‘They told me you were a business associate. I’m guessing you never worked for an accountants?’
‘No, but I hold people accountable. Mr & Mrs Jennings caused trouble on my patch, left one of my girls with internal injuries. They were asked to take some time out. That’s when they hired you.’
‘You’re a pimp?’
‘I’m a businessman. I think that’s quite enough about me. Who’s the mark?’
‘Bridget Lomas.’
‘Ah. The nanny who gave them your name? You know she shagged the husband, right? You could leave her to his wife.’
‘How cliché.’
‘So what do you want?’
‘I want her so scared of her own shadow she can’t leave her own fucking home.’
‘It’s done. As are we.’
The line goes dead.
Like I said we all have our demons. I’m exorcising one of mine.
Three days later, Sienna Loxley is found dead of an overdose. I receive a text from an unknown number.
Fixed another loose end.
August 2016
Today is a beautiful sunny day but I’m nervous. Last night I drove us to Newquay. It wasn’t a surprise, but something we had talked about for a while. The tattooist was still in the same studio. I phoned ahead and explained the situation. When Xavier entered the shop, there was a lot of emotion. The man had never forgotten the young bloke who’d left his shop with an unfinished tattoo only to find his mother had drowned. He insisted on finishing Xavier’s tattoo free of charge. A gift to honour his mother. He tattooed her name under the surfboard, along with waves. It says Maria - forever free.
We walk to the edge of the water, remove our shoes and wade in. I let go of the boat in my hand while Xavier watches. The boat I made during art therapy when I was a hospital inpatient. I set it on the water and push it away from me. It bobbles on the wave. We turn and leave it. Perhaps it will sink, or maybe it will float away. Maybe a kid will rescue it and love it.
Xavier grabs hold of my hand as we walk away from the beach.
‘Time to move on I believe?’
‘If you’re ready?’
We drive to Padstow.
‘Fancy a coffee?’ Xavier asks, pointing to a cafe set over the pretty harbour.
‘Yes, please.’
We walk up to the veranda of the cafe. Xavier heads inside to order. I leave our table and gaze out over the water at the moored boats. I think of my paper boat.
As I hear the rattle of crockery, I turn to see a woman carrying a champagne bucket. Inside is a bottle of Elderflower Presse.
Xavier approaches.
My forehead creases. ‘I thought we were having coffee?’
That’s when he gets down on one knee.
I gasp.
‘Eden Stark. You are the light to my night, the other half of my soul. Marry me.’ He opens a ring box to reveal a diamond solitaire.
I realise I never want to be apart from this man again. Not one single night. He makes me whole.
‘Yes,’ I tell him, and the rest of the cafe applauds. We celebrate with a toast of Elderflower Presse.
I hold up my left hand. The diamond solitaire catches the sun and glints, reminding me of the sun’s rays bouncing off the sea.
We agree to look into knocking the apartments through into one huge one. I know Xavier will give me space when I need it. He knows me.
We spend the night in our hotel room lost in each other. I’d packed some fluffy handcuffs and felt the time was right for them to leave my case. Xavier was unsure about restraints at first, but I assured him that I trusted him implicitly, that they were for play and that I was making new memories to write over old ones.
I watch as he sleeps. His face peaceful and unlined. We’re blissfully happy right now and living in the moment. We’ll marry when the time seems right.
A wise person once told me that their mother had said we were all partly written books and at any time our stories could change. That there might be some outward force or person that changed our story, but until the end came there wasn’t a full stop. We could change words, add words, pause. It was our story.
THE END.
Dear Reader
Dear Reader
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this book. You are helping make my dreams come true you know! From being in my 20’s it was a huge dream of mine to write a book - something I didn’t achieve until my 40’s. Then I wrote another, and another, and, well you get the picture!
I find it hard to stick to one genre. I tend to write the story that is shouting the most in my mind at that time, so you’ll find romantic comedies, women’s fiction, suspense and erotica among my titles. Humour does tend to find its way into my most darkest of titles though. I can’t seem to help myself and we all need a touch of light among the dark.
Anyway, thank you for being part of my journey. If you have time I would appreciate a review on Amazon or Goodreads. They lead to better things for us Indie authors on occasion, and also word of mouth. Tell everyone if you enjoyed this book!
I always love hearing from readers. My social media links are at the back of this book. Come hang in my reader hangout. My mailing list link is http://www.subscribepage.com/f8v2u5 where you can get a free Ebook of my short story and poetry book Quickies on sign-up.
Love Andie xxx
THE ALPHA SERIES
The Alphabet Game: Amazon: http://getbook.at/alphabetgame
The Alphabet Wedding: Amazon: http://getbook.at/alphabetwedding
The Calendar Game: Amazon: http://getbook.at/calendargame
The Baby Game: Amazon: http://getBook.at/BabyGame
The Alpha Series Boxset: Amazon: http://getbook.at/Alphaseriesboxset
The Alphabet Game: Play It Playbook: http://getbook.at/playthealphabet
THE BALL GAMES SERIES
Balls (Book One): Amazon: http://getbook.at/AmazonBallsOne
Snow Balls (Book Two): Amazon: http://getbook.at/AmazonSnowBalls2
New Balls Please (Book Three): Amazon: http://getbook.at/NewBallsPlease
Balls Fore (Book Four): Amazon: http://getbook.at/BallsFore
The Ball Games Bundle (One to Four): Amazon: http://getbook.at/BallGamesBundle
THE VILLAGE PEOPLE SERIES
(Co-written with DH Sidebottom)
The Bunk Up (Book One): Amazon: http://getbook.at/bunkup
STANDALONE TITLES
Underneath: Amazon: http://getbook.at/underneath1
Journey to the Centre of Myself: Amazon: http://getbook.at/Journeycentre
Quickies: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1EqLt6C
Receive the Quickies ebook for FREE by signing up to Andie’s newsletter via http://www.subscribepage.com/f8v2u5
About Andie
Andie M. Long is author of The Alpha series which includes Amazon Number One Erotic Thriller The Alphabet Game; Co-writer of the Amazon Number One Erotic Romance/Adult fiction bestseller The Bunk Up with DH Sidebottom and The Ball Games series, amongst others.
She lives in Sheffield with her son and long suffering partner.
When not being partner, mother, employee or writer she can usually be found on Facebook or walking her whippet, Bella.
Andie will be signing in Newcastle 2017 and York 2018.
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