My phone rang, I answered it with a distracted, “Yeah?”.
“I have the background check on Lily Charmaine that you asked for,” a voice answered. It was my band manager.
“Oh, hey Brad,” I answered. “And what’s the verdict?”
“She is a few thou in debt, no real savings, am average life. Never really been in any trouble, no police records. A few points of interest though.”
I saw her come out of the door and stand on the pavement looking at me. I had to bring this to a close before she made that choice. “And?”
“No known address, she closed out her rental last week, cleared out her bank accounts, and rented a storage unit for a few small possessions. Paid up six months in advance. She has no return ticket to England,” Brad answered.
My mouth dropped open, “So, she did mean it. This was a one-way trip to float in the Liffey over a man. That man.”
“It seems that you saved her life.”
“But for how long?” I mused with a sigh. “Pay the debts off, put a reasonable amount in her account that she can live off and draw up the paperwork for the tax office. I don’t want her busted because it looks like money laundering. And send that bastard a message from me that I am gonna snap his spine in two.”
“It will be done by the end of the day,” Brad assured me, dropping the call.
I went to get out of the car, just wanting to hug her tightly now I knew she was serious about her own loss of life. To hold her until all of the pain was gone. It broke my heart to know that blasted man made a human being feel like they had no options other than death. I barely stopped myself as I started to open the door; I had to let Lily come to me or it would all be for nothing. “Please don’t run,” I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t watch this. I closed my eyes, leaning back in the chair to let her do whatever she needed to. Yet, I knew inside, if she did run, I would be walking these rainy streets until I found her and knew she was safe.
Chapter 5
Lily’s POV
Even in years to come, I would still ask myself why I got in the car that day. Why I didn’t run screaming from the man that was daring to try to defrost my heart of ice. Perhaps I was already smitten, I know now that he already was. But get in the car I did. Throwing my suitcase on the back seat as I climbed into the passenger side. “So, one day, just one, and I expect to be in a nice hotel room tonight. If not, I am leaving for good,” I stated coldly. No room for an argument or any form of negotiation. My way or the highway, that was how I worked.
Adrian respected that with a nod and turning the radio on to some eighties channel he knew I would like. He pulled out of the car park, nodding to some pills and a bottle of water waiting for me by the side of my seat. As they drove, he found himself singing along to snatches of the songs playing. Caught up in the moment I even found myself starting to sing along with him, it felt good to just be without thinking of all my drama and pain buried so deep inside. I had simply been existing and surviving for so long, I barely knew what it was to just have fun anymore. By the end of the hours drive, I had to admit, I did feel a little better. “Wow,” I breathed as we came up on the coastline.
Adrian was proud of himself for finding somewhere she liked so easily. “Killiney beach, popular tourist spot. Even more popular with the richer class of people.” He pointed to some huge houses in the distance. “These are all owned by upper class musicians. I am sure youse can google which ones if you really wish to.”
“Like you,” I answered coldly.
Adrian laughed, “Nah, I’m not into buying so many rooms that I can’t find my keys for a month and we have to phone each other to find out where the other is in the house. Youse saw my home; I have a few small properties, places where I work regularly. I find it cheaper than using hotels, but that much flash? No, I would far rather have a home than a show piece for guests.”
I nodded. “Kind of understand that. I’m on the move all the time, I never have much time to settle down, but if I could I would want somewhere cosy, not a giant cold space that doesn’t feel like it’s mine. Otherwise you might as well just live in hotels forever.”
“Well, youse can stay at mine for as long as you like. I can get ye a key cut,” he said as they pulled up.
I didn’t answer, but I did follow him out of the car. Breathing in the cool sea air. “This place is wonderful; I could sketch here for days.”
He smiled warmly at me. “Yeah, I figured youse would like it. I didn’t know ye sketched.” He hitched the backpack picnic onto his shoulders, leading me down a dark staircase to the stony beach. I think he could tell I was itching to take pictures to remember it by. “What happened to ye phone?”
I shrugged. “Somewhere in the Liffey so I never have to hear from that monster with a human face again.”
He passed her his
