26. Hit The Road Jack
26
HIT THE ROAD JACK
From the relative safety of the kitchen, I quickly recount the harrowing details of my relationship with Heath. Embarrassment and shame flood through me as I explain how he managed to track me down all the way to Istanbul, despite my desperate attempts to escape him. I leave out what he hinted about Jacinta—after all, I barely know Aydin, and I have no idea how he’d react to the thought that a murderer could be in the same room as his wife and baby. Plus, I don’t even know if what he said about Jacinta is true. Heath is pretty unhinged right now.
Aydin’s his brow furrows with concern. “Ginny says you don’t want to return to London.”
“I thought if I could disappear for a while then maybe Heath will forget about me. I didn’t even know he was here until he came up to me on the street this morning. He just told me he’s been here for days.”
“We will look after you but you need to be firm with him. Tell him clearly to leave you alone.”
“I have.” I hear the frustration in my voice. “But he won’t listen.”
Aydin nods once, his jaw set in determination. “Leave it with me.”
We return to the party but my heart sinks as I spot Heath engaged in conversation with my mother across the room. Aydin leans in close to me, his voice urgent. “Get your mother away from him.”
Taking a deep breath, I approach them, trying to appear casual despite the turmoil churning inside me. “Mother, can I speak with you... about the custard?”
My mother turns to me, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Custard?”
I nod frantically, hoping she’ll play along. “Yes, I need your help with the custard.”
Heath chuckles, amusement dancing in his eyes as he looks at my mother. “Chunky, I’m sure Valentina Werrington has never set foot in a kitchen in her life!”
My mother’s expression darkens, her formidable presence radiating a silent warning. She fixes Heath with a steely glare. “Do not make assumptions about me, young man.”
Sadie swiftly intervenes, crossing over to us with purpose. “Yes, our mother is famous for her custard tarts.” She links arms with my mother and guides her away from Heath’s orbit. “Come and show Saffy how it’s done.”
My mother follows Sadie’s lead, casting a final glare over her shoulder at Heath before allowing herself to be led back towards me.
I breathe a sigh of relief as they approach, grateful for both of my sister’s quick thinking.
“Stay here, Mother,” Sadie instructs softly, her grip on our mother’s hand reassuringly firm.
Heath is becoming tense, his muscles visibly flexing as agitation creeps in. “What type of shite is this?”
“I think you need to leave, Heath,” I manage to say, though my voice trembles with a mixture of fear and determination.
He scoffs dismissively. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You weren’t invited.” Anger and frustration well up inside me, mingling with the fear. “I’ve told you I don’t want to be with you. You need to leave. Now.”
Aydin and Deniz stride purposefully towards Heath, their presence commanding and resolute. “You heard her. It’s time for you to leave.”
Nate and Kaan move to flank them, standing shoulder to shoulder in a united front. Four against one, the odds are clear.
“What the hell is this?” he snarls, scanning their determined faces. His gaze falls on Kaan, recognition dawning. “And what the fuck is Kaan doing here?”
Kaan steps forward, his expression calm but unwavering. “My friend has asked you to leave.”
“Fuck you, Pretty Boy.” Heath’s words are laced with venom and defiance. “And your music is shite as well!”
Heath lunges forward with a wild swing aimed at Kaan, but Kaan dodges the blow effortlessly. Before Heath can regain his balance, Nate swiftly manoeuvres around him, his fist connecting with a solid thud against Heath’s jaw.
The impact sends Heath staggering backward, stunned but still belligerent. In a blind rage, he swings wildly, aiming punches at Nate with desperate fury. Nate, moves with fluid agility, evading most of Heath’s erratic strikes. However, in the chaos, Heath manages to land a solid punch on Nate’s eye, causing him to wince in pain and stumble back momentarily.
Aydin and Deniz move swiftly, grabbing Heath’s flailing arms as they attempt to wrestle him towards the courtyard.
As we step outside, the sound of approaching police sirens fills the air, growing louder by the moment. Aydin’s voice cuts through the chaos, firm and commanding. “Enough, Heath! It’s time to leave.”
“I’m not fucking leaving!” His face twists with rage, and his eyes fix on me with a desperate plea. “Saffy! Tell them you want me to stay.”
Tears stream down my face, a mixture of fear and anger gripping my heart. “I don’t want you here.”
Heath’s expression darkens, disbelief and frustration contorting his features. “You don’t mean that. You love me.”
“No, Heath.” My words choke with pain. “I hate you. I never want to see you again.”
The sudden arrival of the police sends a jolt through the courtyard, their presence immediately commanding attention. Heath continues to struggle against Aydin and Deniz’s firm grip, his defiance palpable even as the officers swiftly move in to intervene. Despite Heath’s resistance, the police quickly overpower him.
“Heath, you need to calm down!” Aydin urges sternly, his voice cutting through the commotion. “You really don’t want to be arrested.”
“I’m not leaving!”
Heath thrashes against the firm grip of the officers, but his defiance falters as the cold metal of the handcuff’s snaps around his wrists. That sharp click marks the shift from his belligerent stance to the harsh reality of his situation.
Aydin and Deniz huddle with the officers, the Turkish words quick and urgent. I can see the tension in their shoulders, the way Deniz gestures sharply, and the way Aydin’s brow furrows as he listens intently as Heath is being led away.
Aydin finishes speaking with the officers and immediately makes his way to my side. “Saffy, you need to come with us to the police station to make a statement.”
“No!” The word escapes my lips before I can even think, my voice tight with the panic bubbling up inside me. “Please, Aydin, I don’t want to go.”
“I won’t leave your side.”
I take a shaky breath, trying to gather the fragments of my courage. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
“Not really.”
My parents both look completely shell shocked but snap into action when they realise that I have to go to the station. “Absolutely not!”
“I promise you both that I will look after your daughter.”
“I think we should call the consulate.”
My mother is already pulling out her mobile. “I’m calling Heath’s parents.”
“Yes. I need to speak with Angus about this as well.”
“I know you’re worried but she’s not under arrest, Albert.” Aydin says calmly. “She is giving a statement and then we’ll come straight back.”
“She’s just a child.”
“Daddy,” I look at my father. “I’m 21. And Aydin will be with me.”
My father backs down a little. “How long?”
“An hour? Two at the most.”
“Fine. But you call us and give us updates every 30 minutes.”
“Of course.”
Aydin indicates that I should follow him but before I go, I hug my parents. “I’m sorry.”
“We’ll talk about this later.”
I glance back at Ginny and her friends, who have all just witnessed more drama than they’d bargained for on a Christmas Day. “Thank you. I feel so silly involving you all in my shite.”
Ginny smiles. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I do worry. I mean… look at Nate!”
“Me? I’m fine.” Nate shows off his swollen eye with pride. “And I couldn’t let him take a crack at the superstar now, could I?”
Kaan gives Nate a hearty slap on the back. “Thanks, mate.”
“We can’t have people saying your music is shite.” Nate grins at him. “Especially since you’ve gone and gotten our Meggsy knocked up.”
I look over to Meg whose eyes are wide in surprise. “You know?”
“Of course I know,” he replies confidently, his tone light and teasing. “I’m very enlightened when it comes to women.”
Meg shakes her head in amusement, her disbelief giving way to a reluctant smile. “Enlightened, huh?”
“Why do you think I have so much luck with the ladies?”
His girlfriend Leyla playfully slips her arm around him, a mock scowl on her face. “You’re just lucky you weren’t killed, otherwise you and I would be having words.”
Nate chuckles, enjoying Leyla’s feigned jealousy. “See? Lucky!”