The Fire (Hurricane Book 4)

by R. J. Prescott

“Now, why don’t you take a few days to think over what I’ve said. Speak with your accountants and get a picture of how deeply ingrained my business is to your company. Mention the name Kornax Limited to him. Once you’ve had some time to think about it, you’ll realise how people rely on your cooperation to pay their mortgages and feed their families. In time, any guilt you might feel will pass, I’m sure. But one last word of warning. Should you feel a burning need to pass on the details of our relationship, to say the board members, a best friend, even your fucking priest, don’t. There are so many ways to feel pain that are worse than death, and I will introduce you to them all.”

  He crouched beside me and ran the back of his fingers gently over my cheek.

  “You are so beautiful. The lesson will be my pleasure. Now, I have some business in the capital, but I will be back soon enough. As long as you’ve been discrete, I don’t see why our next visit should be anything less than cordial.” He stood over me and, like the monster he was, relished the sight of my pain at his feet.

  His head turned as a quick knock sounded at the door and it flew open. A nervous looking Victoria clutched at the handle.

  “I apologise for interrupting you,” she said.

  “Not at all. Miss Tatem appears to have choked on something. Perhaps you’d be so kind as to get her a glass of water,” he said.

  Victoria looked nervously towards me where I was still struggling to breathe normally. “Miss Tatem?” she asked.

  “It’s all right, Victoria,” I reassured her, my voice scratchy and coarse. “Water would help.” She nodded and disappeared, knowing then that I was sending her on the same kind of mundane errand that my father did.

  “Until next time, Sarah,” he said, and strode nonchalantly out of the door, closing it gently behind him.

  Using what little strength I had left, I crawled towards the waste bin and vomited until there was nothing left.

  Acknowledgements

  To Mr P, the love of my life. Without you there would be no words. I can’t thank you enough for the way you take care of me so I can ignore the world around me, and put pen to paper. You are my best friend and greatest supporter and I love you more than you will ever know.

  Jack and Gabriel, always know that everything I do, I do for you guys. I love you, and I’m so proud of the young men you are growing up to be. You are kind, generous and supportive and with a wicked sense of humour I’m sure you’ve inherited from me. You’re welcome.

  To Mum and Dad, thank you for never letting me lose faith in myself, even when that was the easiest thing to do.

  Lauren-Marie, you are my rock! I seriously don’t know what I’d do without you. Your friendship means the world to me and I can’t thank you enough for everything you do. I would be lost without you. We’ve had so much fun together on this crazy journey, and I hope that this is just the beginning!

  To my best friend Maria. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for our friendship. You are kind, patient (especially when I disappear writing for weeks at a time) and selfless. When I need help, you’re always there to offer it, even before I’ve asked. Thank you so much for everything.

  Clare and Lorayne! It’s no exaggeration to say that I would not have finished this book without you. Lorayne, thank you for much for your motivation, encouragement and advice as well as your mad beta reading skills. You have shaped this book from start to finish and have supported me so much doing it. Clare, I had no idea when we met that you would end up as my editor. Thank you so much for taking me on as a client and for everything you’ve done for me. Not only has your advice been spot on, but you’ve been so incredibly supportive and I hope this is only the beginning of the books we work on together.

  Marie, thank you always for your friendship and support. Without you I don’t think I don’t think I’d have written The Hurricane, let alone book four in the series!

  To the best family in the world, Gerry, David, Gareth, Laura, Sarah, Tiff, Daniel, Faye, Ben, Boo and Dave. You are always so loving and full of encouragement and I’m so grateful that I get to call you all my family.

  Prescott’s Hurricanes you are, without doubt, the best reader group in the world. I have kept you waiting for so long, but your love for the Driscoll boys is eternal. Thank you always for your encouragement and enthusiasm. You make the group such a joyful place and I dedicate this book to each and every one of you. Thank you so much for your patience and support and for keeping the love for these books alive. Without you guys, this story wouldn’t exist.

  To Leigh Stone, everything you do for me is always so beautiful and professional and I can’t thank you enough for continuing to put up with me and my crazy deadlines! I can’t wait to work on our next book together because working with you is nothing short of effortless.

  Rachel de Lune, Charlotte Hart, Grace Harper, Kirsty Moseley and L.A. Casey you guys are my tribe!!! You show me, time after time, how powerful women can be when we support one another. You have all taught me so much and I hope someday I can repay all of the kindness and encouragement you’ve shown me.

  To LJ from mayhem Cover Creations, time after time you pull it out of the bag for me and you know what I want even before I do. Thank you so much for my beautiful cover. I couldn’t love it more.

  To Luan thank you so much for Beta Reading for me, for your friendship and sense of humour and for everything that you do.

  Thank you so much to all of my friends in Bristol, Cardiff and around the world. Conors, Christine, Jodie, Gav, Steph, Sarah, Kerrie, Kevin, Cynth, Amanda, Ruth, Ceri-Anne, Adele, Paul, Bronwen, and all my friends. Your support and encouragement means the world to me.

  To Ffion, there’s a quote in The Hurricane that always reminds me of you, ‘A champion is someone who gets up when they can’t’. You have been through so much, but no matter how many times you get knocked down, you always get back up. Even where you’re sure you can’t. I sometimes think that’s because your Mum, your Aunty, your Godmother and your Nan are the best examples of strong, supportive, loving women I know. One day, you’ll realise that your journey had a purpose. It taught you how to get back up and made you strong, so that you could be that example to someone else. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to you, and all of the amazing women in your family, for all of your love and support. I will never forget it.

  Over the last few years I’ve had the privilege of working with and meeting so many bloggers, authors and readers, many of whom have become close friends. To each and every one of you, thank you. Every day I learn something new and every day I count myself lucky for getting to be part of this wonderful, supportive community bound together by a shared love of books.

  To you the reader. As always, my last and most heartfelt thanks goes to you. To know that of any book you could have picked up, you chose mine, has made my dream come true.