19. April 2024
19
April 2024
V aughn waited at the edge of the boat shed, his breath visible in the morning air. He used the time to reflect on his conversation with the police the day prior. They had shown up at Titian, asking all kinds of questions. He answered every one. They clearly knew his family was involved in the Chinatown incident, but the Merit Group’s airtight alibis, coupled with the mysterious absence of surveillance in the area, made it impossible for them to make the necessary arrests. He knew they would continue to dig and watch, so Vaughn needed to keep his movements small—and legal—until it blew over.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of his car approaching. Willow sat in the back seat. She smiled at him through the window as the car rolled to a stop. He beat Finn to the door, and she stepped out and looked around. Even in oversized clothing and her hair in a messy bun, she still managed to steal the breath from his lungs.
‘Morning,’ she said, pushing up onto her toes to kiss him.
It was crazy how his mind quietened when she was around. She could hold his full attention simply by existing near him. ‘You going to be warm enough in that?’
She looked down at her clothes. ‘I figured the hard work of rowing would heat me up.’
He swung an arm around her and walked her towards the boat shed. ‘Let’s get a life jacket on you.’
She looked around. ‘No one else on the water is wearing one.’ Then she turned her eyes up to him. ‘I can swim, you know.’
‘I don’t care how good a swimmer you are. If there’s a way to make this experience safer for you, then that’s the way we’re doing it.’ He gestured to the double scull boat tied to the dock. ‘That one’s ours.’
Willow leaned her head against him as they walked, and it was unsettling how much he liked it.
When they reached the boat, Vaughn plucked the life jacket from it and slipped it over her head, then tightened it around her waist. He checked the oars and rope to make sure they were secure before helping her climb in. Once they were both seated, he gave her a few instructions.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
She looked excited. ‘Ready.’
Vaughn untied the boat and pushed them away from the dock. He rowed gently and slowly while Willow got used to the oars, compensating for her inexperience. She kept glancing back at him for guidance and encouragement, and he kept giving her whatever she needed. He wasn’t known for his patience, yet he seemed to have it on tap for her.
‘I’m so bad at this,’ she said apologetically. ‘I assume we’re supposed to be in sync?’
Checking his surroundings, so as to not hit anyone, Vaughn pulled his oars out of the water. ‘You’re doing great. Let’s just focus on getting your positioning right today. Relax your shoulders.’
She groaned. ‘Story of my life!’
He slid forwards. ‘I’m going to help you.’
‘Yes, please.’
He talked her through good technique, manually adjusting her arms, back, and grip as she rowed. Willow listened and tried to apply everything he said. She really was the perfect student.
‘I’m going to move back now,’ he said. ‘She’s all yours.’
Willow pushed and pulled the oars through the water, trying her absolute best.
‘You’re a natural,’ he told her.
She laughed. ‘That’s very generous of you.’
‘Most people would have tired by now.’
‘You forget that dancers are athletes,’ she said over her shoulder.
He smirked at the bottom of the boat.
Eventually, she did begin to tire. As soon as he realised, he helped pull her oars in and took over the rowing. She rose so she could turn around and face him.
‘Careful,’ he warned. ‘You’ll fall in.’
She quirked a brow at that. ‘Do you have any idea how good my balance is?’
‘Well, the water can be unpredictable.’
Her smiling eyes moved over him. ‘I thought you would be more comfortable with things being unpredictable in your life.’
‘I am—except when it comes to you.’
After a moment of silence, Willow stood completely upright. Panic slammed Vaughn’s insides.
‘What are you doing?’ he said, slowing his movements. ‘Sit down.’
She raised her arms above her head instead.
‘This isn’t funny?—’
‘I’m not trying to be funny. I’m being a swan .’ With that, she proceeded to move into a perfect arabesque, lifting one foot and extending her arms. She pointed her toe at the sky.
In any other setting, Vaughn would have grabbed her and sat her down somewhere safe. But if he moved, he risked tipping the boat. He kept his oars in the water to help balance it. ‘ Sit. Down .’
Willow raised her chin and breathed in deeply. ‘First tell me if I look like a swan.’
She looked like the goddess of swans. ‘Yes, you do. Now sit.’
Returning her foot to the boat and her arms to her sides, she sat.
‘Do you know how filthy that water is?’ he asked, trying to keep the edge out of his voice.
She peered over the edge of the boat. ‘Judging by your tone and expression, I’d guess very.’
That was far enough for one day. Slowly, he turned the boat around, eyes on her the whole time. ‘This isn’t Bondi. The E. coli levels in this part of the river are above 24,000 organisms per 100ml.’
Her lips twitched. ‘That sounds like a lot of organisms.’
The teasing tone was not lost on him. ‘It’s enough to make you very ill.’
She reached out and squeezed his hand affectionately. ‘Then I shall keep my wings firmly within the perimeter of the boat during our return trip.’
‘I appreciate that.’
The sun had risen, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. The water shimmered like liquid silk, reflecting both the sky and the trees around them.
‘I can see why you like it out here,’ Willow said, holding on to her knees and taking in their surroundings. ‘It seems like a great way to clear one’s mind.’
Vaughn looked around at the shifting colours. ‘I probably don’t do it enough.’
‘What do you normally do for exercise?’
‘Gym. Run.’
She went to speak, then closed her mouth.
‘What were you about to say?’ he pushed.
Willow hesitated. ‘Is it safe for you to go running alone?’
One corner of his mouth lifted. ‘Sure. Most of the time.’
‘I have a mental image of Finn jogging a few paces behind you.’
Vaughn chuckled. ‘He’s in good shape, but no. He has his limits.’
They fell silent for a while. The only sound was the birds nearby and the soft splash of the oars. He felt dangerously relaxed—now that she was seated—and he found himself leaning into it.
‘Thank you for bringing me here,’ Willow said after a few minutes. ‘I intend to get really good at this rowing business, by the way. Soon we’ll be so in sync, you’ll forget you ever did it solo.’
Whenever he thought he couldn’t fall any harder, she said things like that.
‘You okay?’ she asked with a tilt of her head.
He focused on the water, uncomfortable with his own transparency. ‘Yes.’
She leaned forwards, catching his gaze. ‘We all need a break from our own lives sometimes.’
It was like she could read his mind.
There was no such thing as a break in his world—unless that break was a bone. Willow was a reminder that another way of life existed. She shone a light on the shadows. Now he just needed to ensure she was protected from the darkness at all costs.
When they arrived at the dock, they secured the boat and packed up in silence. Once everything was in order, Vaughn took her hand and led her off the dock. He had never been a hand holder in his life, yet here he was unable to let go.
‘Thank you for a truly unforgettable morning,’ she said when they reached the car.
He gathered her close and kissed her properly, letting his lips linger on hers. The warmth of her mouth perfectly contrasted the cold air. ‘Anytime.’
Vaughn held her hand on the drive to the studio while she told him about a movie she’d seen with Lili on the weekend. She spoke as though it were a story from her own life.
His phone never left his pocket.
When they pulled up out front of the Star, he held out his hand and said, ‘Give me your phone.’
Appearing confused by the request, Willow retrieved it from her bag and gave it to him. Vaughn held it up to her face to unlock it, then added a phone number to her contact list. ‘My mobile,’ he said, handing it back to her. ‘You can call it anytime.’
She stared at the name on the screen. ‘MG?’ Then she realised. ‘Ah, Mr Gallo. I see what you did there.’ Her eyes returned to him. ‘I thought you didn’t give out your direct number.’
‘I don’t.’
She was silent a moment. ‘How do you feel about emojis?’
‘The same way I feel about paedophiles.’
She pressed her lips together, holding back a smile. ‘So, don’t send entirely emoji-based text messages with no context?’
‘Not if you want a response.’
She leaned across the seat and gave him a quick kiss before snatching up her bag and exiting the car.
Vaughn watched her until she disappeared inside the building, then met Finn’s gaze in the rear-view mirror.
‘My apartment.’
Finn nodded.
As the car pulled away from the kerb, Vaughn’s phone vibrated. He looked down and saw a text message from Willow. It was two emojis: a pink heart with a ribbon around it and a winking face. He exhaled through his nose before tucking his phone into his pocket.
Fifteen minutes later, Finn dropped him at the front of his building on La Trobe Street. Vaughn nodded at the concierge as he passed the front desk, then took the lift up to the top floor. When he stepped inside his apartment, he almost trod on a large manila envelope lying on the carpet. Someone must have slid it under the door while he was out. Frowning, he picked it up and opened it on his way to the kitchen. Inside, he found a stack of coloured photographs. He pulled them out and froze. The first picture was of him and Willow rowing on the water. A picture from that morning.
What the…?
He began flicking through the rest of the photos. There was one of them walking on the dock, Willow standing up on the boat, him helping her off the boat, them kissing next to his car. One of him looking at her with pure adoration—oblivious that they were being watched.
He checked the envelope for a note, but it was empty. He then looked at both sides of the envelope for any details at all. Nothing. It was clearly meant as a threat. Someone wanted him to know they were keeping a close eye on him, and more importantly, that they knew about Willow.
‘Fuck,’ he muttered, throwing the photos down onto the bench and turning in a circle as he gathered himself. This was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid. What had he been thinking taking her out on that river for all to see?
His gut told him it was connected with the Chinatown business. Not everyone was happy with the outcome—or rather the absence of one.
Getting his phone out, he called his brother.
‘Yeah?’ Antonio said upon answering.
‘You on site at the Star?’
‘I am.’ He paused. ‘Why?’
Vaughn continued to pace. ‘I need eyes on Willow until I get there.’
There was a short silence before Antonio asked, ‘What’s going on?’
‘I don’t know yet. I suspect it has something to do with your gambling buddies.’ He fought hard not to go on the attack, as it wouldn’t help Willow.
‘Shit,’ Antonio said on an exhale.
‘Make sure she’s safe until I get there. Can you do that?’
‘Of course.’
Vaughn ended the call and shot a text message to Finn telling him to bring the car around. Then he phoned the concierge to ask who’d been up to his floor.
‘Only the cleaners, Mr Gallo.’
Vaughn pressed his eyes shut. ‘I need the hallway CCTV footage from the past hour.’
The concierge hesitated before asking, ‘Do I need to call the police?’
‘No, you need to get me that footage. I’ll be down soon.’
The third phone call was to his father, who answered on the first ring.
‘Ciao?’
‘Pa.’ Vaughn came to a stop and rubbed his forehead. ‘I need your help.’