Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
KAT
The grandfather clock ticks idly in the corner, cutting through the silence. My mother and father sit on one ancient sofa across from Liam and me, a tray of tea accoutrements untouched on the low table between us.
At least my bruises are faded enough that they can be hidden with concealer, just the faintest yellowing to cover. Liam looks mostly back to normal too, other than the still-healing fresh scars he’s picked up from his fight.
I shiver at the thought of him in that pit, fighting for this bloody house so we can keep our well a secret. And that’s assuming Ashworth doesn’t track down who we are. Or Freddie.
Thank god I’m wearing my mask in the CCTV image they found. Shame about that one lock of hair escaping my hood. The news, and every armchair detective on social media, is in an uproar that a woman might be involved.
Which is, quite frankly, rather rude. People underestimate women all the time.
‘So, Katherine, Liam, are you here to ask for more time?’ My Dad’s voice is cool as his gaze slides from Liam to me. ‘We’ve found a great place in the city, and we can’t be holding—’
‘We have the money,’ I say, pulling up my bank balance and sliding the phone towards my father. His brow knits as he looks at the numbers before glancing sideways at my mum.
‘Where did you get this?’
‘Not from working with the sort of men you built your business on, Dad.’ I’ve never brought up the seedier side of my dad’s business endeavours with men just like the Everlys and Ashworths.
In our investigations into the men, and with Martha, my former nanny, having told me my dad ran in the same social circles as these men, we’ve discovered he’s handled business for quite a few of them.
Dad’s eyes darken as my mother says, ‘What’s she talking about?’
‘Nothing.’
‘It’s not like you guys can manage a place like this anyway. I don’t think it would befit you both as a couple. Katherine, darling, if you want to buy the place yourself—’
‘Give us a minute.’ Dad looks over at Mum, who looks like he’s just pulled a wet fish from his pocket and slapped her right around the chops with it. He’s not one to dismiss my mother as far as I’ve seen.
Her mouth opens, then closes, her face filled with quiet anger as she gracefully stands and leaves the room. There’s a chill that falls over us as she departs.
‘I don’t know what you think you know, Katherine.’ My father is so still he looks as if he’s chipped from marble.
‘I know that half of the men who have been in the news were clients of yours. I know that Liam’s dad was involved with them and you let him stay in the old cottage. It doesn’t take too many leaps to associate you as one of their contemporaries.’
‘You’re speaking out of your backside. They were only clients. I wasn’t associated with any of their proclivities.’ Dad cracks his fingers while staring me down. His gaze slides to Liam, only now making the connection to who he is.
‘And yet… you clearly know what they were up to. You didn’t say anything.’
‘So you’re shacking up with him for what? Penance? Because you feel sorry for him?’ Liam shifts next to me, and the last thing we need is for him to wallop my father, no matter how much he deserves it.
‘Daddy, I love him.’ The words tumble out, my throat lumping. ‘We want this to be our fresh start. We both need it.’
‘Katherine—’
Rising to my feet, I finally, after so many years of backing down and shying away, speak out.
‘Stop treating me like a child. Liam and I love each other, and no matter how much pressure you guys apply, it’s not going to change.
He makes me happy. He’s the family I choose.
If you want any part of our future and our potential children’s futures, you need to stop holding me back. ’
My father leans back, a smirk crossing his lips. ‘I know about the well, Katherine.’
The world lurches around me, my vision momentarily blurring. I can’t breathe. Liam squeezes my hand as my dad pulls the rug out from beneath me.
Fuck.
What now?
Fight. I’m so sick of these fucking men thinking they can control everyone they see as weaker. Whether it’s the way they hurt Liam, or my father thinking he can control who I date. I’m done.
‘If you know about the well, you know what I’m capable of.
I have no desire to take my knife to you, but I’ll gladly drag you down with me if need be.
I’ll tell the police that you were fully involved with those fuckers, and that you blackmailed Liam and me into killing them when they blackmailed you.
’ It’s a desperate bid, but it’s all I have.
My dad’s throat bobs as he stares at me. ‘This is the way you want it?’
I let out a laugh that’s somewhere between a cackle and a sob.
‘What I want? All I ever wanted was for you and Mum to love me. Not throw money at me, or pay nannies to play with me. I needed you. And you’d never lower yourself enough to just be a fucking parent.
All I want now is to have my own family with Liam. Turn this house into a home.’
‘A home with a well full of corpses in the garden. Idyllic.’ My father’s cheeks are red. It’s the most discomfited I’ve ever seen him. He lets out a sigh, leaning forward and rubbing his jaw. ‘We gave you everything.’
‘Except what I needed. I need this now. Help me,’ I plead.
My father looks at Liam. ‘You love her too?’
‘More than I’ve loved anything.’
‘Fine,’ he says at last, ‘I’ll call my lawyer. But whatever you guys are involved in, if you get caught, you keep us out of it.’
My heart leaps. It’s ours.
‘I promise.’