NINETEEN #2
We fucked hard and fast, Oliver coming inside me just as I climaxed less than ten minutes from when we got on the bed.
He called out my name, Lexi, in that way only he had ever.
No one had ever called me that, and that in itself felt special.
I called out his name, something I had never done before, but it felt right.
‘That was not the send-off I was expecting,’ said Oliver as he lay next to me. He rolled over to look at me. ‘You okay?’
‘Strike two for a ridiculous question,’ I said, kissing him, before jumping up and going for my second shower of the day.
This time, when Oliver joined me, we just washed and kissed each other.
It was almost like some kind of bonding ritual.
I think we committed to each other in that moment without exchanging a word.
Afterwards, when we were both dressed, I saw Oliver look at my bags, still in the hallway. I went over and picked them up, putting them back in the wardrobe.
‘You could come back to London with me for the night,’ he said.
‘Isn’t that the same as running?’
‘More regrouping.’
‘I’ll stay here. I shouldn’t really leave Grainger, anyway. I’m not sure why I thought that was a good idea,’ I confessed, going over to him.
‘Panic does that to a person.’ He said it with no judgement, and he was right.
‘I hate that it does it to me.’
‘We’re doing something to put that right,’ he said. ‘This, whatever this is that’s going on, this is the start of the end.’
I wanted to ask about us. What we were, how we were going to play it, but I wasn’t ready for an answer I didn’t want.
I needed positivity. I didn’t need Oliver, but I wanted him.
And in that moment, I didn’t want to lose that sense of security.
Despite everything with the flowers and the photo, I knew I was safer at Risk than anywhere else.
Oliver FaceTimed me when he got back to London. It wasn’t something we’d done before, and I wondered if it was to reassure him or me. Maybe both of us. Noah came on the call and told me about his weekend with his mum and said he’d had a nice time.
‘Are you still in Scotland?’ he asked.
‘Yes. I am.’ I panned around with the phone camera. ‘In my own lodge, but still here at Risk.’
‘And you will be there when I get there?’
‘Absolutely. I’m not going anywhere.’ I looked at Oliver even though the words were directed at his son.
We spoke for a little longer before Noah went off to take a shower.
‘It was his idea to FaceTime,’ said Oliver.
‘You know that’s really low using your child as an excuse,’ I said.
‘Okay, it was a joint idea.’ He gave a self-conscious shrug.
‘Oliver?’
‘Okay. I admit. It was my idea.’ He grinned at me. ‘I just wanted to see you.’
‘I’m glad you did. We should do this all the time.’
‘We should?’
‘Yeah.’
Later that night, when I went to bed, I called Oliver on FaceTime.
‘Just wanted to say goodnight,’ I said quietly, as I pulled the cover up over my shoulder.
‘How am I meant to sleep now?’ he whispered. ‘After seeing you all snuggled under the covers.’ His smile was gentle and warmed me more than any blanket could. ‘I may just lie here a while until you go to sleep,’ he said.
‘From anyone else, that would be creepy,’ I replied, returning the smile. And it would have been, but not from him. It felt safe. ‘Goodnight, Oliver.’
I left my phone propped upon the bedside table, and when I woke in the morning, I could see the call had ended a few minutes later when I must have fallen asleep. There was a WhatsApp message from Oliver.
Sleep well. I’ve got you.
I read the message more times than necessary, and each time I smiled more than necessary.
I went over to see Grainger, who was his usual self. Grumpy and humorous at the same time. He was so ready to get that boot off.
‘Only a few hours,’ I said. ‘Then once the hospital gives the all clear, it can come off.’
‘Can’t see why it can’t come off now.’
‘No. I don’t suppose you can.’
He pulled a face at me like a sulky school kid. He’d been in particularly bad spirits when I put him through his physio session earlier. Paddy at that point, had gone off to carry out a security check of the estate.
‘What time is Dom getting here?’ asked Grainger.
I looked at my watch. ‘Oliver said about mid-morning.’
‘At least I’ll have some male company for a change.’
‘Don’t pretend you don’t love having me here all to yourself.’ I pulled on my coat. ‘I can always stay with you for the day, if you want.’
‘No. You’re all right.’
I laughed as I went out the door. ‘See you later!’
‘Can’t wait.’
The gate alarm sounded on my phone, and I checked the screen. The familiar Laker Jeep was at the gate.
‘Hello,’ I said, looking at the screen.
Dom looked just like his brothers, but slightly more thick set.
‘Hi, Alex, it’s Dom Laker.’
‘Hi Dom. I’ll buzz you in.’
‘It’s okay. I can let myself in, I just didn’t want to frighten you. Maybe we can catch up in about twenty minutes or so? Introduce you to the guys.’
‘Sure. That would be good.’
‘See you at the gatehouse in twenty.’
I went over to my lodge to get changed. I was planning to go for a run around the estate, but I’d say hello to my new colleagues before I did so.
Oliver had said they would be bunking in the same lodge, the first one.
It was furthest away from me. Mine was tucked slightly back from the others, and I liked the privacy it afforded me.
I got changed and headed over to the gatehouse.
Dom was out on the path, taking a call. He looked up and smiled, before waving me to come in.
‘She’s just turned up,’ he said. Then moved the phone away from his mouth. ‘Oliver.’ I nodded, not sure whether I should go in or just wait. I chose to loiter. ‘Yeah. All good. Catch up with you later.’ He ended the call. ‘Oliver said hi.’
I smiled. Forced myself not to beam too wide at just the mention of Oliver saying hello. Dom eyed me for a second.
‘Thought so,’ he said as he pocketed his phone. ‘Well, Alex, good to meet you.’ He extended a hand, which I shook.
‘Nice to meet you too.’
‘Come on in and meet the others,’ he said.
I followed him into the gatehouse and through to the room on the left, which overlooked the front of the lodge and the rear gates. A black Labrador greeted me before I had time to take in anything else.
‘Hello,’ I said, crouching down to pet him. ‘Who are you?’
‘That’s Buddy,’ said Dom. ‘He hangs out with me, mostly.’
‘Hello, Buddy,’ I said, letting him snuffle around my ear. I rose, still stroking the dog.
‘Right, so guys, this is Alex. She’s head of medical ops.’
‘Hi,’ I said, looking at the first man who got up from the sofa with his hand outstretched.
‘Matty Freeman,’ he said. We shook hands. ‘Nice to meet you.’
The second guy was already on his feet. ‘Ryan Smith. But everyone calls me Smithy.’ I shook hands with Smithy.
And then the last one was holding his hand out. ‘Daniel Fletcher.’
I automatically reached out to shake hands, while simultaneously a warning signal went off in my head, but it was too late.
I looked up at Daniel Fletcher and saw a face I had hoped I would never see again.
Samuel Henderson was standing in front of me.
Smiling. His fingers closed around my hand. ‘Everyone calls me Fletch.’
I froze. He let go of my hand and stepped back, returning to his chair at the side.
I stared at him, certain I’d made a mistake.
But I hadn’t. The blond hair was darker now, but the thin-lipped smile and the hazel eyes were the same.
It was the small scar above his left eyebrow that sealed it.
He was Samuel Henderson. Not Fletch. My brain was rapidly trying to make sense of this.
Why was he calling himself Daniel Fletcher?
Surely, Dom knew who he was? They would have done background checks?
I looked at Dom, who hadn’t seemed to notice anything odd about the exchange. Was this a test? Was I supposed to react or not react? I didn’t know what the fuck was going on.
‘Coffee?’ asked Dom, looking at me.
I shook my head. ‘No. No thanks. I’m just heading off for a run.’
How was I putting any kind of sentence together? I could hear myself speaking, but autopilot had kicked in while part of my brain wrestled with the shock of seeing Henderson.
‘Take a seat for a minute before you shoot off,’ said Dom.
I sat down on the chair nearest to the door, furthest away from Henderson. My leg jiggled. I changed position, putting my hand on my knee. Trying to imagine it was Oliver’s hand. I counted in my head. Tried to control my breathing.
Buddy came and sat beside me. He nudged my hand with his nose. I petted his head. Dom looked over for a moment, didn’t say anything, took a sip of his coffee, then started talking.
‘Right. So, the three of you know the basics of what we’re here to do. Recce the trails, get ahead of the logistics, security sweep of the estate.’
He went over more details, giving direct instructions and handing out a map of the estate to the three men.
I was half-listening as my brain continued its scramble to come up with a plausible explanation of what Samuel Henderson was doing there, posing as Daniel Fletcher.
I couldn’t bring myself to look at Henderson.
I couldn’t afford that eye contact. Not just yet.
I tried to focus on what Dom was saying, while my hand maintained contact with Buddy’s head.
‘Alex is your first port of call for anything medical. Get yourselves familiar with where the medical room is today.’ He glanced at me. ‘She’ll give you a tour when she’s back from her run. You’re good to go, Alex.’
I got to my feet. ‘Nice to meet you all.’