Chapter 73
Olivia crouches down beside Emil, who is lying on the sofa. She isn’t sure if he’s asleep, and gently touches his shoulder.
He opens his eyes. His gaze is so unfocused that at first she wonders if he recognizes her, but then it’s as if his mind clears.
“Hi. I guess I fell asleep.”
“How are you feeling?” Olivia whispers, even though they are alone in the living room.
Amir has gone up to bed, and William is in the bathroom. It sounds as if he is brushing his teeth; they can hear him through the wall.
Olivia wonders briefly if he is mad because she refused to spend the night with him, but decides she doesn’t have the bandwidth to think about that.
She’s had enough for today.
“Better,” Emil replies. “But very tired.”
His voice is still rough and hoarse. He is noticeably pale and doesn’t look good at all, in spite of his claim to the contrary.
“Shouldn’t you go to bed instead of staying here?”
“Probably.” Emil closes his eyes and makes no attempt to move.
“I’m going back to the cabin,” Olivia says. “See you tomorrow.”
Then a thought strikes her. She can’t get Pontus out of her head. What if he wakes up during the night, still as angry as he was earlier, and attacks Emil again?
What would happen if Emil were asleep, with no chance of defending himself?
It doesn’t bear thinking about.
Emil might be prepared to play down what Pontus did, but Olivia is not. If she’d had her way, they would have called the police and asked them to arrest him.
Pontus should be locked up.
“Why don’t you come over there with me?” she suggests. “You can sleep in the other room.”
Filippa’s room, she thinks, and is overwhelmed by a wave of grief.
Emil nods wearily. “Would that be okay?”
“I’d appreciate the company,” she says, and realizes it’s true. She doesn’t want to be alone after this dreadful day. She wants Emil to come with her, as much for her sake as his.
They are in the hallway, putting on their boots, when William emerges from the bathroom, still holding his toothbrush.
“Where are you going?” he asks Emil.
“He’s staying in the cabin with me tonight,” Olivia informs him. She has no intention of providing any further explanation—William will have to be satisfied with that.
However, he is not happy with her decision. She can see it in his expression; she feels his eyes on her as she walks out through the door with Emil right behind her.
The back of her neck is burning.
William is used to getting what he wants.