Page 52 of The Redemption of Alex Cade
“I’m here,” I whispered against his skin. “I’m always here.”
He didn’t speak, but the tightening of his hold told me everything I needed to know.
I refused to think about what had been or what was to come. For now, there was only this, us, wrapped around each other in the silent darkness of the night.
CHAPTER THIRTY
KIT
“I’m going to see Henry Parker again. I’ll be with him all day, probably into the evening, too, because there’s a lot to sort out. Look, are you sure you’re going to be all right? I wish you’d stay at my place,” Alex said, impatience in his voice.
“I won’t be forced out of my own home.”
Alex had urged, pleaded with me, to move in with him; he wanted me safe, he’d said. I’d been tempted, there was no denying it. But I’d said no, because even though I imagined the stench of Kelvin still lingered, even though I didn’t think I could feel about my home in the same way ever again, I refused to let him force me out. Stupid maybe, stubborn certainly, yet if I scuttled off to Alex’s, Kelvin would have won and I couldn’t let that happen.
The enhanced security was the compromise Alex had begrudgingly given in to, and he’d arranged it all with just aquick call. He’d come back with me to my place, telling the workmen when they arrived exactly what he wanted. An alarm, better locks, and one of those doorbells that showed you who was at your door via an app. They’d been fast and efficient, and we’d waved them goodbye less than half an hour beforehand.
My little suburban house had turned into a fortress.
“Come back here tonight,” I said to Alex, roping my arms around him. “I’ll cook, we’ll watch a film, and if the little sod turns up, you can give Buster a cuddle.” The fluffy, ginger cat wasn’t the only one who was going to lavish attention on him. “Take this.” I dug into my pocket and held out the spare key to the new lock. My heart thundered as he looked from the key lying in my palm, to me, and back again. A key to a door, but it was so much more.
Taking the key, he smiled, attaching it to his own set. He kissed the top of my head, nestling briefly into my hair, thanking me in a way that meant so much more than words. Promising he’d call me when he was on his way over, I watched him drive off, only going back to the house when the car turned a corner and disappeared out of sight.
As soon as I closed the door, I wanted to get out. The alarm panel was small and discreet, but the pulsing light felt too much like mockery. On the front door, the new, thick, heavy chain gleamed a dull grey, just as the heavy duty deadbolts, at the top and bottom of the door did. I hugged my arms over my stomach and around my waist. All the new security, which was meant to reassure me, was making me panic. I couldn’t stay in. Grabbing my coat, keys, wallet and phone, I set the alarm before slamming the door shut, locking up, and getting aways as fast as I could.
I spent hours at the reserve, the same one I’d dragged Alex to.
A bright, clear day this time, there was more to see and my mind soothed and calmed as I watched the waterfowl dipping and diving in the lake, or pecking along the muddy shoreline. The reserve wasn’t busy, but the old guy who’d been so outraged by Alex’s comments was in the same spot as though he hadn’t moved, and eating the same smelly fish paste sandwiches.
Watching the wildlife, walking the reserve, feeling the winter sun on my face, and with only the breeze and the plaintive cry of the birds in the air, I was able to think clearly.
Everything would get sorted. That was what Alex was doing, holed up with this Parker guy. There was nothing Kelvin could do to stop Alex from walking away. I didn’t underestimate what this was costing Alex, how much it was hurting him, but I’d be with him all the way. Just like I’d be with him later, doing what ordinary couples did even if there was nothing remotely ordinary about our situation.
I looked at my watch; it was time to go home, where I’d wait for Alex.
It took me longer than expected to get home. The first train had been cancelled, the second one so slow it must have been pulled along by a couple of ants, but, at last, I was back. Outside my door I paused, hesitation gripping me, before I put the key in the lock, and rushed inside to turn off the alarm before it could screech into life. I listened hard for any sign there was another in my house, hating Kelvin for what he’d done to me, but I knew instinctively I was alone.
There had been no message from Alex. I thought about calling, but if he was still with Parker, untying all the knots ofhis life with Kelvin, he’d not want to be disturbed. It was enough to know he’d be with me later.
I needed to get dinner on, something simple that would keep well without spoiling as I had no idea when Alex would show.
“Bloody hell.”
I peered into my fridge. A few veggies which were past their best, some dried out cheese, half a pot of yogurt, and a couple of rashers of bacon. Swearing, I pulled my coat back on, picked up my keys and wallet and set off. The shop was only a few minutes away, and I could be there and back in no time. I set the alarm before I left and double locked the door before I headed off into the deepening gloom of late afternoon.
The shop was busy. Picking up everything I needed to make a spicy chicken stew, I then spent more time than I should have choosing which chocolate bars to buy. An elderly lady decided, with a long queue behind her, that it was the perfect time to tell the cashier her entire life story, before declaring she’d forgotten something, and would only be a minute…
By the time I got out it was fully dark. It was also windy and as I set off towards home thunder rumbled overhead and the heavens opened. Christ. More rain. It never seemed to stop, and it was coming down in buckets.
I’d come the long way around, along the busy and well lit main road, but I’d had too many soakings recently and instead of returning the way I’d come, I turned into a side road and headed towards the narrow alleyway which lead onto my little estate, the same alleyway which my sensible, sane self would avoid like the plague at night, my need to get home and out of the pummelling wind and rain overriding everything else.
The light from the main road soon faded, plunging the alleyway into near darkness. I’d made the wrong choice, I knew it when I made it, but I told myself that nobody, least of all muggers and drug dealers, would be in the alley on a night like this.
Yet, I was.
I picked up my pace, but the ground was slippery underfoot, the earth turned to mud, hampering my progress as much as the protruding tree stumps did. Catching my toe on one, I only just managed to keep upright but I dropped my bag and the contents spilled out. Swearing loudly, I groped around, stuffing my wet and muddied purchases back into the bag as fast as I could, anxious only to get home.
A thunder clap exploded overhead, but it wasn’t loud enough to disguise the faltering, lumbering steps and the heavy panting that were coming up behind me. For a second I froze, before I swung around, my heart in my mouth and the hair on the back of my neck standing up on end.
