by Beevis, Keri
Lila hated that she tensed slightly at the mention of the girl’s name. Yes, Jessica was just a teenager and yes, Lila knew Jack had no interest in her, other than as a link to finding out who had been tormenting Stephanie. It still stung though the way Jessica had looked down her nose at Lila, how she thought she was better, and that Lila was so irrelevant it was okay to flirt with Jack right under her nose.
It was no excuse for her bitchiness earlier though. Lila realised that and regretted it. She tried her best to chew down on her insecurity that she would never really be good enough for Jack. ‘Fingers crossed.’
While he had been out with Cooper, Lila had contacted Ruby – at first by calling then, when the girl hadn’t answered, by sending her a text. Jack was certain Jessica held all the answers, but it didn’t hurt to cast the net wider. If Jessica came back first then great, but if not, at least they had a backup.
‘So that’s what we know about Stephanie, but we still have to take into consideration how Shona McNamara’s locket ended up with my stuff.’
Jack shot Lila a look and she knew he was so caught up with Stephanie he didn’t really want to consider that the two missing girls might somehow be involved. It was a truth though he could no longer avoid.
‘I think Shona and Phoebe are both dead, Jack. And somehow they are connected to this, to Stephanie.’
He scowled at her, but didn’t protest. Like it or not, this thing was bigger than his sister.
‘There’s something obvious we’ve been missing.’
‘Which is?’
‘Phoebe and Shona came from Lincolnshire, right?’
‘And?’
‘And it’s been under our noses this whole time, Jack.’ Lila had been busy while he had been out with Cooper, reading through articles again on the missing girls, but this time she wasn’t working blindly and knew exactly what she was looking for. The name of the school they had attended. ‘They went to Knight’s House School, the sister school of Queen’s House and Bishop’s House. It’s just over the county border in Nottinghamshire, near Newark. Don’t you see? That’s why we didn’t connect it to them before.’
‘Shit.’
‘Wait, there’s more.’ She picked up her iPad, already logged into Instagram, showed him the comments under the Godfather picture on The Bishop’s account.
‘Lila. We’ve seen all this.’
‘No, Jack, we were so blinkered by Stephanie we missed it.’ She showed him the comment from PrincessPheebs.
I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.
PrincessPheebs. Phoebe Kendall. Posted almost two weeks before she disappeared.
Jack shook his head. ‘Fuck! How did we miss this?’
‘It was buried further up the comments and we didn’t see it because we weren’t looking for it. Besides, she hasn’t gone by her full name, so it was easy to miss. The Bishop, Stephanie, Shona, Phoebe, the car accident; somehow it’s all connected. We just need to figure out how the–’
‘Lila Amberson, do you have any idea how much I love you right now?’ Jack caught her face between his hands, kissed her hard on the mouth.
Heat crept up her neck as she registered his words. He hadn’t meant them, had just said them in the moment. Hadn’t he?
As he released her, picked up her iPad again, and scooted up the bed to reread Phoebe’s comment, she realised he wasn’t even aware of what he’d said and she was annoyed at the stab of disappointment in her gut. They were just words and he had said ‘love’, not ‘in love’. Besides, they had only known each other a couple of weeks. It was too soon and she was being ridiculous, reading too much into everything.
Was she in love with Jack?
That was a loaded question.
She studied him, how his brows knitted in concentration as he looked at Phoebe Kendall’s Instagram profile, the long sweep of his dark lashes hiding eyes that were a pool of blue. His hair was a mess, his jaw covered in day-old stubble where he hadn’t bothered to shave. He was hot-headed, stubborn, at times beyond frustrating, but equally he was passionate, kind and he knew how to make her smile when she was down. That mattered.
Beneath it all though, he was vulnerable and it was that vulnerability that had initially sucked her in, seeing how lost he was trying to mourn his sister, wanting… no, needing, to help him.
Her feelings ran deep, but was she in love with him? Certainly she was in lust. Jack made her feel more than anyone had ever done before and she craved being with him, couldn’t stop thinking about him when they were apart. Was that love? Was she in love with him?
If she wasn’t, she was well on the way, and that scared her a little, knowing that there were so many obstacles for them to overcome and that he had the power to break her.
He glanced up, caught her watching him, that sexy mouth curving as his eyes locked on hers, not missing a trick. ‘See something you like?’ he teased.
Lila flushed. How did he do that, have this ability to make her blush so easily? Determined not to let him have the upper hand this time, she gave him a demure smile. ‘Maybe.’
Boldly, she crawled up the bed, took the iPad from his hand, never breaking eye contact, and sat it down on the duvet as she settled herself in his lap, wrapped her legs around his waist as best she could, though the cast made it difficult, her left leg pointing out at an awkward angle.
His eyes heated as he raised his hands to touch her, looking surprised when she pushed them away.
‘No touching.’
He seemed amused. ‘Okay.’
Lila traced her finger around the outline of his mouth before leaning forward to kiss him chastely, sweetly, on the lips. When he reacted to the kiss, she eased away, teasing, and trailed feather-light kisses along his jawline and down to his neck as her hands played in his hair, running her fingers through the length, loving that there was enough to tug on. She clenched a handful in one fist, let her other hand trail down his back, her fingertips slipping beneath his T-shirt as she moved her mouth to his earlobe, sucking and nibbling. Jack caught his breath as she playfully nipped a little harder and he let out a growl, his arms locking around her, catching her by surprise, before he flipped her on her back, pinning her to the bed.
‘Hey, I said no touching.’
‘I don’t care.’
His lips curved an inch above hers before he closed his mouth over her protests, kissing her deeply and possessively, his body melding to hers. Lila gave in, melting beneath him, wrapping her good leg around his waist and her arms around his neck, trying to pull him closer as need took over.
Jack had just slipped his hand up her dress when his mobile rang and his head shot up.
‘Leave it,’ Lila demanded. Whoever it was could wait.
She guided his mouth back to hers, distracted him with another deep kiss, infuriated when the phone rang again and Jack eased himself off her.
‘No, Jack.’
‘Two minutes, I promise.’
Hot, horny and frustrated, Lila gave an exaggerated sigh, damning the caller to hell for the interruption.
‘Jessica, hi. Thanks for calling me back.’
Great, it would be little miss snooty.
‘No, it’s fine. I know it’s late, but you’re not interrupting.’
Jack glanced at Lila, sensibly retreating from the bedroom when she shot him daggers. She listened to his side of the phone call as he asked Jessica about the French trip, wanting to know if anything had happened, if there was someone Stephanie had fallen out with or upset.
There was silence for a few moments and Jack paced on the landing. Jessica continued to speak, Jack interrupting with a few terse one-word questions. He sounded agitated, which had Lila sitting up and paying attention.
Eventually the call ended and he came back into the bedroom, barely giving her a glance as he slipped his feet into his trainers.
‘What did she say?’
He didn’t answer, but Lila could tell it wasn’t good from the scowl on his face. He wa
s shutting her out again. She watched as he skulked back to the bedroom door.
‘Jack? Look at me.’
He did as told, but his face was an angry mask. ‘What?’
‘What did Jessica say?’
He seemed to consider that for a second, the frown deepening.
‘It’s Gruger. He was on the trip. Something happened – Jessica isn’t sure what because Steph refused to talk about it – but she caught them arguing the next day, said Gruger was furious and screaming at her.’
With that, Jack turned and skulked from the bedroom, leaving Lila to deal with the revelation that the man who had pulled her from the accident was her attacker and also The Bishop, that Gruger was the one who had tried to blackmail Stephanie and that he might very well have killed Shona McNamara and Phoebe Kendall.
She heard Jack on the stairs, clambered from the bed, reaching for her crutches, having a bad feeling about what he was about to do.
‘Jack?’
He continued to ignore her and she found him in the kitchen hunting for his car keys, growing angry and frustrated when he couldn’t find them. Cooper was attempting to run circles around him, agitated and whining when Jack ignored him, pushing him out of the way.
‘Jack, what are you thinking of doing? You can’t go over there.’
‘Get out of my way, Lila.’
‘You can’t do this. We have to go to the police!’
He found his keys, scowled at Lila when she blocked his path to the front door.
‘Move!’
‘Please, sit down for five minutes and talk to me about this. Think about what you’re doing.’
‘Get out of my way now or God help me, Lila. I will move you.’
Lila didn’t doubt him. He was bigger, stronger and raging mad, and he wasn’t listening to her. She needed a compromise.
‘If you insist on driving out there, I’m coming with you.’
‘I don’t need you with me. I need you to stay here.’
‘It’s not your decision to make, Jack. We’re in this together. If you’re going to confront Gruger, I have a right to be there.’
Lila saw the flicker of hesitation.
‘He attacked you, he blackmailed my sister, and it’s possible he may have killed two girls. You stay here.’ This time, Jack pushed past her and out of the front door.
Lila caught hold of it before it could slam in her face, following him awkwardly on her crutches. ‘And what if he tries to hurt you?’ The fear was real and suddenly foremost in Lila’s mind. Gruger had done some terrible things and he wouldn’t want the truth to come out. Jack wasn’t thinking straight and that made him vulnerable.
‘Get back inside the house, Lila.’
‘I don’t want to stay here alone. What if he’s not at home? What if he comes after me again while you’re gone? Please don’t leave me here alone, Jack. I’m scared.’
It was a lie. Lila knew she was safe in Jack’s house. The only thing that terrified her was the thought of Jack confronting Gruger. She was desperate though.
He hesitated, seeming torn, and she knew then that she had him and that he wouldn’t leave her behind. ‘Okay. Get in the car before I change my mind.’
* * *
Lila tried to talk him down during the ride out to Filby, but Jack wasn’t having any of it, his mouth drawn in a tight line, his focus solely on getting to Gruger. He hadn’t said what he intended to do once he had confronted the man, whether he wanted a confession, to use his fists, or do worse, and Lila knew that was because he hadn’t thought that far ahead. Which was why this whole thing was such a bad idea.
She toyed with calling the police, but realised that in her rush to stop Jack, she had left the house without her phone or her bag. Instead she sat helplessly beside him, watching the road ahead as the car ate up the miles, wondering how her evening could have taken such a terrible turn. Damn it, she was supposed to be having hot sex, not on her way to confront a madman and potential murderer. She prayed that Jack would see sense before he reached the Grugers’ house.
He didn’t, pulling into their driveway, already out of the car and hammering on the front door before Lila even had her seat belt off. She reached in the back seat for her crutches, in her haste knocking one on the floor. Knowing she had to get to Jack and that time was of the essence, she would manage with just one.
‘Gruger! Open the door. I know you’re in there and I know what you did to my sister, what you’ve been doing to Lila Amberson.’
Jack’s rage was met with silence. There were two other cars in the driveway and lights were on in the house upstairs, but no-one came to answer.
He banged his fist on the front door again. ‘I know you’re in there and I’m not going anywhere until you open the door.’
Lila caught hold of his arm, annoyed when he shook her off. ‘Please, Jack. Stop. This is a huge mistake.’ She glanced at the lounge window with the curtains drawn, saw the flicker of movement and realised they were being watched. ‘Let’s go home. Please.’
She wished she had her phone with her so she could call for help. Jack wasn’t backing down and things could only end badly. The curtain at the lounge window flickered again before fully opening. Richard Gruger stood behind the glass wearing his pyjamas, and he looked furious. Cowering behind him, Lila spotted Judith in a shapeless white nightgown, clearly petrified.
Jesus, they had been in bed asleep and Jack had woken them.
‘Mr Foley?’
Jack paused his assault on the front door, storming up to the window when he realised Gruger was speaking to him. ‘Get out here now!’
Gruger didn’t move, his tone cool and authoritative. ‘Mr Foley, I am going to tell you this politely just once. You are trespassing. Please get off our property.’
‘You don’t get to call the shots. I know what you did to my sister, you perverted piece of shit. She was seventeen. And you attacked Lila with a metal bar, tried to kill her. What the fuck’s wrong with you?’
Gruger didn’t respond, simply stared at Jack, his expression grim. Lila noticed Aaron slink into the room, his eyes bug wide as he stood behind his father.
Lila stared from Richard Gruger to Jack, not sure how the standoff was going to end. Her mouth was dry, her palms clammy, her heart almost stopping when Gruger turned his attention to her, eyes narrowing and his expression a sneer of disgust.
‘Hey! Don’t you dare fucking look at her,’ Jack raged, moving to stand in front of Lila so he was mostly blocking her view.
She wanted to look away, but could still see Gruger and she couldn’t bring herself to break eye contact with the man who had saved her and then tried to kill her. Her attention was off Jack just long enough to miss him picking up the flowerpot, realising too late his intention as it hurled into the lounge window, smashing the glass.
Judith screamed, the shrill sound piercing the air, and Lila heard swearing and scuffling coming from inside the house.
Oh fuck, Jack. What have you done?
The sound of a rattling chain came from inside the front door. Jack was already striding towards it but stopped as Richard Gruger threw it open, the barrel of a shotgun pointed clean at Jack’s chest.
‘Jack!’ Lila stumbled forward, flinching when the shotgun swung her way. She caught hold of Jack’s hand, trying to pull him back from the danger.
Instead he attempted a step forward, wavered when the gun was aimed again in his direction. ‘What are you going to do? Shoot me? Is that what you did to Shona McNamara and Phoebe Kendall?’
Gruger’s eyes widened slightly, but he gave nothing away. ‘I’ve called the police, Mr Foley. I suggest you and Miss Amberson stay exactly where you are.’ When Jack looked like he might ignore that order, Gruger cocked the shotgun. ‘I’m a keen huntsman with a good aim. As a homeowner with a frightened family who have been woken up by intruders in the middle of the night, I have a right to defend my home. I strongly urge you not to test my patience.’
For one terrified mo
ment, Lila worried that Gruger was actually going to shoot them. She knew what he was capable of. Also knew that by showing up at his house this way, Jack had given him the perfect alibi. In the distance, a siren wailed and she let out the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding, wanted to cry with relief that he hadn’t been lying about calling the police.
‘You’re going to pay for what you’ve done.’
Jesus, Jack. Stop goading him.
‘It might not be tonight, but I’m going to make sure you pay for what you did to Steph, for what you’ve been doing to Lila. Do you seriously think you’re going to get away with it all?’
‘Please, Jack. Stop winding him up.’
‘My husband has done nothing wrong.’ Judith Gruger’s voice was shaky, tears streaming down her face. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you people. He saved your life,’ she spat at Lila. ‘Is this how you repay him?’
‘Judith, get back to bed, you too, Aaron. I’ve got this.’
‘But, Dad, I–’
‘I said bed, both of you!’
There it was, that cold temper Lila had seen flashes of the first time she had met him after the accident.
What did he plan to do once his wife and son had disappeared upstairs? Shoot both her and Jack, pretend to the police it had been in self-defence? She started to shake, her gut churning when Judith Gruger put her arm around her son and led him away from the door.
‘Jack?’
He finally seemed to register she was there, slipping his arm around her and pulling her close. Lila repositioned herself so she was between him and the gun and held on tight, terrified Gruger would put a bullet in Jack’s chest if he made a sudden move.
‘Back away please, Miss Amberson. I want to see your hands in the air.’
Lila glanced at Gruger, still clinging to Jack.
‘I won’t ask again.’
‘It’s okay,’ Jack whispered against her ear.
Reluctantly she let go of him, took an unsteady step away.
‘Both hands in the air,’ Gruger repeated.
‘Damn it, she’s got a broken leg.’
