Scars of Silk: A Tears of Ink - Novel

by Anna Bloom

  “Hi,” I answer, cringing slightly. It’s not like he hadn’t put the two of us together.

  “Dan?”

  “Uh. Yeah.” I scrub a hand through my hair.

  “Dan, is Sienna there?” His voice is tight and with it the muscles in the pit of my stomach contract.

  “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.”

  Her eyes fall and I slip off the bed, pacing my way to the lounge. The red mist I know so well urges me on, my fist flying out and connecting with one wall. Plaster and paint crumble to the floor.

  “Dan!” Sienna shrieks and rushes to grab my arm. “Please, Dan. Don’t do that.”

  It’s an almost reflective action, but I shake off her hold. To my horror, she flies back and lands against the arm of the sofa, crying out as she falls against the hard edge.

  In a snap I’m awake, the red fury ebbing as quick as it arrived. “Shit, Sienna.” I go to grab her, but she pushes me away.

  “Go away.”

  I almost do. I almost turn and slip out into the night, but something in my chest makes me stop. It’s as though a tangible cord of fine silk has unravelled from where she’s crumpled on the floor and attached itself to my beating heart.

  I crouch at her side, breathing deep, pushing out the rest of my anger. “No. I’m not going. Sienna, I’m sorry. I’ve never hurt any woman before.”

  Her eyes flicker over my face, from my eyes to my mouth. “Yeah. I bet my dad told my mum that once too.”

  I cringe at her words. “I’m not like your dad. That’s a promise. Sienna, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise how light you were.” That doesn’t explain it. Not well enough, but there is no other way to describe the light touch of my hand and her spin through the air.

  “I didn’t mean to get Faith hurt.” She crumples a little and the woman who’s one of the strongest people I’ve met slips into a floor of tears.

  “I know. I know. I didn’t mean what I said. It was just a knee jerk reaction.” I pull her closer. “Come, let's get dressed and then why don’t we get you to the hospital so you can help Elijah?”

  “How many times can I keep going to the hospital to see people I’ve hurt with my actions?”

  “Sienna. Stop, that’s not what’s happened here.”

  “It is, Dan. This happens. I do something and then people get hurt.”

  “You had nothing to do with this. Aiden is a fucking nutcase. It’s got nothing to do with you, or me.”

  She shudders in my grasp.

  “Come. Let’s go and help.”

  A tear slips down her face. “You want to protect her like you’ve always done, because you still love her.”

  “No. I want to go with you because I’m in love with you.”

  She watches me, long and hard, and then nods. She stands, but I catch her back, my hands holding her still. “I will never hurt you. That’s a promise on my life. Never.”

  “I know.”

  “Good. Come on, let's go.”

  I stay in the car while she goes inside to see how Faith is. I want to go in; hell, do I want to. But this isn’t my place. If Faith and I are going to get our friendship back, it won’t be because she’s in hospital. It will be because we got there and wanted it.

  The whole time Sienna is gone, I drum on the steering wheel, my brain processing over the events of the evening.

  It kills me not to react to what’s happened to Faith. Part of me wants to be on the A23 driving back to Brighton to pummel the living shit out of Elliot. But I made a promise to Sienna I wouldn’t hurt her again. If I did that, then I would.

  So instead I sit and wait.

  A waiting game that hurts.

  When the door opens, I breathe a visible exhalation of relief. “How is she?”

  Sienna’s face says it all. “She’s taken some damage. Her hands are broken, badly. But the baby is fine. Elijah is sitting there. You should see him, Dan. He looks like a man on fire. He was on his way home to tell her he was sorry for being an arse when he caught Aiden attacking her.”

  I breathe in a shaky breath. That used to be my job, to protect her, but this time it was Elijah there.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for her to wake up? Elijah won’t mind.”

  He won’t, he’ll be the bigger man, because he loves her. That’s why he came to see me the other day; it’s why he does everything he has to do to make her happy.

  “And Aiden has been caught?”

  “He’s going to jail, Dan. It’s all on CCTV and it proves her case.”

  "That’s good. That’s good." I nod and stare out of the window.

  “Go and see her; she’s asleep, but at least go and see her.”

  I turn and look at the woman with the brightest green eyes and shake my head. “I want to go home with you.”

  Leaning forward, I catch her face in my hands, pressing my lips against hers. “I’m sorry for earlier, but I don’t want to keep saying it, because it sounds like I’m setting a precedent.”

  “I know. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

  “No. You did right. After everything you’ve been through, you had every right.” My lips find hers, eating up her kisses. “Let’s go home.”

  “Sure?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  Eighteen

  Sienna

  I can only thank the heavens it’s Saturday the following day and I’ve got nowhere to be. We didn’t sleep and not because we were too busy devouring each other alive like other nights together. Mainly because we were both wound up after Faith’s attack. Dan’s sleep when he dropped off was restless; nightmares seemed to chase him like they did the first night
we slept together. When he woke, his skin hot and damp, he wrapped me in a tight embrace until he slept again. I just held him, because in truth I didn’t know what else to do.

  I stretch, rubbing my bare skin against his, pushing my foot between his calves.

  “Morning.” He smiles and it’s beautiful.

  “Morning to you too.” Reaching up, I plant a kiss on his lips; it's warm and delicious. “You were having horrible dreams again.”

  He rubs at his face. “Just the past haunting me.” Flashing me a dazzling smile, he rolls me so I’m on top, his morning erection pressing against my thigh. “It can’t chase me here though.”

  “It shouldn’t be chasing you anywhere.”

  “Make me forget about it then.” His eyes fix on my lips, and my pulse spikes in response. I can’t get enough of him. I want him all the time, even when I think I don’t.

  “I don’t know why I ever thought this would be a temporary fling. I can’t imagine waking up without you.”

  “Just as well I don’t plan to go anywhere.”

  He rolls us again, caging me within his firm muscles. “I think this could become a forever thing.”

  I lift an eyebrow. “Even with my parents and all the shit that comes with them?”

  “Hey, at least you have parents to introduce your bad boy boyfriend too. Who can I show off my socialite girlfriend to?”

  “Abi and her husband?” I’m part teasing, but also, would he?

  “They think I’m in Ibiza.”

  “So you were going to Ibiza?”

  “Depended on whether you opened the door.”

  “I’m glad I was home!”

  He catches my lips, his tongue sliding between them and dancing with mine. “Fuck, so am I, Sienna.”

  The events of last night dance their grey shadows into my blissful moment. “Do you think Faith with be okay?”

  A swift frown scrunches his forehead and I know he’s thinking of the right words to say. “She’s been through worse and come out fighting.”

  “I guess you’re both fighters.” I watch him carefully.

  “We had to be. Growing up in a tattoo parlour, no mothers in sight. We had to fight hard.”

  “It’s why you love her. She’s your partner. I guess Abi was always outside of that.” I could tell; that forms my conversations with Abi. She’s their best friend, but her path has been different; secure, I guess.

  “She’s my best friend. At least she was, and I guess I hope one day she will be again. I can say that now.”

  I can sense a but. I just hope it doesn’t make my heart implode.

  “But, I don’t love her, Sienna. Not the way a man should. I loved the idea my dad spun of us, and when he left, it was all I had to hang on to.”

  “So, love me instead.”

  His smile sets my soul alight. “That, Sienna Richards, I fully intend to do.”

  The doorbell rings, waking us from a late morning snooze. “Bloody hell.” I groan. “Don’t people know it’s the weekend?”

  “Maybe it’s your mum coming to show you she’s okay.” Dan doesn’t open his eyes to say this. “I’ll stay in here and hide.” He pulls the duvet up over his head and I chuckle, pushing my fingers under the edge and jabbing them in his ribs.

  The doorbell goes again. Clearly, they aren’t going to be ignored. “I’ll be right back,” I say pulling down the duvet and planting a kiss on the side of his sleep squished face.

  Tightening my robe, I pad across to the door. There are clothes everywhere and I’m thinking as a relationship starter Dan and I should maybe make a clear effort to take our clothes off in the bedroom.

  I can’t believe this is real. Him and me, here. It’s real.

  I’m smiling a goofy I’m-on-cloud-nine grin when I swing the door open. My smile falls.

  It’s the weekend.

  Scott Harrington looks at me, his stupid polo shirt collar standing up at the neck, his leather boat shoes far more shiny than they should be.

  Shit. It’s the weekend.

  “I’d ask if you’re ready for Venice, but it looks like you’ve overslept.” He chuckles in a condescending way and pushes past me into the flat.

  “Scott.” I don’t know what to say. “Scott, I can’t go away with you this weekend. I had a big issue with work last night and didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning.”

  “Don’t be silly, Sienna. You can catch up on your sleep on the plane.”

  “Scott. No. I’ve got things I need to do today; it’s important.”

  “This is why it will be so much better when we are married, and you don’t have to work anymore. You can stay at home and enjoy a luxurious life like your mother.”

  I want to tell him I can’t possibly go away for the weekend because there is a naked man in my bed I might want to spend the rest of my life with.

  I want to, but the words tangle on my tongue.

  Scott’s words have a full impact on me.

  A luxurious life like my mother. Every syllable hits me in the gut.

  “Scott…” I trail off. I don’t know what to say. His threat is too real.

  This will never end. It’s going to continue and continue until the day I die.

  Then in one lightning moment of realisation I understand what Will was thinking. I know the thoughts that went through his mind that day.

  This will never end.

  The silken ties of my family will never let me free, because there is no free.

  “Sienna, I’d hate for your father to hear that our weekend has been upended by your work. He was so looking forward to hearing all about it on Monday over dinner.”

  “I’m not seeing my father on Monday.”

  “I’ve arranged it.”

  His words buzz in my ears. Is this it? Is this what it’s all going to come down to? “Scott. Is this how you want your life? A puppet on a string to my father, because you know if you marry me for money you will never get your own freedom again. There is no freedom in the Richards family.”

  He looks at me with wide eyes and for a moment I think it’s sunk in; that he realises that this is all a power play. “Sienna. Believe me, your father has made the deal sweet enough that I don’t care about freedom one way or another.”

  My eyesight dims a little.

  The sound of a door opening barely registers. Then a hand lands on my shoulder, resting gently on the sore patch of ink. A whispered brush of air skims my ear. “It’s time to fight, darling.”

  I turn slightly to the side, almost dazed. Dan stands next to me. Bare chested, his ink on display, his muscles flexed. “I think you’ll find Sienna’s dance card is all booked up for the foreseeable future.”

  I quiver at his words. This is the end. My mum. Me. What will happen to us if we disobey Dad’s rules one final time? Then, as if he knows that I’m thinking, he turns and the left side of his lips twitch up at the corners.

  “Are you coming back to bed, babe?”

  Scott is open mouthed, his skin turning a shade of purple I’ve never seen outside of garish home furnishings. “A rough booty call? Is that how you like it, Sienna?”

  I laugh, it's irrepressible. “You’ve no idea how I like it. Now get away from me, my home, and my life.”

  “You can’t do this. We have made a deal.”

  I step right up to him. His eyes widen, but I don’t give a shit. It’s as though the tattoo on my shoulder empowers me; transforming me from the rule-abiding girl I once was into the woman I want to be. “I suggest you run along and tell my dad about it, because I can assure you, I’m no longer listening.”

  I push him back for the open door and he scurries, his stupid shiny boat shoes squeaking against the floor. Then I slam the door in his face and lean against it, wild shakes overtaking my body.

  Dan catches me, crushing me into his chest.

  “There will be repercussions, Dan.” Tears spill down my cheeks. “There’s always a price to pay.”

  “It’s t
ime to stand up, Sienna. Look at everything you are, all the things you’ve achieved, and fight for them. If you don’t stand up now, then how do you know there won’t be another obnoxious prick knocking on your door next weekend. How will we ever buy our groceries in public?”

  I snort, a mixture of tears and laughter.

  “I don’t know what to do.”

  “How fast does your car go?”

  I shrug. “Fast.”

  “Well then how about we stop whatever is about to go down at your parents? You know, bullies like Aiden, like your dad. They all have one thing in common.”

  “What’s that?”

  I never thought of my dad being like Aiden. But if you take away the veneer of lifestyle and look at the man underneath, they are one and the same. Dan can see that because he sees everything just as it is. He’s been seeing me just as I am since the moment we met when he accused me of being uptight and in need of an orgasm.

  “They’ve never had someone stand up to them before. Now, I’m guessing I’m a bit bigger than your dad.”

  I eye the height and breadth of him. “Yes.”

  “Well let's see how he gets on picking on someone his own size.”

  “My mum?”

  “Can leave or stay, but it’s time for you to fight, just for you.”

  The gravel pathway crunches under the wheels of the Mercedes. Three times I nearly turned the car around, that was until Dan told me to pull over and made me swap seats with him.

  It’s fair to say the car does go fast.

  The house is silent as we walk up. I’m expecting some shouting, maybe screaming. I’m expecting some form of fallout. There is no single way Scott Harrington hasn’t called my dad already. If I ever see him again, I shall shove his phone up his arse sideways just out of principle.

  I ring the bell but don’t receive a response.

  “Maybe I won’t need to punch your dad’s lights out after all.”

  “This is strange. Mum should be here; she’s only just got out of hospital. Marta should be here. Oh wait, it’s Saturday, her day off.”

  We both jump as a shout echoes from within the house.