Unveiled

‘Hey.’

I look up as I’m weaving through the corridors below Ice and see Miller walking towards me. Lucky for him, I haven’t even the capacity to lob a few choice words at him. ‘Hey.’

‘What’s the matter?’

I manage to give him a really? look, and he backs down immediately. Good move. ‘You look tired, sweet girl.’

‘I am.’ I feel like all life has been sucked out of me. I walk straight into him and use what’s left of my energy to crawl up his body and cling to him, locking every limb around him. He accepts my need for support willingly, turning and trudging back the way he came.

‘I feel like it’s been too long since I’ve heard your laugh,’ he says quietly as he lets us into his office and transports me to his couch.

‘There’s not much to be so over the moon about right now.’

‘I beg to differ,’ he disagrees, taking us down to the squidgy leather, me beneath him, but I don’t release my hold of him. ‘I’m fixing things, Olivia. Everything will be all right.’

I smile sadly to myself, admiring his valour but worrying that by fixing problems, he’ll be creating others. I also consider the fact that Miller can’t make my mother disappear. ‘OK,’ I breathe, feeling my hair being twisted until it’s tugging at my scalp.

‘Would you like me to get you anything?’ he asks.

I shake my head. I don’t need anything. Just Miller. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Jolly good.’ He reaches behind him and starts to push my legs from his back. I don’t make it difficult for him, despite wanting to remain attached to him forever. My muscles go limp and I puddle beneath him in a useless heap. ‘Take a nap.’ His lips meet my forehead and he pushes himself up, immediately pulling his suit into place before he offers a small smile and strides away.

‘Miller?’

He stops at the door and pivots slowly on his expensive shoes until his stoic expression greets me.

‘Find another way.’ I don’t need to elaborate.

He nods slowly but unconvincingly. Then he leaves.

My eyes are incredibly heavy. I struggle to keep them open, and as soon as they close, Nan’s face pops into my darkness and they’re snapping open again. I need to check in. Rolling onto my side, I find my phone and dial, collapsing to my back when it starts to ring.

And ring.

And ring.

‘Hello?’

My brow bunches in response to the strange voice on the other end of the line, and I take a quick glimpse of my screen to see if I’ve accidently called someone else, finding I haven’t at all. I take my phone back to my ear. ‘Who’s this?’

‘An old family friend. I’m assuming this must be Olivia?’

I’m sitting up on the couch before I know what’s happened, and I’m standing a split second after that. That voice. My mind is attacked by image after image of him. His scarred face, his thin lips, his eyes that harbour all kinds of evil.

Charlie.

Chapter 20

‘What are you doing there?’ The blood drains from my head, but I don’t take my seat and begin breathing exercises, which I know damn well I should do. I’m beginning to feel light-headed.

‘Well, our lovely chat was cut short earlier, so I thought I’d drop by.’ Iciness oozes from his voice. ‘Sadly, you’re not here. But your grandmother is keeping me entertained. Quite a woman.’

‘You lay a finger on her . . .’ I start for the door, energy and purpose blocking my exhaustion. ‘You even breathe on her . . .’

He laughs, a cold, evil laugh. ‘Why would I ever want to harm such a dear old lady?’

I’m running now, my legs carrying me out of Miller’s office and through the winding corridors of Ice’s basement. That’s a serious question, and it has an answer. ‘Because it’ll destroy me, and by destroying me, you destroy Miller, too. That’s why.’

‘You’re a smart girl, Olivia,’ he says, and then I hear something in the background. Nan. Her chirpy voice stalls my escape and I come to a stop at the top of the stairs, mainly because my pounding feet and heavy breathing are preventing me from hearing what she’s saying. ‘Excuse me,’ Charlie says casually, the line soon becoming muffled. I can only assume he’s holding the phone to his chest. ‘Two sugars, Mrs Taylor,’ he says cheerfully. ‘But, please, take a seat. You shouldn’t be exerting yourself. I’ll see to it.’

He’s back on the line, breathing hard, as if to tell me he’s there again. Where’s Gregory? My eyes close and I beg everything holy to keep them from harm, my gut twisting with guilt. She isn’t even aware of the danger I’ve put her in. There she is, making tea, asking how many sugars the bastard takes, totally oblivious. ‘Should I ask her to make it three cups?’ Charlie asks, kicking my feet back into action. I run for the exit of Ice. ‘I’ll see you soon, Olivia.’ He hangs up and my dread multiplies by a million.

Adrenaline is sailing through me, and I throw my weight into yanking the doors open . . . and get nowhere. ‘Open!’ I pull repeatedly, my eyes searching for a lock. ‘Fucking open!’

‘Olivia!’ Miller’s worried, stricken tone punches holes in my back, but I don’t give up. I yank and pull, my shoulder jarring repeatedly from my constant, dogged attempts to open the stupid doors.

‘Why won’t they open?’ I shout, now shaking them and looking around, not at all averse to throwing something through them in my desperation to get to Nan.