Page 33 of Scars of Silk

Ooh. That’s a blow. My stomach twists, but I ignore it.

“Because they were friends.” I think of ways to make it sound better. “He’s a comfort to her.”

“You’re my friend too, but I don’t fuck you every time I get cross or upset.”

“Whoa, Mr Fairclough, you keep that language locked up. And also, she wasn’t cross or upset. We devastated her. You broke her into more pieces than she smashed that glass heart into. So that’s on you.”

He’s silent, but I hit it home, anyway. “That is on you, Eli. If Dan knows everything about her, it’s because he’s been there with her through it all. But now time has moved on. Now YOU should be there with her. But you aren’t. You’re being a dick.”

There’s a soft chuckle. “Sienna Richards, keeping it real.”

“I’m tired of all this shit. So many lies. So many secrets. Dad told Scott Harrington that Will was busy this afternoon, and that’s why he couldn’t make dinner. Busy, Elijah? He’s been dead for eight years.”

“Sienna, your father is an arsehole. I don’t know why you put yourself through it.”

“Because I can’t leave Mum.”

“Yeah, well, maybe she’s made choices too. We’ve all made bad choices, haven’t we?”

“Go home, Eli. Just go home.”

“I can’t. I need her to understand her fear and then come and find me.”

I shake my head which he can’t see, but I know he knows I’m doing it.

“Listen, I’ve got a list of childhood friends from Dan. I’m starting tomorrow, this weekend has been a cock up.”

“Sienna, I love you, and your work. But I don’t think it’s going to make much difference. Her own father has made a statement against her.”

“Dan said it was about the shop and about the money? What if her dad got the money or the shop?”

“I doubt Dan would part with it; it’s his life, the one he shared with Faith.”

“Jeez, you need to stop sucking on those bitter lemons. I’ll talk to him. Maybe he’ll consider it.”

“Hmm.”

Another pause.

“How come you know so much about Dan Smith suddenly?”

“I told you. It’s been a bad weekend.”

“Yeah, try to top mine!”

“Dan is in an underground fighting ring. He nearly got killed on Friday. I think if I hadn’t arrived, he would have died.”

“Why did you arrive?”

“What?”

“Why did you arrive?”

“I was working for you, you dickhead.”

“Late on a Friday night?”

“Oh shut up.”