Chapter Seventeen
LEONI
The second the morning light hits me through the slats in the blind, I’m awake.
I throw the covers off and grab my bag, throwing everything inside.
I pull on last night’s dress, forgoing underwear, and quickly brush my teeth.
Then I book an Uber to the airport. There’s a flight at ten A.M., and I’m praying it’s not full.
As I go downstairs, I run my fingers through my hair, hoping I look half-decent.
Anthony is standing in the living room, staring down at his mobile, engrossed. He glances up, his eyes widening when he sees me. “Good morning.”
And then Warren appears, as if his voice summoned him from the kitchen. His eyes drop to my bag. “I’ve made breakfast,” he announces.
“My flight leaves at ten,” I mutter, heading for the door.
“Flight?” he repeats, following me.
I stop on the porch, staring down the road for the Uber, my heart beating wildly. “Yes, you know, those huge metal flying objects in the sky,” I say, my words laced with sarcasm. “It’s how I’m getting home.”
“Lee, I have a plane leaving at half ten.”
“I don’t want to fly with you. Christ, I can’t even stand to look at you.”
He gives an unamused laugh. “You’re pissed; I get it. But flying alone is stupid when I’m offering a free flight half an hour later than the one you’re trying to catch. And a cab from here will cost a fortune.”
I arch a brow. “I’m not paying, I charged it to the business account.”
He smirks, “Course you did.” Then he sighs heavily. “Fly back with me. I promise I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you want.”
“I want to get back to normal,” I mutter, “Back to my life before you.”
“Fine,” he says on a sigh. “If that’s what you want. Get on the plane with me, and I will have you dropped wherever you like once we land.”
I side-eye him. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t even want you to look in my direction.”
He nods. “I won’t even try.”
I give a stiff nod, open up the app on my phone, and press the cancel button. I smirk, “That just cost you ninety euro’s.”
“What’s ninety euros when I get the pleasure of your cold shoulder?”
Warren keeps his word. We sit in silence at the airport. The private lounge is filled with business types all chatting into phones or tapping away on laptops.
I stare out of the window, watching as planes take off and land.
Then we board a small private plane, and I march to the back, taking my seat and glaring out of the window as Warren and Anthony sit up front, discussing business in hushed tones.
Once we take off, I feel myself drifting off to sleep, and I don’t bother to fight it.
I don’t wake again until the plane hits the runway. Warren is already packing his things away and slipping on his jacket. And once we stop, he’s out of his seat and waiting for the door to open.
Anthony follows, carrying their hand luggage. I grab my own bag and reluctantly go after them.
The car is already on the runway. Anthony is waiting patiently by the passenger door, and as I slide in, I notice Warren is in the front passenger seat, his laptop open again, and his attention fixed to it.
Anthony gets in the driver's side. “Where to?” he asks me, twisting in his seat.
I swallow the lump in my throat. I know I wanted this, but it feels way too hard. “My place,” I mutter.
Warren’s head snaps up. “The apartment?”
“I have to go back sometime, right?”
“Wouldn’t you be better with your mum and brother?”
“Not speaking, remember?”
Warren exchanges a wary look with Anthony, then gives a nod, as if my decision depended on his approval. Another red flag.
Anthony pulls into the basement carpark, and we all get out of the car. I head straight for the elevator, ignoring the line-up of impressive cars. Warren is close behind, leaving Anthony to do whatever he does when he isn’t up Warren’s backside.
We step into the elevator together, and he swipes his card. I press for my floor, and he stands beside me, waiting for the doors to close.
“I’m sorry,” he eventually mutters. I remain quiet. “What happened in Italy was unexpected.”
I ignore him. The elevator shakes to a stop, and the doors slide open. I step out, pausing. “Goodbye, Warren.”
“You make it sound final,” he mutters, inserting his keycard for the penthouse. “It isn’t.” And then the doors slide closed again.
I release a long breath, then turn to my door and stare at the small piece of police tape that still remains after their cordon. I pull it off as I insert my key and go inside.
The smell hits me first, like chemicals mixed with damp. I go straight to the window and push it open. My eyes fall to the spot where I found Isaac, and my heart stutters.
And then I call Courtney, because if anyone can make me feel better, it’s her.
“Girl this place is a mess,” she says the second she steps inside the apartment. Since I called, all I managed to do was stare at the same spot on the floor.
And like she senses my unease, she breezes past me and begins to open all the blinds. “You need some daylight in here,” she says, pushing a second window open. “Why don’t you take a bath, and I’ll have a quick clean around.”
I nod, dragging myself away from my memories and going to the bathroom.
I don’t know how long I lay in the bath going over the last few months, but it’s long enough that Court comes looking for me. She pops her head around the door, “Jesus, is that water cold?”
I blink, then push to sit, realising it’s stone cold. She grabs a towel and passes it to me. “The food’s here.” And then she disappears.
I find her at the table dishing up Chinese food between two bowls. “I hope this place is still your favourite.”
I take a seat, inhaling the sweet scent of the red sauce as she pours it over the fried chicken balls.
“How have you been?” I ask.
She takes her seat and slides a bowl my way.
“Covering for that slag Olivia,” she says, rolling her eyes.
I smile at her words, relieved that some things never change.
“Yah know how she said she twisted her ankle, well, now she reckons it’s broken.
I mean, it’s already taken three-weeks to heal.
Now it looks like she’ll be out for another six at least.”
“Think of the tips,” I mutter, stabbing my fork into the chicken.
I feel her eyes on me, and then she eventually sighs. “What happened?”
I want to laugh out loud. It’s such a simple question, but the answer is ridiculously crazy. The sort no one would believe unless they read it in a book.
“Warren Baxter happened,” I say firmly. “Warren goddamn Baxter.”
WARREN
It’s late, and despite wanting to stalk Leoni, to turn up at her place and see what she’s up to, I decided to come into the office and catch up. Firstly, because she isn’t ready, and secondly, I have to act like I usually do.
My father marches in the second he spots me behind my desk.
“You’re back,” he states.
“I am,” I confirm, not looking up from my computer.
“And business went… well?”
I can sense the annoyance in his tone; the that fact he doesn’t know what I’ve been up to pisses him off, or maybe just the fact I was so close to his brother without his permission.
“How were things here?”
“Fine. I created this business, Warren, I know how to run it when you’re not around.” His tone is clipped as he moves to the window and stares out. “How was her visit… with her father?”
I clear my throat. “She didn’t say much but it was the first time she’s been in contact since he got sent down.”
“And did she mention you?”
I shrug. “I don’t think so, she didn’t say.”
He sighs heavily. “If she had of, she would have said something,” he mutters, “He would have warned her to stay away from you.”
“Why?” I ask, but when he doesn’t reply, I add, “She’s been fine, normal.”
“The funeral has been arranged. Friday,” he states.
“That’s soon,” I mutter, wondering if Leoni knew and just didn’t tell me.
“The fact you don’t know, tells me you’re not as close as you think you are.”
I narrow my eyes, “Look, whatever you’ve got going on with her father, is nothing to do with her. You could have him killed inside, what you’re doing makes no sense.”
His grin is cruel. “When someone has crossed you, not once, but twice, you realise that the best form of revenge is to drag the pain out.”
It’s the most he’s given me, so I lean forward slightly. “And at what point will you fill me in on this little plot of revenge?”
He heads for the door. “Despite what you think, Warren, you don’t have to be informed of all my dealings. Some things are meant to be taken to the grave.” He glances back over his shoulder. “The fact you’re hiding the girl from me; tells me your feelings are running too deep.”
I push to my feet. “I’m not hiding her,” I snap. The last thing I need is for him to take matters into his own hands. “I was earning her trust by making her think she was safe.” He eyes me for a second. “All that stuff with her brother rattled her.”
“Even so, you should move things forward with Nancy.”
“What’s the rush?”
He smirks. “Prove to me there are no feelings for the girl, and I’ll call my bulldog off.”
My heart kicks up a beat. “What do you mean?”
He opens the door. “Prove it or you’ll find out.” And then he strides away with confidence.
Anthony walks in, his head turning to follow my line of sight.
“Everything good?” he asks.
“Define good,” I mutter in response.
“He doesn’t know about Italy?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. But he’s made it clear he wants Mick to know who his daughter is involved with.” I sit back down, rubbing my brow.
He thinks for a moment. “Have you come up with a plan yet?”
I nod. “The engagement.”
He eyes me warily. “How?”
I shrug. “But it needs to happen soon. And it needs to be when all eyes are on me, including the chief of police.”
He nods. “Makes sense. Most of the top dogs for the Met might attend. There will be a lot of important people.”
“Exactly. The perfect alibi.”
“But then you’ll be engaged.”
I nod. “Yeah, that's the only problem.” I exhale. “I looked over your man’s credentials. Hire him to watch Leoni. Whilst she’s giving me the cold shoulder, I need to make sure she’s safe.”
It’s late by the time I step into the elevator to the apartment, way past any decent hour.
It stops on Leoni’s floor, and I step out, staring at her closed door with my heart thumping in my chest.
I move closer, listening for any signs of life, and when I don’t hear anything, I place my hand against the wood and wait there a minute, just to make sure.
When it swings open suddenly, I’m caught off guard, and so is the man who almost crashes into me.
“What the fu–” He steps back, his eyes narrowed in annoyance.
And then I hear Leoni laughing. ‘What now?” She appears behind him, her smile dying on her lips when her eyes land on me.
Heat spreads fast, it starts behind my eyes and spreads through my chest, squeezing with jealousy as it trickles down to my fists, which are now balled and itching to crack open his skull. As if Leoni senses it, she dives in front of him, shaking her head and pleading with her eyes.
“No, Warren,” she barks, pushing back against the man with her backside, trying to get him inside.
My jaw clenches so tightly, my teeth ache. And my hand is around his throat before my brain has even instructed it. I’m not in control.
I don’t see Leoni now, just him and his red face as I squeeze tightly, but I can feel her tugging on my arm, punching her fist against my chest.
“Coffee guy,” she screams. “He makes your fucking coffee.” Her words crack through my haze, and the darkness shifts. She’s clinging to me, desperation in her eyes as I finally look down at her, releasing my grip slightly. He gasps.
“It’s the guy that makes your coffee every day,” she pants. “Mike walked me home because I was too drunk.” Her hands fall to her sides, as if she’s sensed the danger is over. “Now put him down.”
I let go and he rushes past me, his hands shaking as he presses for the elevator, which opens immediately, much to his relief.
When it closes, the silence falls between us. “What the fuck was that?” she hisses.
“You tell me,” I snap. I look at my watch. “It’s almost four A.M.”
She rolls her eyes, “Go home, Warren.” And then she goes inside and slams the door in my face.