TWENTY FOUR
Luke
Mia remains upset after the brunch with her parents. She tries to put on a brave face, but I can see right through her. Tegan and I cook her a nice dinner and we stay in and watch rom-coms. Mostly I sit back and let the girls talk, but there’s a glow in my heart that matches the glow in my tentacles when Mia insists on staying snuggled up with me on the sofa the whole time.
The next day, I play tourist and she takes me to Manly, and we walk along the wharf. It’s nice, but it’s no Kraken Cove. I don’t think either of us has our heart in it. I’d love to swim, but when I scan the beach, I see only humans. I don’t know how people would react to me shifting in broad daylight.
Later that night, Mia has just hopped in the shower before we head to bed when a message from an unfamiliar number pops up on my phone. Frowning, I open it, assuming it’s just a wrong number.
Unknown number: This is Stephen Sinclair, Mia’s father. I got your number from Oliver because there’s something you and I need to discuss urgently. It would be in your best interests to meet me in half an hour. And don’t let Mia know
Nothing about this message sounds good to me.
Normally, I wouldn’t keep something like this from Mia, but the weary look she gives me when she comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, with her wet hair clinging adorably to her face, is enough to give me pause.
She’s stressed about working things out with her parents as it is, and she has to go back to work tomorrow. What if this is something I can nip in the bud and leave it off her plate?
Decision made, I find my boots and slip them on. “Hey, I’m just going out for some fresh air, OK? You want me to pick you up anything at the store?”
She shakes her head. “No, that’s OK. Are you sure you don’t want to come to bed with me?”
I smile a smile I do not feel right then and lean in, kissing her softly. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait up.”
A crease forms between her brows, but she slips into her pajamas without questioning me further. I guess it’s a good sign I haven’t blown her trust yet the way Oliver did. And a good reminder not to .
I’ll meet her dad and find out what he wants. Then, if I need to, I can fill in Mia when she’s had a good sleep. No need to disturb the rockpool now.
Shutting the front door behind me and zipping up my hoodie, I text Stephen back.
Luke: I can meet you now. Just tell me where
A moment later, a new text comes through with the name of a bar a few blocks down the road. I don’t ask how he knows where I am. I’m pretty sure Mia didn’t tell them, but I know enough to know a man who likes to keep tabs on his little girl when I see one, and I can’t say I blame him for that.
When I walk in, I’m not surprised to see the place is fancy as fuck. Even in the dim lighting, I can make out the marble bar and bespoke leather stools. I feel as out of place here in my jeans and work boots as a kangaroo in the surf, but I’m sure that was his intention.
Stephen is waiting at a table by the door. He doesn’t get up when I come in, just nods at the stool beside him. “Wilson. Thanks for coming.”
I sit as a waiter comes to the table. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Stephen lifts the glass of whisky he’s drinking. “Can I buy you a drink? The nineteen ninety eight is a fine drop.”
I shake my head. “No, thanks. Just water for me.” Something tells me it’s just another move calculated to make me feel inadequate. Besides, I get the feeling I need to keep a clear head.
The waiter leaves and Stephen Sinclair swirls the whisky in his class, making the ice cubes clink against the side. Then he sighs. “I hate to have to do this, Mr Wilson. But I’m afraid I’ve got some unpleasant news.”
“OK.”
He fixes me with a sympathetic look from across the small table. “Your family owns the Inlet Views in Kraken Cove, is that correct?”
I nod as a prickle of heat sizzles up my spine. I don’t like where this is going already.
He takes a sip of whisky, leaving me in suspense a moment longer, and I wonder if this is all a calculated dance. “I know you and my daughter Mia have been...spending a lot of time together. So I felt I should bring something to your attention.”
“Right.” I’m still watching him, waiting for the moment he hits me with his trump card.
“I’ve had a client approach me about taking on a case. Mia’s told you I run Sinclair Law?”
I nod. Where’s that water? My throat is suddenly parched. The waiter is nowhere to be seen.
“Unfortunately, it seems like an ex-employee of your folks has some complaints to make about an unfair dismissal, and in the process, they’ve raised some concerns with me that I must say I take very seriously.”
“What concerns?” My hand clenches into a fist on the table and I stare at him. What ex-employee? I rack my brains trying to think of anyone who might have been fired or let go recently, but come up with nothing.
Mr Sinclair sits back in his chair with a shrug. “I’m afraid I can’t disclose the specific nature of the concerns yet, due to client confidentiality, but I can say that this is something I could make disappear. It might take a settlement out of court. I’m not certain yet, but I could certainly make the process much less painful for your parents.”
He swirls the whisky again, not looking at me.
“These sorts of civil cases can be lengthy and unpleasant for everyone involved. Ongoing hearings, legal fees. I’m sure you can see why it would be best if you let me handle this for you.”
“OK,” I say again, brushing sweaty palms down my thighs under the table. “What’s the catch?”
“Ah.” Mr Sinclair takes the last sip of his whisky and places the glass on the table with a little clink. “So you’re not as dumb as you look. All to the good. I can help your parents make this go away if you agree to two conditions: firstly Mia never finds out we had this conversation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to upset her, and that’s always my primary goal. Secondly, you disappear from her life. I don’t care what excuse you make. I’ll come up with one for you if you can’t think of one. But you go back to Kraken Cove, and you never contact her again. Have you got any questions?”
I stare at him across the table. Is Mia’s father really this much of an asshole? “Yeah.” I get up, not bothering to tuck in my stool. “Exactly how soon after we met the other day did you start making phone calls to make this case happen?”
I don’t even wait for him to answer. He’s not going to anyway. I walk out of the bar and halfway down the street before the hot prickle along my spine becomes a flaming inferno covering my skin.
I pull off my hoodie and stop at a corner, bracing against the wall for a sickening moment. Have I just doomed my parents to an ongoing legal battle that will cost them the Inlet Views? That could bankrupt them ?
Things have been tight lately as it is. Bookings have been down and tourism still hasn’t recovered from the upheaval of the last few years.
The thought of giving up the one thing I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember kills me, though. When I’ve finally got her. When, even now, she’s waiting in bed for me.
“Fuck!” I slam my open palm against the brick wall and instantly regret it. At the sting, I suck in a breath and curse again.
What the fuck am I meant to do here? And do I tell Mia? This is the last thing she needs right now.