Chapter 25
As the guys clamored out of the room, I turned my attention to the little boy.
His banging and crying drew my attention, and the sight before me sent a jolt of sympathy tugging at my heart.
He was no older than six, standing in his football uniform.
His small frame trembled violently. Tears streamed down his face as he banged against the glass.
I moved on instinct, wanting to shield him from the horror that was taking place on the other side of the mirror. Stepping in front, I blocked his view. What I had seen sickened me. Victoria was doing her best to fight off Cameron, who was in a rage.
Although I couldn’t hear him, he was screaming and looked completely unhinged. He shoved Victoria’s head into a tub of water. Another woman lay motionless on the floor, her blonde hair covering her.
“Mummy,” Declan sobbed. His breath came in short, panicked bursts.
“Hey, it’s going to be okay.”
He flinched as I reached for him, but I needed to get him out of here. As I lifted him into my arms, his frame shook against my chest. Small fingers clutched at my shirt, desperate and terrified.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured, already moving. “You’re safe now. We’re friends of your mummy’s. We’re going to help her, but let’s get you away from this room for a minute.”
My heart instantly broke for the innocent little soul thrown into this nightmare, and my hatred for Cameron Evans grew. The police sirens got louder outside, and I was relieved to know help was here.
“Can you close your eyes for me, little man?” I asked the child.
He immediately closed his eyes and buried his head against me. I stepped over Nigel’s body, shielding the boy’s eyes just in case.
“This way,” Marcel shouted. He had doubled back and was now going in the opposite direction.
“What’s going on?” a woman asked sharply, only now being bothered to respond to the commotion. Where she came from, I didn’t know, but she backed away as I glared in her direction.
Where the hell was she when Declan was screaming five minutes ago?
“Which way to the child’s room?” I demanded.
Another maid appeared. “I’ll take you,” she said.
Sebastian and Ivan burst through the door. “Show them where the basement is,” I barked at the maid standing in the hall. “Sebastian, go in the living room, record what you see,” I threw over my shoulder as I mounted the steps.
Declan’s little fingers clung to my shirt as his sobs persisted. My gaze remained focused on following the maid. Down the hall, she led us and then abruptly stopped. I opened the door and took him inside.
Tears streamed down his reddened face, and his eyes were screwed shut.
I gently put him down and then knelt beside him.
His golden blonde hair was like his mother’s, and it framed his cherubic face.
The afternoon sun had filtered in, and the faintest hint of red could be seen in it.
I grinned. It was a genetic echo of Marcel.
My gaze remained locked on his little face. “You can open your eyes now. We’re in your room.”
His bedroom walls had posters of several football players.
A Manchester United quilt draped his small bed, and the ceiling looked like a starry night sky.
His eyes fluttered open, and I did a double-take.
I was momentarily stunned; I was staring into Marcel’s blue eyes.
Down to the starburst-like pattern in the irises.
The resemblance was uncanny. His eyes darted around in confusion.
“My name is Pasha, but you can call me Uncle Pasha.”
“Uncle Pasha?” His little voice melted my heart. “Is my mummy going to be okay?”
“I don’t know, kiddo.” I reached over and brushed the tears from his face. He flung himself into my arms.
“Why did he do that to her? What did Nanny ever do? I don’t understand.”
“I know. I know. We’re going to figure this out. But right now, I need your help with something big.”
“What?”
“We’re going to take you somewhere safe for the next few days. Until things settle down, we need to pack a bag.”
“Can I bring Fuzzy?” he asked, his innocent blue eyes searching mine.
“What’s a fuzzy?” I asked.
“It’s my teddy bear, but you have to get it for me. I can’t reach it. He said I was a big boy and didn’t need him anymore. But Mummy gave him to me, and I really do need him. Please.”
“A teddy bear, you say. I think we can manage that. By the way, your Uncle Nik is a huge Manchester United fan,” I offered, looking around, trying to keep his mind off what he’d seen. I had zero clue what I was doing here.
“Who is Uncle Nik?” His eyes were wide.
“You’ll meet him soon enough. Why don’t you show me where Fuzzy is and I’ll get him for you.”
“He’s way up there.”
He pointed to a bookshelf. Tossed on the top like an afterthought was the most worn looking teddy bear I’d ever seen.
“What are you doing hiding up there? Somebody needs you. Your job is not done yet.” I looked down at the child, whose eyes filled with love as he waited to hold his bear again.
I handed it to him, which he immediately hugged to his little chest. “I’m so sorry you had to go away. I’m here now. Uncle Pasha is too.”
I ruffled his blonde hair and said, “Sit down over there while I get your things.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Hannah; I was sure, without even having to look at it.
It was the fifteenth one she had sent this morning.
Our last counseling session had gone well, but then she popped into the club again.
Like the first time wasn’t a clue enough.
She didn’t belong there. Last night was worse, if that was possible.
It didn’t help that she saw me with Leena.
Didn’t matter; I was fully clothed. Leena wasn’t.
I knew at that moment we were done. There would be no coming back from this, and I honestly couldn’t care less.
I turned my attention back to the task at hand, which was getting our kid packed.
He wouldn’t be coming back here. I felt a little tug on my shirt.
“Can we pack my charcoal pencils and sketchbook?”
“We can. Why don’t you go grab them and anything else that is very important to you?”
“Okay,” Declan whispered, looking around his room.