Page 44 of Midnight Revelations

“Where are you?”

“Waiting for Francis. He’s picking up a parcel for Papa and then we’re heading to the townhouse.” I ran a shaky hand through my hair and then sat on it so I couldn’t see the evidence of how I felt.

“I have everyone on lockdown in my apartment block right now. I’ll be over in an hour or so and sort everything.”

“Thanks,” I said in a low tone.

“I will fucking kill that little shit for this,” he almost hissed down the phone. “Don’t worry, cuz, I’ll sort this.”

“Okay. I’ll speak to you soon.” I hung up and let the breath I’d been holding go.

Ash was the one I wanted to speak to, but Xavier was family. If anyone was monitoring phones as Ash suspected, they would be waiting to see who I contacted.

Francis opened the car door a few minutes later and put a large parcel on the backseat. “Let’s get you home so you can get ready for tonight.”

I smiled and turned to watch out the window. Everywhere I went there was trouble. Danger now lurked around every corner. For the first time in my life, I genuinely felt real fear.

Papa was on the phone when we arrived back, so I went to my room, and left Catarina’s purchases in the corner before slumping on the side of the bed. The woman watching me in the mirror had terror in her eyes and her skin was pale. I’d heard Ash talking about Michael and knew he was no angel. The man who stopped me today was handsome and arrogant, the type of person women would throw themselves at. But, there was something in his eyes that sent tendrils of fear pulsing deep into my stomach and made my heart thump a tribal beat of warning.

There was no coincidence that he knew where I was today. Michael must have been following me, and to do that he had to have eyes on this property. That had me running to the bathroom to dry wretch.

Why was he targeting me?

My brother thinks he’s clever, but I know there is something going on between you two. Ash may be untouchable, but you’re not.

What sort of danger was Ash in? And how did he know that Ash had feelings for me? The pictures from the jewellery show flashed through my mind. He was beside me in every one of them. I brought out my phone and scanned through the folders in it until I came to the ones from that night.

One photograph caught everything. I was staring up at him and he was looking down at me, but there was no denying how either of us felt. It was there for the entire world to see.

And Michael had obviously seen it and decided to use it to his advantage.

I did what I’d seen Ash do, I built my barricades up until no one would ever know what had happened. Then I crept down the back staircase to the kitchen to bake since Xavier was coming over and it took my mind off everything.

Xavier said he would sort it, so I had to believe him.

Ash had said to trust him, but I was wavering.

The tears I’d suppressed for the past few weeks threatened to drown me. I gripped the counter and stared out into the gardens with unseeing eyes while trying to remember how to breathe. I was slowly starting to unravel and panic was beginning to paralyse me. I needed Ash, but there was no way for me to reach him.

***

Chapter Sixteen

Lucrezia

“Xavier phoned earlier, he was going to come around, but I told him we had plans,” Papa said as he straightened his tie.

I had waited for ages before getting ready. There was a lump in my throat and terror still resounded deep in my chest. I didn’t want to walk outside that door with the knowledge that someone was watching me.

My phone pinged in my bag and I jumped. Papa’s eagle-like gaze snapped to me.

Xavier:Head up, shoulders straight. Everything is going to be fine.

I didn’t reply, but it helped alleviate the pressure in my chest that Xavier was somewhere out there in his role of guardian angel.

Papa’s driver brought his Bentley around, and we climbed into the back seats. I could almost feel eyes in the darkness watching us, ready to reach out and attack us. I swallowed the lump that refused to go away and tried to steady my breathing.

The charity event was in a five-star hotel, the ballroom set up with tables of refreshments scattered around the edges and music playing softly in the background. Twinkling lights cascaded from the ceiling to give the event a faerytale vibe, and balloons in the colour of the charity created displays in the corners.

---