doesn’t say any of that. It surprises me then that I offer context he hasn’t asked for.

“In Isla, I have everything I need. I don’t think I could bear another man to touch me. I’d be too afraid that they’d hurt me like Marcus did.”

An odd expression crosses his face, vanishing a second later. “Also understandable.”

We continue walking, lost in our individual thoughts. At the brow of the hill, the fields dip toward to a stream. Isla’s already half way down.

“Isla, stay away from the water!” I holler, hurrying my steps. Tobias’s loping stride keeps up with me. “She can’t swim,” I add.

“We have a pool here. I can teach her if you like.”

I say nothing, and he chuckles.

“What’s so funny?”

“Your face says it all. You’re wondering what my agenda is, despite me having already told you.”

I can’t deny it, so I still say nothing.

“You’re a smart woman, Rebecca. It’s natural to be suspicious. That’s your instincts keeping you safe.”

Shame they didn’t work five years ago when Marcus came into my life.

After guiding Isla away from the stream, we fall into step again. Already, I’m changing. The strength Marcus robbed from me is slowly rising from the ashes. Surviving an absent father, an alcoholic mother, and a jailbird brother builds resilience, but Marcus stripped that away until I was a shell—a hollow vessel I didn’t recognize. Now, the woman I thought was gone forever is peeking from behind the curtains and realizing it may be safe to come out.

If Tobias means what he says, and he can get Felicity and the press off my back, then Isla and I can move away. Start again somewhere fresh and rebuild our shattered lives.

I’m lost in thought when Tobias quietly asks, “Was Isla born non-verbal?”

Pain lances through my chest. I halt my steps and squeeze my eyes closed as Isla’s voice rings in my ears. Her sweet baby voice, which I haven’t heard in over a year.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Forget I asked.”

I meet his concerned gaze. “It’s fine. It’s a natural question. No, she wasn’t born this way.” I check where Isla is, and see she’s far enough away for her not to hear me. “She spoke until she was three. Then, one night, she walked in on Marcus beating me. I remember telling her to go to her bedroom, hide beneath the covers, but it was as though she was frozen. Then she burst into tears and started screaming, begging him to stop.”

Daddy, stop. Please stop. Mummy! Mummyyyyyy!