Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
But a faint whisper fell onto the covers around us. “Will you go somewhere with me, Pim?”
“I’d go anywhere with you,” I answered immediately, looking up and locking onto his brilliant black eyes.
“You don’t need to know where?”
“If you’re there, I don’t care.”
He smiled nervously, his gaze alternating between my lips and my gaze. “It probably won’t be fun.”
“If it’s important, then you don’t need to ask or tell me. I’ll go wherever you need.”
“You’re far too good to me.” He kissed my mouth again, murmuring against my lips, “I’ve asked Jolfer to sail to America. There’s one more thing I need to do before I can put my past behind me.”
Understanding burst inside as he pulled away, searching my features for my reaction.
Anger filled me at facing the woman who’d been so cruel to him. Then forgiveness followed, remembering everything she’d lived through with losing her husband and son. The complex recipe made me nervous, but it must be nothing to what Elder must live with.
He’d done everything he could to earn their forgiveness: the deck full of toys and suites for guests who didn’t want to visit. The house in Monte Carlo open to family who spat on its existence all because it was Elder’s.
He might’ve slayed the Chinmoku’s hold on him, but he’d yet to do that with his family.
I cupped his cheek. “You’re going to see your mother?”
“Only if you’ll come with me.”
“I’d be honoured.”
* * * * *
Another couple of days passed.
A pilot Selix hired flew the Phantom’s resident helicopter to us from France and accepted a lift back to the closest port, thanks to Selix acting as taxi driver.
Life chores were completed and hours crept steadily onward.
Unfortunately, Elder ended up with cabin fever, demanding to be let out of bed. Michaels gave him strict instructions to obey doctor’s orders and remain put. After the abuse he’d put himself through, his body needed time to knit together properly. Michaels was adamant, and after a screaming match which Elder didn’t win, he reluctantly agreed—pissed off and bored but staying in bed…for now.
The next day, while Elder worked on his laptop and spoke to his factory in Monte Carlo about new orders and existing clients, I went online again and read up on what had happened while I’d been captive. It’d been rather eye-opening to read news reports and see just how much life had passed me by.
I read about my mother and her court appearances. I read about myself and my disappearance. And once I was bored with history, I turned to the future and opened a new email before entering in the address Tess had given me.
I hadn’t meant to write to her.
I had nothing much to say.
But with nothing much to do and endless horizons over the next couple of weeks, I found myself opening a new message.
From: Pimlico
To: T Mercer
Subject: Thank you
Hi Tess,
I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help.
I’ll never forget you and your family and what you do saving girls like me.
I hope Lino is okay after what happened and pass my hello to Suzette.
Thanks again,
Pim.
I didn’t expect a reply.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted one. For all my ideas of earning a female friend, now I was back on the Phantom with Elder by my side, I had no cravings for anything else. I was exactly where I wanted to be with the exact person I wanted to be with.
So when she replied a few hours later, I suffered a small case of nerves, especially as Elder read over my shoulder.
From: T Mercer
To: Pimlico
Subject: Re: Thank you
Hi Pim,
Lovely to hear from you.
I’m assuming, since I haven’t heard otherwise from news channels, that you got away safe and are sailing far away by now. It was our pleasure to help, and I hope you’ll stay in touch.
Don’t forget, Q and I sponsor an orphanage and many other child charities here and around the world. I know this is completely overstepping, but I still feel awful about what happened that day when I tried to make you hold Lino.
My heart breaks that you can’t have children—and I know I’m once again overstepping—but I wanted to reiterate that it’s not the end of the dream.
If you ever decide to rescue another as Elder rescued you, then our doors are always open.
Tess.
“Orphanage?” Elder asked, a strained rasp in his voice. “Fucking hell. That woman really doesn’t know when to stop, does she?” Elder reached over and slammed the laptop closed. “I’m so sorry, Pim.”
I let him take the computer, shell-shock making me mute and frozen.
It wasn’t the fact she’d reminded me all over again that having children naturally would never happen for us. It was the fact she offered a family so readily, so easily, so soon.
I’m not ready.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready.