Face in the Frame

by Heather Atkinson

“I own a restaurant, a theatre and I’m opening an art school.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know that.”

  “I like to keep it quiet.”

  “So, if we’re to stay together, I have to leave Glasgow?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Cass was torn. She loved this man, she wanted to be with him and she actually agreed that they had a great shot at a good life together. But there were obstacles to that future. “I love Scotland, it’s always felt like my home.”

  “I know,” he said, smile faltering.

  “I’ve never even been to London, I don’t know anyone there.”

  “You’ll make friends and you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you,” he said, cupping her face in his hands.

  “I love my job too.”

  “I’ve thought about that. I have a friend who has a security consultancy, he’d jump at the chance to have someone with your skills on his team. It’s all legitimate and his firm is very highly thought of, they have contracts with some very famous and influential people.”

  There was another obstacle to Cass leaving Glasgow but she couldn’t tell Lucas that the thought of leaving Brodie behind was heartbreaking. However he was an unrequited crush. With Lucas she had the chance of something real, finally. “I need to think about it.”

  “Of course you do, it’s a big decision,” he said before planting a gentle kiss on her lips. “But you need to understand that I’m entirely serious. I want to be with you Cass.”

  “I want to be with you too but this is just so huge, you’re asking me to uproot my entire life.”

  “And make a new one with me.”

  “Tempting,” she smiled.

  “Think it over but don’t take too long. If you do decide to come we will have to make plans.”

  “I’ll let you know soon.”

  “Thank you,” he said before kissing her. As they fell back onto the bed together there was the slam of the front door followed by, “cooee.”

  Lucas’s face hardened and his eyes filled with determination before he got to his feet. “I’ll get rid of him.”

  “You mean that?”

  She tingled when his eyes met hers and burned. “Oh yes.”

  “I want to see this,” she said, leaping out of bed.

  Hastily they both dressed and wandered out of the bedroom holding hands. They found Oliver bustling about in the kitchen making coffee and whistling to himself.

  “Ah Lucas,” he said, turning round. His smile dropped when he saw Cass standing there. “What’s she doing here?”

  “She has a name,” said Lucas. “It’s Cass, I love her and I’ve asked her to move to London with me.”

  “Are you mad?” spluttered Oliver. “She’s a liar.”

  “No she’s not. There were good reasons why she didn’t tell me about what she does for a living but now I know everything. I’ve even been to her office.”

  “I bet she’s got other secrets,” spat Oliver.

  “Just stop it,” said Lucas. “We’re happy together. Isn’t that enough for you?”

  “She can’t be trusted. You deserve better.”

  Lucas’s jaw tensed. “If you don’t like it you know what you can do.”

  “And what’s that Lucas? Are you going to cut me out of your life because of her? How long have we been friends? Just look at what I’ve done for you.”

  “I was under the impression my talent got me where I am. Cass is here to stay, I hope, and if you can’t accept that then I’ll have to find myself another agent.”

  Oliver’s expression was black. “Her bully of a boss cornered me yesterday at the museum.”

  “Brodie did?” frowned Cass.

  “You can wipe that confused look off your face, you already knew.”

  “No I didn’t. What did he want?”

  Oliver glanced from her to Lucas and back again, regretting his hastiness. “He was trying to get information about you Lucas but I wouldn’t tell him anything, so he threatened me.”

  “He’s lying,” said Cass. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would Brodie bother? He’s got a lot on his plate at the moment.”

  “I think it’s because he’s a thug who enjoys throwing his weight about,” said Oliver.

  “That’s not Brodie.”

  “Another lie.” Oliver looked to Lucas and shook his head. “I’ve tried but you’ve got a blind spot when it comes to her. If this is what you want then go for it but don’t come running to me when she breaks your heart. Anyone can tell she’s nothing but trouble.”

  “Objection noted. Now you can leave,” said Lucas.

  “Women come and go Lucas but good friends are hard to find. Just remember that.”

  “If I have my way Cass will be with me for the rest of my life. If you want to maintain our friendship then you must accept that.”

  “I’ll believe it when I see it,” said Oliver before putting down the coffee pot and walking out the door.

  Cass and Lucas remained in silence until he’d gone. Then they looked at each other and laughed.

  “He really is a silly, pompous little man,” she said.

  “Are you okay? You look angry. Don’t let him get to you.”

  She forced a smile. “I won’t.” Cass was angry but it wasn’t aimed at Oliver. In fact it was aimed at Brodie. His sudden trip to Kent was now making sense.

  Lucas started to unfasten the buttons on her blouse. “Take all these off. I think it’s time I drew you naked.”

  “Will you be naked too?”

  His smile was mischievous. “If you want me to be.”

  “I really do.”

  “Alright then but you first,” he said pulling the blouse down her arms and devouring her mouth.

  “Oh no, not now,” she groaned when her mobile phone - which she’d left on the kitchen unit - started to ring.

  “Ignore it,” said Lucas, attempting to remove her bra.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m on call.”

  “Alright, answer it, but get rid of them,” he said into her neck.

  “I’ll do my best,” she said before tearing herself away. She picked up the phone and took a few deep breaths to calm herself before answering. “Hello?”

  “Hello Cassandra,” purred a sultry, husky voice that caused her to go rigid.

  “Antoinette?”

  “Yes my pretty. I’ve been trying to get hold of Brodie but he’s nowhere to be found.”

  “He’s away on business.”

  “Where?”

  She couldn’t say Kent, not with Lucas so close. After what Oliver had said he’d put two and two together. “Leicester. He’s working on a case.”

  “I didn’t give him permission to leave.”

  Cass bit her tongue. Telling Toni McVay she was a psychotic arsehole with an ego the size of Wales wouldn’t go down very well. “He’s back today.”

  “When?”

  “I’m not sure exactly. I’ll get him to call you the moment he returns.”

  “Not good enough.”

  “Well what do you want me to do?” she said, getting exasperated.

  “I do so admire the man you’re with right now. His eyes would make a startling centrepiece to my collection. I’ve never seen anything quite like them before.”

  Cass’s blood turned cold and her throat went dry. “Leave him out of it.”

  “I’ll do you a deal Cassandra. If you get Brodie to call me in the next five minutes I won’t pluck your sweetheart’s pretty cat’s eyes right out of his head.”

  Cass took three hasty strides away from Lucas, so he wouldn’t hear her hiss “bitch,” down the line.

  “Not a wise thing to call me if you’re serious about keeping your new lover intact. Five minutes. Starting now.” Then the line went dead.

  “Shit,” said Cass, hastily scrolling for Brodie’s phone number.

  “What is it?” said Lucas, a little startled by how upset she looked.

  “I’ll explain in a minute. Just let me
concentrate. Bloody phone,” she yelled when she hit the wrong button and the phone book vanished off the screen. Finally she located Brodie’s number and dialled but it just rang and rang.

  “Dammit, answer,” she barked, redialling. Once again it just rang out. Sometimes Brodie put it on silent if he was interviewing someone or if he just couldn’t be arsed answering.

  She glanced at her watch. Three minutes. Even if she got Brodie to call Toni a few seconds after five minutes had passed she would still take Lucas’s eyes because that was how she was wired, she would see it as an insult. So instead she dialled the number for the hotel Brodie had given her before he’d left and shuffled impatiently while it rang, Lucas looking on in puzzled silence.

  “I need to speak to Mr Brodie MacBride immediately,” she said when someone finally picked up. “It’s extremely urgent.”

  “I’m afraid he’s not up yet. Can I take a message?”

  “No,” she practically yelled into the phone. “Go and wake him up.” She hesitated before adding, “Please, it’s urgent. A member of his family is gravely ill.”

  “In that case I shall wake him at once.”

  Cass sighed and hopped from foot to foot, all the time her eyes glued to the clock on the kitchen wall, ticking away the seconds. She glanced at Lucas, so grateful to him for doing as she’d asked and remaining quiet, feeling horrible for putting him at risk like this. He had no clue of the danger he was in.

  With one minute left Brodie’s voice finally came on the line. “Hello?” he said, sounding worried.

  “About bloody time. Call Toni now.”

  “McVay?”

  “Yes. What other Toni?”

  “I’m not running round after that coo. I’ll call her when I’m good and ready.”

  “You will phone her immediately,” she spat down the line at him.

  There was a hesitation. “Has she threatened you?”

  “Yes,” she replied, knowing it would have more of an effect on him than telling him she’d threatened Lucas. Besides, she couldn’t tell him that with Lucas in the same room. “You’ve got forty seconds remaining.”

  “Shit,” he exclaimed before hanging up. He knew exactly what Toni was like so he could divine the threat she’d made.

  Cass hung up and sagged with relief.

  “What on earth was that about?” said Lucas.

  “Sorry, it’s just a case but a client of ours could be in danger and only Brodie can sort it.”

  “Why did you call the person who rang a bitch?”

  “I didn’t call her a bitch, I was calling the person who’s threatening our client. Anyway, Brodie will sort it. I can relax now.”

  “You’re sure everything’s alright?”

  “Yes. Sorry, my work can get intense sometimes.” She threw herself at him and kissed him hard. The prospect of a psycho like Toni getting her hands on this wonderful man had shaken her to the core. “I just need to wait for Brodie to call me back, so I know everything’s okay.”

  “Shall I make some coffee while we wait?”

  She was so grateful to him that she melted in his arms. “I really do love you.”

  “That’s fortunate because I love you.” He smiled and pecked her on the lips. “Now, I need coffee.”

  He switched on the kettle and settled on a stool at the breakfast bar for the wait while Cass paced the kitchen, half-expecting the McVays to burst in at any moment. She almost jumped when her phone suddenly burst into life, relieved when she saw Brodie’s name on the screen.

  “Hello?” she said anxiously.

  “Don’t worry hen, it’s all sorted.”

  “Why didn’t you answer when I called?”

  “I turned the ringer off yesterday during an interview and forgot to switch it back on.”

  “You bloody numpty.”

  “I know, I’m sorry but don’t worry, it’s all sorted. Toni will leave Lucas alone. Why didn’t you tell me she threatened him?”

  “Why do you think?”

  “He’s with you?”

  “Bingo genius. We will talk about this later,” she said through gritted teeth before hanging up.

  Lucas had tactfully gone to make the coffee, giving her space to talk, showing her that he trusted her. A lump formed in her throat. This was what she wanted and Brodie’s recklessness could have caused him severe damage, perhaps even death. Maybe she should go to London after all?

  He turned to her clutching two mugs of coffee. “Sorted?”

  “Yes, sorted. Thank you Lucas.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, let’s take these into the next room. I still want to draw you naked.”

  “Let’s go,” she said, removing her bra and casting it aside.

  CHAPTER 17

  Brodie returned to his hotel room, full of anger. The McVay bitch had got him into big trouble with Cass and for what? To tell him that Big Malc had cut the toes off another of her henchmen, like he gave a shit. He couldn’t understand why she was intent on dragging him into this, especially when she knew he still had close ties to the police. Brodie got the feeling she was up to something and he was going to be landed in a whole shit heap of trouble. With everyone.

  He winced as he jogged back up the stairs to his room, every muscle aching. Coffee with Shelley had turned into drinks followed by a meal then bed. She’d been athletic to say the least and he knew they’d made more noise than they should have in a public building but by Christ she’d been good and it had been a while since he’d been with a woman. Sometimes his crush on Cass interfered with him leading a real life. Even now part of him felt like he’d cheated on her, which was ridiculous because she was no doubt wrapped up in the Elf’s arms at that very moment. He feared that relationship getting even more serious because Thorne might take her away to London with him. He ignored the niggling feeling that splitting them up was his main motivation for coming to Kent. But it hadn’t been in vain because Shelley had told him some very interesting things under the influence of alcohol and great sex.

  At the top of the stairs the door of the room next to his opened and he was confronted by an elderly couple who managed to appear both outraged and embarrassed.

  “Don’t worry, I’m checking out today,” he grinned.

  “Thank goodness for that,” said the woman while the man just blushed. “We do like to sleep at night.”

  “Shame. Must be your age, eh pal?” he said to the man, clapping him heartily on the back before walking into his room, leaving the woman to tut loudly and the man to turn crimson.

  His bad mood fell away when he found Shelley in his bed, the sheet strategically placed so all that showed were her firm thighs and the tops of her very ample breasts.

  “You kept me waiting,” she purred, eyes flashing. “I don’t like to be kept waiting. You must be punished for that.”

  He smiled, pulled his t-shirt off over his head and cast it aside. “Bring it on sweetheart.”

  “You’ve got stamina. I like that.” She threw back the sheet, her smile inviting. “Get over here and take your punishment.”

  “Yes Ma’am,” he grinned before leaping on the bed.

  On his return to Glasgow Brodie snuck into the office, for the first time relieved that Cass wasn’t there. Neither were Christian and Ross, for which he was also grateful. He wanted peace and quiet to think over what he’d learnt in Kent. The peace was short-lived. Five minutes later the door was thrown open and Cass stormed in, eyes angry and cold.

  “What the hell are you playing at Brodie?” she erupted. “I know why you went to Kent, you went to see what dirt you could dig up on Lucas.”

  “Alright, I admit it but…”

  “Toni McVay threatened to take Lucas’s eyes just because she couldn’t get hold of you. You stupid, selfish man.”

  “Have you finished?” he exclaimed.

  “I’ve not even started. I told you it was a mistake to leave when the situation with the McVays was so volatile but you wouldn’t listen and Lucas almost pa
id the price. If he’d got hurt because of your recklessness I would never have forgiven you. All because you wanted to see if you could find something juicy on him. Why can’t you just leave him alone?”

  “I’ve tried Cass but there’s something dodgy about that man. His parents…”

  “Lucas has already told me all about his mum and dad and they’re nasty bastards who made his childhood miserable. So I couldn’t give a flying fuck what they say.”

  “Cass, you have to listen to me. He has this ex-girlfriend called Shelley. She’s nice, really nice…”

  “You shagged Lucas’s ex, didn’t you?” she demanded.

  “Well, a little bit but she said he has this really aggressive side…”

  “He told me about Shelley too. He dumped her and she hates him for it, she was some sort of psycho bunny boiler. I hope you didn’t give her your phone number because she won’t leave you alone.”

  “Course I didn’t, I’m not daft. She said he was quite aggressive in bed then it got worse. I mean, she’s into some full-on stuff but what he liked scared her.”

  “What a load of crap,” she yelled back at him.

  She paused when Christian and Ross walked in. They halted in the doorway, sensing the bad atmosphere.

  “Have we come at a bad time?” said Christian.

  “No, it’s perfect actually,” Cass replied before turning her attention back to Brodie. “I’m done listening to you continually slate Lucas. I love him and he loves me.”

  Brodie swallowed hard. “Love?”

  “Yes love and he’s asked me to go to London with him.”

  Brodie stared at her as though she’d slapped him. “London?”

  “At first I wasn’t sure I’d go, I love working here and the thought of leaving Scotland was difficult but after your display I wonder why I bother hanging around. Finally I’ve got a real chance at a life with the man I love and I’m taking it. Thanks to you he could have been killed.”

  “You don’t mean that,” he said, feeling his throat constrict.

  She tossed back her head. “I do. I’m giving you one month’s notice. Then I’m gone.”

  “Cass, you can’t do this to me. I can’t run this place without you. You’re my second, I have your back and you have mine.”