Page 101 of Tears of Gold

My words are harsh, but they are needed.

“I know you are getting married, Faith. It kills me every damn day.”

“Can we focus for a moment on who the fuck has made a statement against my claims. It can’t be his friends, that wouldn’t be taken seriously.”

We both sit in silence for a moment. I watch the clock ticking on the mantelpiece over the large fireplace. The fireplace we haven’t even used yet. I’ve a dinner to get to. It’s the very last thing I want to do, but I have to. I can’t fail.

“It was my dad.” I know it in my heart. “The last time I spoke to him I tried to talk to him about it. He said some pretty shitty things that no dad should ever say, then he asked for money.”

“Bastard.” Dan’s hands clench into fists and I notice again the bruises across his knuckles. “I hate him. I want to kill him.”

“Which one?” I laugh wryly.

“Both of them. All of them.”

Sienna comes back interrupting us. “Reggie said he will be on the case as soon as he can. He’s planning on the first train to Brighton. He’ll kick up a stink, I can assure you, Faith. The amount of money he’s being paid, he needs to.” She stops talking, her eyes wide.

“What do you mean how much he’s being paid?”

“Nothing. Nothing. Listen I’ve got to shoot off, for once I have the evening to myself and I plan to have a long bath and a glass of Prosecco.”

Dan leers at her. God, he’s such a moron.

“Thanks for coming. I’ll make sure Eli gets the files.”

She nods and I see her to the big front door. “Everything will be okay, Faith.”

“Will it?”

“Eli loves you. You drive him crazy, that’s half of the problem.”

“Come back tomorrow. I’ll be in a better frame of mind and hopefully Eli will be here.” I want to tell her we might have news to tell her, but I don’t.

“Sure thing. Enjoy the gala dinner tonight. And don’t worry about your case, Reggie will sort it.” She doesn’t have to add that Eli will pay whatever it takes for justice to be done.

I walk back in to the sitting room and find Dan glaring at the ceiling, his toes tapping on the arm of the expensive sofa.

“Can you please try to behave if Eli comes back tomorrow? I want you here, I want to know you’re okay, but where Eli is concerned you are a major bone of contention.”

He turns and smirks. Why the hell have I had him around all these years? I know why; it’s because he’s saved me more times than I can count and no matter how annoying he is I will never forget.

I grab the files Sienna brought over and head up to the bedroom. It’s horrible and empty without Eli. I hate every moment of being by myself here.

I text him.

Problems with the case. Police are dropping it. I wish you were here.

I’m not expecting a response, so I go and get showered, then dressed into a cute little black dress with a skater A-line skirt.

My phone beeps as I clasp my black onyx heart around my neck. I’ve already slipped on the black diamond. I want to be as close as possible to Eli tonight whether he is on a different continent or not.

I’ll be back tomorrow. X

Well I got a kiss, so that’s something.

I sit on the bed and open the files. It’s a thoughtless act, my fingers just fiddling. I frown at the top page, a parish registry record. My father’s name is on there, along with a Sarah Myers.

Sarah. My mother’s name. That’s all I really know about her. I stare at the document.