I wake up with a stiff neck from spending the night in an armchair beside Becca’s bed. I hadn’t wanted to leave her, hadn’t wanted to go downstairs and deal with Daniel; it was all I could do just to breathe through my feelings of relief at finding my daughter mixed with the certain knowledge that everything is about to change.

I stare at Becca. She hasn’t woken up yet, even though morning sunshine is slanting through the windows. Toby thumps his tail on the floor by my feet, and I reach down to rub his floppy ears. “You did good, boy,” I whisper. “I take back every bad thing I ever said about you.”

Toby barks, once, as if in agreement.

“Shush, you’ll wake Becca.”

But it’s already too late. She rolls over in bed and blinks her sleep-crowded blue eyes.

“Why am I here?” she asks in a small voice.

Quietly, I explain that she fell asleep after we’d left the King’s Head and it was easier to put her to bed in Aldridge House than to risk waking her by taking her home. In any case, I didn’t have my car as we’d come with Eric.

Her mouth turns down at the corners. “I didn’t like that horrible man.”

A shiver of disgust runs through me. It had taken every ounce of my self-control not to fly at him last night… not to pound my fists into his vile chest.

The bastard.

Becca climbs out of the bed and into my lap. I hold her close, breathing in her sweet little girl scent. I kiss the top of her head. “I love you, poppet. It’s okay for you to be angry with him.”

I think about Daniel and Ben, wondering how they’re coping, and I release a stuttering sigh.

Becca squirms in my arms, gives me a searching look. “Why are you sad, Mum?”

“It’s nothing, sweetheart.” I stroke her soft cheek. “Nothing for you to worry about.” I try to laugh away my melancholy mood. “Maybe I’m just hungry. I didn’t eat any dinner last night.”

“I’m hungry too.” She wriggles her body until she’s standing between my legs. “But first I need a wee.”

We bump into Rosie outside the bathroom. “Oh, good. You’re up. Everyone else has had breakfast already. Eleri is waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“Tell her we’ll be there in a minute,” I say, pushing open the door so that Becca can use the toilet. “Thanks.”

My reflection stares back at me in the mirror.

God, I look awful.

Dark circles under my eyes.

My face pale.

I slept in my clothes like Becca did, and they’re all rumpled.

I run my fingers through my tangled hair and press my lips together.

Becca grabs my hand and pulls me away. “Come on, Mum. I’m starving.”

We descend three flights of stairs and walk along a corridor. The house seems eerily quiet. Where is everybody?

As soon as we step into the kitchen, which has a view of the back garden, I catch a glimpse of Gabe, Luke and Daniel’s brother playing soccer with all the kids except Eleri’s youngest, who is watching on the side with Rosie.

No sign of Daniel.

And no sign of Eric.

But Eleri is here, and she hands me a cup of tea. “What would you like for breakfast?”

Becca opts for her usual Weetabix, and I request toast. It’s impossible to ask the questions at the back of my mind while my daughter is here. Thankfully, she begs to go and play with the rest of the kids as soon as she’s finished eating, and I wave her off. Letting her carry on as normal will help her get over the traumatic events of last night, I hope.

As soon as Becca is out of the door, Eleri says, “The Brute has asked if I’ll leave you alone with him to talk.” She clasps her hands together. “I said I’d clear it with you first.”

I drag my clammy palms down the leggings under my tunic dress. “Please, tell him okay.”

Her smile is sympathetic. “Sure?”

There’s a dull ache of dread at the back of my throat, so I simply nod.

She goes to fetch him, and soon he’s standing in front of me, his dark troubled eyes holding me in their snare.

I can’t glance away, even if I wanted to.

I can’t even breathe my heart is thudding so much.

He pulls out a chair. “I owe you an explanation, Catrin.”

I’m finally able to draw in a breath and fill my lungs with air. “You should have told me right from the start.”

“I warned you off me.” His voice is firm.

“Your warning wasn’t strong enough.” I flash him an angry look. “I had no clue what you were involved in.”

“I hid it to protect my son.”

“By protecting your son, you let me put my daughter at risk.”

“I was also protecting you and her.” He’s keeping his tone steady. “I couldn’t let my real identity be known.”

“You didn’t trust me enough.” My voice is like ice. “And you knew I’d call it off if you told me the truth.”

I’m right, and he knows it.

He also knows I’m plagued by guilt.

I can see it in his eyes.

“I love you, Catrin. And I love Becca.”

“If you love someone, you shouldn’t lie to them.” I push the hair away from my face.

Minutes seem to pass by while we stare at each other.

The air between us vibrates with emotion.

He places his hand on the table and clenches his fist.

The despairing look on his face darkens. “I’d like to fucking kill Eric.”

“W… w… where is he?”

I almost want to kill him too.

“Gabe knows someone in Special Branch.” Daniel grunts. “He called him, and his contact has already sent an officer to take Eric into custody.”

My thoughts scramble to understand while he tells me about Eric’s gambling habit, how he thought he’d no longer have Daniel as a cash cow.

“What are you going to do now?”

“Gabe won’t let me live in the cottage any longer.”

I swallow hard. “Where will you go?”

“The USA. My brother has bought a place in the Colorado mountains. I think it will suit.” Abruptly, he sinks to his knees and places his hand on mine. “Will you and Becca come with me? We can start a new life. You can be a mother to Ben, and I’ll be a father to her.”

Shock wheels through me and I hold up my hands. It’s as if I want to defend myself from his offer. “I… I can’t. I agreed to talk to you only to tell you I can't do this. Too much has happened. I don’t feel that I know you anymore.”

With slow movements he returns to his seat.

“Are you saying you don’t love me?”

The broken look in his eyes pierces me like a shard.

It almost makes me relent.

Almost, but not quite.

I shake my head, tears spilling down my cheeks. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”

“What about the kids?” he rasps. “We can’t split them up. They’ve grown so close.”

“They’re only five-years old. They’ll make new friends.” I give him a convincing look, even though, deep in my heart, I’m not entirely convinced.

“Won’t you at least let me explain why I have to leave the country?”

I shake my head again. “I won’t listen to any more lies, Daniel.”

I choke on a sob.

My trust in him is gone.

Vanished into the ether of his deception.

He pushes back his chair and gets to his feet.

With a guttural roar, he punches his fist into the wall.

I flinch.

Blood splashes from his knuckles onto the tiled granite floor.

I release a gasp.

He spins on his heel and strides out of the room, leaving me sobbing into my hands.