Seafra

I spend the night in a cheap hotel by the motorway, rolling in bed. My bottom and muscles are so sore from the ride that I can’t find a position to rest. I wake up, looking like a zombie, and continue my journey before the sun appears on the horizon.

Charlie will take care of my old life. He’s a professional. I have followed his every guide so everything should be fine.

Coyote will find my goodbye letter soon. He’ll learn that I’ve decided to commit a suicide. Charlie will push my car into the canal where many people died but their bodies were never found. The world will mourn over Seafra for a while then everybody will forget me.

Ten hours later, I park my bike in front of a red-bricked house surrounded by a devastated garden. My heart thumps in my ears.

I remove my helmet, jump off the bike, stretching my aching muscles, and move towards the front door, knocking on it. The rasp of the lock makes my throat tighten. The door creaks open and dizziness fills my head as my eyes meet hers.

Eavan looks at me like I’m a ghost.

And fucking hell I look at her like she’s a ghost too.

“What the fuck,” she mumbles.

“Is the baby mine?” That’s all I can articulate at the sight of her pregnant belly.

Her palm travels to her stomach and she steps back. “You have to leave.” She clutches the door and sweeps it but I jerk my leg forward and block it with my foot, entering the house.

“Is the baby mine, Eavan?”

She moves back along the magnolia wall of a narrow hall opening into a kitchen.

“Get out of my house,” she hisses.

I leap towards her and grip her arms. She writhes like an angry animal so I enclose her with my arms and bury her in my embrace. She cries and wriggles, tramples my foot, but I lower to the floor and immobilise her. Her back is resting against my chest and I’m blocking her with my legs. She breathes heavily and stops moving.

“Calm down, Eavan. The baby—“

“You have to leave,” she cries out.

“I’m not going anywhere, do you understand?”

“Seafra, please. It’s not—“

“Safe?”

She gulps as her chest shakes.

“I fucking know that, Eavan. But that’s okay. I won’t let you be in this shit on your own. Is the baby mine?”

“Of course he’s yours.”

Joy fills my veins. I will have a son. “Listen to me, Eavan.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I still don’t understand a few things but I know enough now. My brother is a private investigator, you know. He worked as a cop, but they fired him for screwing up one job. He dug deep enough to find you. I know what you’re dealing with and that’s fine. From now on we’re in this shit together.”

“Seafra—“

“There is no Seafra. Seafra is dead. There is Adam Budny and his girlfriend. What is your current name, by the way?”

“Samantha.”

“So Adam Budny and Samantha. Nice, don’t you think?”

“It’s too dangerous.” Her body shakes and I can feel every muscle of her chest strain to block the cry forcing its way up. “I can’t even think that something bad might happen to you.”

“I know the risk, Eavan. Charlie was very informative. Nobody will find us, I promise.”

Eavan curls into my chest and sobs as her fingers dig into my back. “They put a bomb into the car because my father screwed with them. He made a bad decision and changed his mind. He wanted to go to the police, but it was too late. The people of mafia don’t forgive things like that. They don’t care about your remorse.” She takes a long wheezy breath. “Ruby and I wanted to pee so my father stopped and let us out of the car.” Her voice falters and I can barely understand her. A gasp follows her every word. “Strange, isn’t it? We both wanted to pee at the same time.” She squeals then kills her cry. “I walked first, Ruby a few steps behind then the bomb... The impact threw her at another car. It crushed her legs. Jack... They were in the area, thank God. Jack... he saved her... Us. He said later that they’d watched my family for a while.” She shudders in my arms like a drenched bird. “Ruby screamed so loud. So loud, Seafra. But, that night was a salvation. Ruby and I would have ended up as the mafia boss’s fucktoys if he hadn’t blown up the car. I sometimes feel so guilty, so terribly guilty for being grateful for that bomb.”

“Hush baby.” I stroke her back and draw her even closer to me. “I’m here to look after you.”

Fuck. Ruby and she have gone through hell. My life seems like a fairy tale compared to theirs. I don’t know whether I’m doing the right thing or not, but those two girls deserve happiness and peace. They deserve love so I’m here to love them both and my baby, by the way.

Somebody clears their throat above my head. I raise my eyes to meet Ruby’s mischievous glance.

“What’s the plan?” she asks.

***

I put my elbows on my lap as Ruby nudges my chest with her elbow and offers me a sandwich. We’re sitting in the sofa in the living room and watching TV.

The news presenter I met some time ago is informing the whole world about my death.

“Very smart,” Ruby says.

“Are you fucking mad?” Eavan growls.

“I’m mad about you,” I say.

“But your career, your life,” Eavan raises her hands dramatically. “That’s just insane.”

“I don’t want my career if you can’t be with me,” I say. “I love singing, but I love you even more. I will always choose you, Eavan.”

She nods at me, her lower lip trembling, and her hands clenched against her stomach. “We can’t stay here.”

“I will take you to a safe place. I have a good plan.” I take Eavan’s hand and plant a kiss on her knuckles. “Trust me, I know what to do.”

“I will pack our belongings,” Ruby says.

“Ruby, stop,” Eavan rises to her feet and starts pacing around the room. “We have to think about it. Natalie—“

“She’ll be here in four days,” Ruby says. “We can manage. You heard Seafra. It’s a good move.”

“Nobody knows about this place apart from me and Charlie,” I say. “It lies in the middle of nowhere far from the entire civilisation. Nobody will find us there, I promise.”

“Ruby and I can’t use the identities Natalie provided us with,” Eavan says. “The police will track us in an instant.”

“Take a few shots of Ruby and you and Charlie will provide you with new passports and driving licences,” I say. “He’s already supplied me with the national insurance numbers and birth certificates for you both. They didn’t require your photos.” I toss my hair back. “Everything will be fine, Eavan. We just need to stick to the plan.”

“Why do you want to risk everything,” Eavan says, putting her hand on the back of her neck. “Why?”

“Well, I’ve already told you,” I say. “I love you, you stubborn woman. Haven’t you noticed?”

Ruby chuckles and clings to my chest. “I love you for loving my sister.”

I kiss the top of Ruby’s head. “I love you for being you.”

“Okay,” Eavan says. “Let’s do it.” She bobs her head as her hands tremble. “Let’s do it.” She huffs out, her face pale, her lips a bit purple.

“She loves you too,” Ruby whispers into my ear.

“Good to know,” I say.

“Ruby,” Eavan starts in a cold voice. “Pack two bags.” She looks at me, her face stripped of emotions. “Are all the documents of a good quality?”

“My brother is a professional,” I say. “And they cost me a fortune. I have no money left in my bank account for your information, just two hundred in my pocket. I paid Charlie’s expenses and the rest went to charities so my suicide looks genuine.”

I’m poor as a church mouse, but somehow more excited, more focused. Full of hope. Scared like hell but the girls shouldn’t know about this. I’m the man here. It’s my job to be tough and give them support.

Eavan’s lips part into a smile. “I have some savings, not a lot, but it will be enough for a month or two.”

Ruby rises from her seat, shoots me a tired glance before climbing the stairs, as Eavan settles herself next to me.

“We’ll take a train in the morning,” Eavan says. “Just a short distance. Then we’ll rent a car.”

“You’re the boss here.” I sweep a wisp of her hair away from her face and cup her cheek. “I thought I’d go mad. You should have told me, you know.”

“I couldn’t afford to have a normal life. I couldn’t tell you even though I wanted to.”

I nod as one burning need seizes my mind and body. “I want to touch you.”

“I’m seven months pregnant.”

“So what?” I run my palm up and down her stomach and the baby kicks me. “Wow.”

“Yes, wow.” Her lips form a line and her eyebrows rise.

We stare at each other for a few moments, then I cup her face in both my hands and her lips part.

My dick grows hard and I lean towards her, covering her mouth with mine. I need to touch her otherwise, I’ll go mad. I slide my hand under her t-shirt and palm her full breast. Fucking hell, her breasts are enormous.

“I want to fuck you,” I rasp, no sense of control left inside me.

“Okay,” she says, her voice low, edged with a slight rasping. “Let’s fuck.”

She rises to her feet, takes my hand and pulls me towards the stairs. We climb them slowly, my hands pulling at her t-shirt. I take it off her and toss it onto the floor, cupping her breasts as my mouth touches her neck. She smells exactly as I remember.

We enter a bedroom and Eavan wiggles out of her trousers. My eyes roam over her pregnant belly and warmth washes over my heart as she lies down on the bed and turns on her side. Her mysterious eyes pull me to her like a magnet.

A light knocking on the door diverts my attention and my glance travels to Ruby standing in the doorway.

“I packed the bags and I’m going to bed,” she says. “Take your time, you two.” She steps forward and hugs me. “I’m happy you’re going to take care of us.”

“Yes, Ruby, I’ll take care of you two,” I say as emotions strangle my throat. “ Out the best I can.”