Chapter 28
Something was bothering him. Molly didn’t see it in Leo’s actions, but she could feel it. He’d made them breakfast and fed Rose as they chatted.
When Molly decided to get her daughter cleaned up since she’d gone without a bath yesterday, he sat at the kitchen table to work.
Molly had followed suit, working opposite him, but there had been something about those muscular shoulders of his, the set of his jaw, and the way his face sat without his usual welcoming smile that niggled at her.
So when he told her around lunch time that he had to step out, she knew her theory was right. He’d cooked quinoa salad with corn in it, something Rose couldn’t eat; she was too wee to eat corn as it was a choking hazard, and Leo’s mind must have been elsewhere if he had forgotten that.
What’s wrong?
He shook his head while shrugging into his jacket. Just a work meeting. I’ll be watching the CCTV around the house just in case, and—
Could we come with you? Rose has been cooped up in the house for too long. Molly tried for a smile. Johnny already knows. Or there’s a wee green space, on Rose Street just off Sauchiehall that we could go to.
He still didn’t appear convinced. So Molly tried again. We could have a lunch picnic. It’s one of those rare days it’s not raining. Rose is dressed, and it’ll take us fifteen minutes tops to get ready. Now, that was a lie. Leaving the house with a toddler always took longer.
Leo shuffled his feet. Molly, I don’t think— He sighed. I’ll be back later, and we can take Rose out then.
What, in the dark? She crossed her arms. Is this because of our safety, or is it because you don’t want us tagging along?
The man blushed a deep red. Fuck, he didn’t get this flushed even when having sex.
Leo?
Please, Molly. I’ll be right back. And he escaped, practically running out the door.
What the fuck?
She stared at the door, then back to where Rose was babbling away at her dolls. Her daughter was happy, which made the restless part of her calm down. But what was Leo up to?
He hadn’t slept last night. Several times when she’d woken or tried to reach for him in the night, his side of the bed had been cold.
Molly found herself walking up the stairs, baby monitor in hand, before she realised what she was doing. It would’ve been better if she’d just asked what he was up to, but he was shutting her out, and she wasn’t about to be kept in the dark about something that would affect her.
Leo’s study was a mess, worse than when she’d seen it before.
Some files had been pushed to the side to accommodate an old laptop and a notepad.
She hadn’t taken the time to actually observe his desk before.
Now she saw a small picture frame by the pen stand with a picture of Rose, Molly, and Leo taken on one of their rare day trips.
This one had been taken in Oban; the huge folly that loomed over the city sat on top of their heads like a crown.
They were all grinning at the camera, faces bright and happy.
It was the only picture he had on his desk, which made Molly’s heart ache. He truly loved them. But it also meant, apart from his mother, who was gone, Leo had no family.
Molly pulled Leo’s chair back and sat down. She opened the laptop, but it asked her for a password. Even in her previous life, she hadn’t been a tech genius. No, they had done things the analogue way.
So she knew the notepad would be her only source of information.
She stared at it, trying to make out Leo’s scribbles.
Jeez, the man really couldn’t write legibly.
She picked up the notepad, walked towards the window and held it up to the sunlight.
Experiencing sunlight in Glasgow was so rare, she felt guilty for keeping Rose indoors.
BioCon Ltd and chemicals were scribbled and highlighted on the page. And the name Ursula Evans. Lastly, there was a mention of a pound shop beside which Leo had scribbled Sauchiehall.
Ah, so he was off to meet this woman. Why?
Molly’s attention went back to the laptop when Rose let out a shriek through the baby monitor. Molly smacked the notepad down, grabbed the monitor, and raced out the door. Rose?
She ran down the stairs, her heart thudding loudly, guilt seeping through her. She’d left her daughter alone! Her three-year-old who—
Had been making her way towards the front door. Molly swooped down like an eagle and scooped the wee goose up. Excuse me, miss. You’re a little too young to be sneaking out.
Rose grinned back. Out. Play out.
Of course she wanted fresh air. And there was a large yard outside.
Okay, let’s do it. Molly kissed her daughter’s forehead.
Maybe Leo would be angry at them, but hadn’t she taken a vow to not disrupt her daughter’s life or listen to a man’s unfounded orders?
Yet here they were, indoors on a good day.
Rose couldn’t even go to nursery. Sending her daughter to a third party while Johnny was still out there wasn’t something Molly was prepared to do just yet.
As they walked out into the bright sunlight, Molly wondered if it would make sense for Rose to head back to nursery with a guard, in case Johnny decided to pull another stunt. But the memory of the car collision shut that thought down.
No, the only way Molly could ensure Rose had a normal life was to take Johnny down.
How did Ursula Evans fit into all this?
Rose shrieked and toddled towards the green grass, filling the fresh air with her happy laughter. Her daughter had changed so much in the last few years since they’d left Johnny. Not just the changes every bairn went through in these nascent stages, but she’d become a happy wean.
Molly smiled, then lifted her phone to snap a few pictures. She was about to text them to Leo, out of habit, but decided that could wait. If he asked them to head back inside, she would smack the man. So, with nothing else to do, Molly started snooping. BioCon Chemicals.
There was a company called BioCon that dealt in chemicals.
While it was defunct now—they’d shut down nearly a decade ago—they didn’t produce chemicals in the UK.
They stored imports in a warehouse. Their products had ranged from household cleaners to more large-scale commercial cleaners.
That meant they’d been working with some heavy chemicals.
What did that have to do with Johnny?
Molly remembered Alasdair had pointed out that Newtar was protecting Cramer Barker. Perhaps this was something similar, and Newtar had provided security for BioCon? Did BioCon have a folder at Knox’s office? Molly couldn’t remember. To jog her memory, she searched for images of the company.
Rose called for her a couple times during her search. Molly didn’t mind abandoning her work to play with her daughter. With Rose’s laughter filling the air, she herself felt free and loose.
She needed this, more and often.
The sound of a car’s engine pulled Molly out of her haze. Was Leo back already? It would either be him or Neil. Apart from his half-brothers, Leo never had any other visitors. Nor staff, she had noticed. The man might be rich, but he certainly wasn’t comfortable with it.
She turned towards the driveway, a smile on her lips that quickly fell away. The dark SUV was unfamiliar. She pushed off the grass where she’d been sitting and stood so that she obstructed a direct view of Rose.
The car’s engine cut off, and a man emerged from the back. In a fucking three-piece suit and sunglasses, with a clean-shaven face, he looked almost like her old pal Anthony. But the set of that jaw and unsmiling lips were nothing like him.
This man came to a halt at the edge of the driveway, as if he didn’t want to step onto the grass and spoil his gleaming shoes. But he did take his sunglasses off to pierce her with vibrant blue eyes.
Molly sucked in a breath. Those eyes. She knew exactly what they looked like when they came alive with emotion. She had spent the most passionate moments of her life staring into eyes similar to these. This had to be the other brother. Knox.
She couldn’t believe this rascal was here, while she was outside the damned house with Rose running around behind her.
Molly crossed her arms, spreading her legs wide enough in hopes that no one would spot Rose. But the shrieking child was hard to miss as she chased an imaginary butterfly.
Knox’s gaze surveyed Molly, then fell to Rose, before he frowned. Who are you?
I could ask you the same thing. Who let you in?
The other side of the car’s back door opened. The man who emerged from it once more stopped her heart. Johnny.
The fucking bastard was grinning so big his smile split his face in two. It’s easy getting into places when you work for a security company. Didn’t your lover tell you that?
Knox made a sound—whether it had been to shut Johnny up or at the knowledge Leo and Molly were together, she didn’t know. Who are you? Knox repeated instead.
Molly stood with her back straight even though she wanted to grab Rose and run. Showing weakness meant the enemy had already won. She had known that ever since she’d been a child.
Molly. What do you want?
Knox reached into a briefcase he was holding and retrieved a thick envelope. I need to speak to Leo. I’m his half-brother Knox. Where is he?
Johnny scoffed. He wouldn’t tell his whore where he’s gone. Perhaps to get laid by someone whose cunt is still firm.
Molly curled her lip. I see you’re still blaming others for your shortcomings, Johnny.
Knox faced her, the frown lines on his forehead more pronounced. I see the two of you know each other. Well, I’ve to leave for an emergency business trip in an hour, and I need to see Leo before I go.
You might be the CEO, Mr Buchanan, but you can’t summon people as and when you please. And need I remind you, you’ve broken in here. Molly eyed Johnny as if he were dung stuck to her new shoes. With vermin for company.
You bitch! Johnny charged forward, but Knox intercepted him.
Look, Ms… Molly? I need to speak to Leo. He wasn’t answering my texts, nor is he in the office. It’s urgent. Knox stood in front of Johnny, as if that was about to hold the other man off. I need to give him this envelope.
Molly held her hand out. I’ll pass it over to him if it’s so urgent. But Leo’s not here.
Knox stared at her proffered hand as if she was about to prank him. Are you sure?
He wouldn’t have hidden away with this whore to defend him. Johnny muttered, his gaze now on Rose. What have you done with that rat? Guess she needs her real father to make sure she becomes a proper lady.
Molly fought the urge to hide Rose from him or to flinch when he called his own daughter a rat. She has a real mother and a better father figure than the man who donated his sperm.
Knox frowned at Johnny. What’s going on here?
Johnny snickered. Nothing of note. Nothing that’ll last. Once she sees what’s in there, things’ll be just as I predicted.
Molly’s tough exterior tripped. What’s in there?
Reality. Johnny snarled from behind Knox. He stepped away when he realised hiding behind another man wasn’t giving the intimidating effect he’d been hoping for. I told you I’ll get back what’s mine. I guess I’ll be seeing you and Rose at my door soon.
Molly reached out and snatched the file Knox held out to her. Rose and I are not yours. And when we were, you drove us away. So go fuck yourself. Then she turned and reached for Rose, just as another car came racing down the driveway.
Leo leaped from the driver’s seat, rushing towards them even before the car properly stopped. Molly.
’Eo! Rose crowed, then clapped, trying to get his attention. When Leo only came and stood in front of them, she tried to reach for him. ’Eo! I pick flowers. See? She held up a small wildflower. For you.
Leo turned around, his jaw clenched tight. Instead of taking the flower, he pulled Rose into his arms and faced Knox again.
Molly came to a stand beside him, holding up the envelope. Knox wanted to give you this. He’s off on a business trip with his new pal.
Knox looked between them, his face more confused than angry. I didn’t know you were a blended family.
Johnny scoffed. They’re not his. They never were. And after that, they’ll never be his. Then he turned and walked towards the car.
Knox shrugged. Guess there were many things about you I didn’t know. With those ominous words, he got into the car with Johnny and the two of them drove away.
What the hell was that? Molly said, facing Leo.
He shut his eyes and dropped his chin onto Rose’s head. Let’s go inside. Please.