“Many times, but tell me again and again,” I reply with a smile as I lean in and press my lips to his.
We pack up for home as soon as the estate agents leave. The house is going on the market on Monday. The agent seems to think it will sell quickly, as the market is good right now. I have a minute to myself inside the house whilst everyone else finishes loading the cars. This is goodbye. It is time to start the next chapter in my life. I quickly wipe away the tear that rolls down my cheek and take a deep breath. It was time to go. When I climb into the car, Grayson leans over and hugs me tight. He doesn’t speak. I think he knows I just need some quiet time to process my emotions.
Chapter 11
THE LAST COUPLE OF months have been a blur of exams and revision. I feel like I have spent my every waking moment preparing and thinking about these exams. I know I have decided not to go to university just yet, but I still want to give my a-levels my absolute best shot. Grayson and I both have our English exam tomorrow, but tonight my man has something he needs to do that he has been avoiding for some time.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I ask him as we sit in my car staring at his family home.
Grayson nods, frowning. “I’ve got to do it sometime, so today’s as a good a day as any.”
The police have finally released the house, and Grayson could finally come home and grab some of his and Ems things. He has decided not to tell Ems we were coming here today. Grayson knew she would want to come, and he feels it is too soon for her. He is protecting her from any more pain.
When we enter inside the house, it is eerily quiet. My eyes immediately home in on the door to his Dad’s study. If these walls could talk. With his hand in mine Grayson leads us to the study door and taking a steadying breath he opens it and we walk inside. At first glance you would have no clue that a man was murdered in this room, but I gasp when we walk further inside and my eyes fall on the dark red stain on the carpet around his father’s desk chair.
Grayson stills as his eyes follow mine, and he sees the dark stain. There’s a thud from somewhere upstairs and I freeze and look at Grayson on high alert. Grayson puts his finger to his lips and we quietly walk back to the door. We stand there for a heartbeat and just listen, the only is sound is our breathing. There’s a second thud, and it confirms that there is someone upstairs.
Grayson pulls out his phone as quietly as he can and he taps on the keyboard before pocketing back in his jeans pocket. With my hand in his we walk to the stairs and as quietly as we can we make our way up. At the top of the stairs we stop and listen again. My heart is pounding in my chest with anxiety. Who could be here?
There’s a rustling noise and Grayson points towards the east side of the house where his father’s bedroom suite is. As we near the door to his dad’s bedroom, the door is slightly ajar. Grayson puts his finger to his lips again, warning me to remain silent as he looks into the room. He gently pushes the door further open and the noise alerts whoever is here that they are no longer alone. The rustling sounds suddenly stop and there is nothing but silence. I tug on Grayson’s hand, trying to pull him back out of the room. We need to get out of here and wait for the police. Whoever is here could be dangerous. Grayson refuses to budge, and he moves forward until he is at the door to his dad’s dressing room. He peers into the room and there’s no one there, but we find his dad’s belongings scattered all over the floor. Someone is here and they’ve been frantically searching for something.
My world tips on its axis when a hand places a gun to Grayson’s head.
“Don’t move,” says a female voice, and Tess steps from behind the door, keeping the gun firmly against my boyfriend’s head.
“Tess,” Grayson says, holding his hands up in the air. “Why are you holding a gun to my head?”
Her eyes jump from me to Grayson as she tries to watch both of us. She looks unhinged. She’s not as put together as I’m used to seeing. Her face is wet with tears and her hair looks like it hasn’t seen a brush for some time.
“He used me,” she spits. “He cheated on me with that slip of a girl and he was moving her in here, did you know that?” She laughs hysterically. “She tells him she’s pregnant, and he moves her in. I tell him I’m pregnant and he laughs and tells me to crawl back under the rock I came out from.”
“My father was an arsehole, Tess, surely you knew that?”
Tess sneers. “Eighteen months I gave him, I thought he’d marry me and give me the life I deserve, but then she came along younger and more exciting and he replaced me.” Tess cups her belly and it’s only then I notice she is indeed pregnant and I’m no expert, but she must be at least four or five months judging by the small bump. She presses the gun into Grayson’s head and I think I forget to breathe.
I take a tentative step forward and hold my hands up where she can see them. “I’m sorry he did this to you, Tess. You don’t deserve this. Grayson’s dad was a bastard of the worst kind. He
