Page 68 of Scars of Silk

“Sure.”

I nudge her again, harder this time. “Sienna. Elijah is on the phone. I think something’s wrong.”

She sits up in record time, brushing her fringe out of her eyes. “Shit.” She grabs at the phone. “What is it? Is it my mum?”

She flinches her eyes, sweeping across me like she’s worried someone knows I’m here. But that can’t be the case as we haven’t been anywhere together.

She listens for a moment. “And the baby?” she asks.

“Okay. I’ll call Reggie; he’ll need to be on it first thing in the morning.” There’s a brief pause before she speaks again. “And the police have him, yes?”

I catch a look I can’t place on her face. Part relief, part guilt.

Slowly my brain catches up with her words. Baby. Reggie—wasn’t that the name of Faith’s lawyer… Arrested?

Then I understand the look of guilt.

It all plays out in slow motion.

She hangs up the phone. My pulse is spiking, my skin pricking with sweat.

“What’s happened to Faith?”

Her dark-green gaze settles on my face. “Aiden attacked her outside her flat. They have arrested him.”

My brain whirls, too fast for me to keep up with. “She’s hurt? He’s hurt her again?”

“Yes.” It’s a one word stab in my heart.

“How bad?”

“Bad.”

“Did she lose the baby?”

“No.”

I nod. That’s good. Good for Faith.

Her hand reaches for my arm. “Dan. Are you okay?”

I nod, but I’m not. I’m not okay. Dark clouds are sweeping into my head, forcing out the laughter and giggles from only hours ago.

“This was because of Elliot overhearing us at the shop the other day, wasn’t it?”

“No.”

“Was it because you’d spoken to him even though I told you not to?”

My hands curl into fists.

“No. I didn’t know who he was when I spoke to him. I didn’t interview him; it was a chance meeting.”

“Whatever makes you sleep at night.” I can’t look at her. I’m going to rip the fucking place down.

“Dan, this wasn’t us.”

“Wasn’t it? Because all I know is that I’ve spent my life protecting that girl and now she’s hurt and it seems I’m to blame.”