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“Our building was next to their house, that month was one of the best of my life. I had regular meals, slept all night, paid attention in school as best as I could with everyone talking about my mum and how she was crazy. Kids were so cruel. But I knew when I got home, the Thomas’ would let me play on the computer and I learned about coding, I spent hours learning. My little mind hungry for an outlet. Mr. Thomas said I was a natural. Then one day mum came back, said she checked herself out, it was an accident.

“By this time the landlord had emptied our apartment and we couldn’t go back, he said she was too much trouble, so we left and moved again. This went on for several years, until I was nineteen and we moved to Edinburg, that was the last move. It was there she came clean to me about everything, and I—” he pauses, my head lifts and I can see the tension as he chooses his words carefully. “I learned that the life I was living was an illusion and I vowed to get justice for my mum.” I’m puzzled by his words, I get the feeling he wants to say more, but he doesn’t.

We lay here more exposed by the words we laid bare than the condition of our naked skin.

We fall back into a silence, but this time the lack of noise is peaceful as we drift to sleep. I could lay like this forever.

#####

Cohen

Listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing as she lays curled next to me, sound asleep, dreaming peacefully, my stomach clenches with nerves. I need to be able to walk away from her. The emotions she’s unlocked in me tonight alone scares the bloody hell out of me. The things we bared to each other were heavy and dark, more than I anticipated and it’s left me with an unsettled feeling.

As much as I want to be selfish and stay here, I won’t take her down with me. The plan all along was to bring down James Black, to get back at Piers for taking what was rightfully mine. When Scarlett showed up I had the perfect pawn, I could seduce her and use her to push him over the edge. But it’s me who has been seduced. She’s captivated me since I first laid eyes on her and she’s owned me, since the first touch. And now, it’s so much more than that. But is it enough for her? Doubt creeps in, rearing its ugly head where it doesn’t belong, in the bed, between Scarlett and I.

I lay here, surrounded in her scent, contemplating what to do when my mobile vibrates with a text, before lighting up with a call. I carefully slip from the bed, instantly missing the warmth of her skin as I escape to the privacy of the marble bathroom to take the call.

“This better be good.” I hiss into the phone, angered she keeps pressing me.

“Come home!” She sobs over the line and dread fills my stomach, seems like the decision has been made for me.

“I’m coming.” Left with no choice, I end the call and gather my things, rushing from Scarlett’s bed, her house… but hopefully not her heart.

At least not until I figure out where I’m meant to be.