57. Millie
Millie
“How was your last breakfast on our honeymoon?” Strike’s eyebrows wiggled.
He was still on edge from the events of yesterday, and Millie suspected his anxiety wouldn’t disappear until they’d left the area.
To help him, as soon as he woke, he’d moved between her thighs and left a fidget tool in each of her hands. He’d aimed to push her limits, edging her for hours.
His joy when she’d snapped both before orgasming against his mouth was unrelenting and endearing, even as she tried to eat breakfast.
At his wink, she giggled and yanked the toast off his plate while he was distracted. “Never change, Strike. You’re perfect.”
He beamed at her. “If you don’t give me my toast back, I’m going to chase you until you do.”
Her stomach bottomed out, and a flush hit her face. “You keep promising to chase me, but I don’t think you’ll do it.”
“I’m adding it to the list of things we’re going to try,” he said, grabbing his phone. “So you know I’m serious.”
She jumped off her chair. “You have a list?”
“I’m still Strike, Mr. Logical, who plans things to make them work for everyone.”
Her heart soared. “Does it include you dressing as a soldier for me?”
She raised her eyebrows quickly a couple of times, making him chuckle, before he replied, “What are your plans while I pack the car and make sure the house is as we found it?”
“Firstly, I’m eating your toast, and then I’m heading to town to say goodbye to my ladies. They’ve promised me one last cake at Merryn’s. I’m joining their craft hour.”
“You’ve made friends here quickly.”
She smiled. “I’ve spent years only able to make online friends, and they count, they really do, but in the last two weeks, there’s been you lads and Liss as well as those in the village. I’ve finally accepted who I am in the flesh, not just online.”
“I love that for you.”
She pressed her lips together, but the smile sneaked out. “I’m sad to leave here, but the ladies said I can visit anytime.”
“Then go say goodbye to them, and we’ll find a way to get you back here.”
“Thank you.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
She turned as she reached the door. He rubbed his arms as he stared at his phone.
“Are you okay?”
“I still feel uneasy about all of this. I can’t find a connection between Hugo and the lawyer. Bear spoke to Casey. They’ve made preliminary checks. Hugo’s fingerprints don’t match those on the shotgun casings they found after the shooting.”
“Maybe he got a professional to do it.”
“Yeah.” He nodded as he stared at his phone. “They’re still questioning him, so hopefully, he’ll tell the truth soon.”
“It will be okay. I’m safe.”
He mumbled something and shook his head. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ve got your phone? If something comes up, I’ll call you.”
“Yes, soldier.” She winked, and his smile broadened, making his eyes crinkle.
She slipped out the door and breathed in the sea air. She itched at her arms and closed her eyes. Strike’s worries were getting to her, too.
She forced a pep in her step as she ambled toward the town.
Focusing on craft hour and what it would include, she considered the other groups she’d have loved to have joined if she’d stayed in the town.
Pushing her glasses up her nose, she envisaged helping Elsie realise the dream the teenager had mentioned of starting a local bookshop and being cheered on by Joyce in the darts club.
Her sigh swirled around her on the breeze as she reached the beach. She’d have to keep that future a fantasy instead.
As she stared out to sea, her uncertainties increased.
“Hugo must have tried to shoot me at the police station. Professionals don’t use shotguns for that kind of job,” she mumbled.
Her phone rang.
“Rylee, hey.” Millie waved at the video version of Rylee. “I’m so glad you suggested talking like this. I can’t believe I was too scared to do this in the past.”
“Oh my god, I know we’ve done voice notes before, but I love your accent.”
Millie laughed. “Yours is fucking cool.”
“Say fucking again! You make it sound so posh,” Rylee shouted down the phone.
“Fucking,” Millie replied between laughter. “How are you?”
“Really great, but I haven’t run from a criminal in the last twenty-four hours like you. Tell me everything. Maybe I’ll write fan fiction action hero smut and include this as the storyline.”
Millie couldn’t stop her smile even as she recounted everything that had happened.
“If this were a book, especially one of the ones we love, this wouldn’t be over,” Rylee said.
Millie paused on the edge of the town. “I thought the same, but I wasn’t sure if it was Strike’s worries getting to me.” She gave a hollow laugh. “It’s just… No, it doesn’t matter. Let me show you how beautiful it is here.”
Millie flipped the camera.
Rylee’s face moved back and forth from her camera, studying the view. “It’s stunning, although it looks rough out there. Those are dark clouds.” Millie glanced above the phone. Waves crashed. She’d dressed for warmth but should have brought a coat.
“A spring shower must be on its way.”
“Tell me what you were going to say before,” Rylee pressed. “It’s just what?”
“Hugo was anxious around his dad. And he shook loads, which was probably because he’s still on drugs, but then he held the gun, and he couldn’t have pulled that trigger and hit me.
He shook when he stabbed that man, too, and…
That’s what the trophy was at the house.
It wasn’t a disc. It was a clay pigeon trophy.
And there were photos on the walls, and…
fuck. His dad might have been the shooter. ”
Millie flipped the camera phone view. A shadow filled the space behind her. Randolph loomed over her shoulder, creeping closer, a menacing sneer stretching his lips and revealing his teeth.
Millie screeched as he seized her phone and crushed it against a stone.
“It’s time you learnt nosey girls who fuck up my life get what they deserve.”