Page 206 of This Woman Forever

“It’s Ava’s brother,” Sarah says, her voice undeniably wobbly. “I didn’t have a chance to let you know I’d let him in.” She walks off as Dan gets out of the cab. The fucker. I’m in no mood for him. And given he’s broke, a taxi from the city is a bit extravagant. In fact, it screams desperation.

“And how are you going to pay for that?” I ask, making him stall as he pulls a card out of his pocket, his eyes studying me.

“With a credit card.”

What am I doing? I haven’t got time for this. I have somewhere I need to be. “I’m late,” I say, getting behind the wheel.

“Wait, Jesse.” Dan’s soon by the passenger door, his face uncharacteristically pleading. I look up at him, and he sighs. “I’m fucked, okay? Totally fucking fucked.”

“You want money from me?” I ask, astounded.

“I need money.”

The fucking bastard. He treats me like scum and then has the audacity to come begging. Lord, please, give me permission to lay the cheeky fucker out. “You disrespect me, try to come between me and my wife, then you have the nerve to come here to my manor and ask me for money?”

“They want paying,” he breathes quietly.

“Who?”

“The loan sharks.”

I slowly get out of my car as I look at my wrist, conscious of the time. So it’s not just legitimate borrowing he’s defaulted on? “Dan, look at my face.”

His eyes lift. Pathetic.

“Does it look like a face that gives a fuck?” I drop down to my seat and start the engine, revving it, taking my anger out on the Aston rather than Dan.

“They’ll kill me,” he says in between revs and, fuck my life, he has my attention. I look at him. Like, really look at him. I’ve seen desperation on a man before. Usually in the mirror.

I turn off the engine and get out. “Is that why you’re here? In England?”

He nods.

“Do they know you’re here?”

Another nod.

“Fuck.” I pull my phone out and call John. “I need you to go get Ava from work. Her brother’s turned up. He’s”—I look at him, knowing it’s with disdain—“in a spot of bother with some loan sharks.”

“I’ve got a feeling this is going to be expensive,” John rumbles, with zero humor. “I’m not far from her office.”

“Thanks. Bring her here.” I walk back into The Manor, Dan on my heels. “This way,” I say over my shoulder, showing Dan to my office.”

“It really is a stunning hotel.”

“Yeah, let’s not get into pointless small talk,” I grunt, opening the door for him and letting him enter before I do. “Take a seat.” I point to the chair opposite my desk and take my own. “How much?” I ask, cursing when my phone rings. I wouldn’t answer, but it’s Cook. “Give me a minute,” I say, checking the desk is clear of anything Dan might see that could lead him to concluding my hotel isn’t a hotel. “I’ve got to take this. Make yourself comfortable.” I answer my mobile, leaving the room. “Cook?”

“Your car’s been found.”

“Where?”

“Abandoned at a waste site in the East End.”

I keep walking, my mind in overdrive. I need some more fucking coffee. “So what happens now?” I make it to the bar and point to the coffee machine, and Mario gets straight on it.

“In light of the Van Der Haus news?—”

“You mean the fact it couldn’t be him.” Who the fuck was it?

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