Page 62 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

But now we do know. He has one hell of a shock coming.

It’s been a long week since I got home. Sutton has been hovering over me like a mother hen. Mum has been making me her special T Tea. She thinks I’m not telling her something, but I’ve told them everything. Well, everything but… you know what.

I’m fine. Kara has been a great help keeping me distracted because she’s so worried sick about North that she’s driving everyone else mad. They talk constantly on the phone or by text, so I know he’s okay. I’m worried, too. He is my brother, after all, but I know Zed will keep him safe even if he has to sacrifice himself. And that’s where it sticks in my throat. I know he would give over his life without a second thought.

Me and Zed? We’ve communicated most days by email but only when he needs me to gather some data or track some GPS. It’s just like old times. It’s like the real-life Zed does not exist anymore. The emails are short and never personal.

Zed.O’[email protected]

[email protected]

Subject: Data Required

Can you please track the GPS on the Black BMW X5 Reg “MC 869654”? I need to know where it has been over the last week. All of the trips and any stops. Can you look out for any significant pattern?

Z

[email protected]

Zed.O’[email protected]

Subject: Data Required

Please find attached file

That is all. I do what he asks, but I’m desperate to know if he’s okay. I take after my brothers; I’m stubborn. I’m not asking him. He was the one who left and didn’t look back. So, he must be okay. Right?

I’ve had the same dream every single night since I got home. Even though no one has woken me up, I still haven’t seen who it is at the end. It’s driving me mad. All I want to do is go to bed and sleep in the hope that tonight might be the night I find out.

And Margaret, well, you probably guessed it, is staying with us. This house was once too big, and it was like a museum at times, but now it’s a little claustrophobic.

Mark, who was my dad’s best friend, has moved in with Mum. Danika, his daughter, is always around. Mark also happens to be Sutton’s long-lost dad, and Danika, of course, is her sister.

Sutton, West, and their triplets are taking up a huge portion of the house, and they have two nursemaids, too.

Then, there is Daisy. She is one hell of a character. A typical moody teenager who for no good reason, hates Kara with a passion. I just haven’t worked that one out yet. She came to stay with us when her mother stupidly tried to drug North in a misguided attempt at helping Jaxon, Sutton’s ex who tried to kill her. That was when she met West. Jaxon was involved with Raphael, and we thought he was the only living relative until now.

Have I confused you yet? I am totally confused. My family is like a soap opera.

Oh, how could I forget South? He’s gone to help Zed and North. He took one look at me and ran. I wanted to tell him I forgave him and that I understood why he did what he did, but I just couldn’t find the right words.

He probably thinks I hate him. I don’t. I couldn’t. It won’t hurt for him to have some reflection time, though.

Another week passes, and West flew out to Mexico yesterday. Things have heated up and, according to Kara, they are really close to apprehending Matias. With any luck, it’ll all be over soon. My only worry is all four men are out there together, and they might just walk right into Matias’s trap.

Chapter 26

Zed

Thisbloodyplaceisdriving me to drink. Well, not the place but the company. West arrived yesterday and started ordering everyone around which is fine, but he needs to remember this was my operation first. He didn’t want in until he thought it would get him a couple of full nights’ sleep. I don’t know why he came. He must have spent the last twelve hours on and off video calls with Sutton and the girls.

North is either searching for intel or on his phone with Kara with the occasional call to East.

South is just a moody fucker who won’t even pass the time of day with you. I don’t know why he’s here either. It’s like being stuck in the middle of a really bad soap opera.

Apparently, they all want to chop Matias’s dick off. I haven’t told them that East probably put him out of action permanently anyway.

Mac explained to me how when he picked East up, Matias was holding his groin area and breathing like an overweight jogger.

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