Shiver Sweet (33 page)

Panting with rage that he was in the same room as Sarah, I steamed into the kitchen through a curtain of balloons and streamers.

“Christa,” Nicola said, raising a brow at my lack of clothes.  “About time.  So what’s the verdict?”

My gaze shot around the room to the men sipping cans of beer and laughing.  I stomped straight over and tapped Dave on the shoulder. 

“Hey,” he said, and turned around to face me.  “Your cousin was just telling me that-“

“Excuse me.”  I pushed Dave aside, condensed all my anger into a fist and punched Harry on the nose.

Blood poured out.  “What the...?”  He stumbled, tripped and fell to the floor. 

Dave gaped at me.  “Christa?”

I glared at Harry and kicked him in the groin.  “And that one, you son of a bitch,” I said, all gushing and breathy.  “Is for John.”

Harry roared in pain, cupped himself and curled onto his side.

I shouted over my shoulder, “Nicola!”

“Y-yeah?”

“Call the police.”

She looked at me with utter shock etched on her face.  “Y-you... you’re sure it’s him?”

My lips quivered with rage and disgust.  “Positive.”

“Bloody hell.”  Brad dumped his beer and twisted Harry’s arms behind his back.  “Dave, grab his legs.”

“You’ll regret this,” Harry hissed, trying to squirm free.

While Dave and Brad wrestled with Harry, I closed my eyes and let relief wash over me.  Yes.  It was over.  We could now walk this earth without fear of reprisal for wrecking his scheme.  I should have realised that Harry was a nickname for Henry earlier. 

“Mum,” Sarah cried.

My eyes flew open. 

She bounded over and leaped at me.

I spun her away from the fight and locked my arms around her, shuddering at the feeling of Harry’s icy dark eyes penetrating me.

Footsteps bounced and thudded down the stairs and then Brian stormed into the kitchen, dripping wet, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist.  “Christa... what the... I saw the photo.”  He hurried over, cocooned us in his wet and warm arms and gave me a visual check-up.  “Out!” he shouted to Dave and Brad.  “Get that piece of scum out of this house.”

Sarah clung to us and cried with her head pressed between us.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Brian said, stroking Sarah’s hair.  “We’ve got you.”

Brad and Dave dragged Harry out of the kitchen and bundled him down the hall.

Thank God.  Finally, we’d be able to sleep easy again.

Brian rubbed circles on my back.  “You okay?”

“I am now.”

He leaned over and put a tender kiss, sweeter than a candied cherry, onto my lips.  “I love you.”

“Me too.”  I gazed into his glossy, protective eyes, and a smile magicked onto my face.  “Sarah,” I said.

“Yes, mum.”

“I’d like to introduce you to your dad.”

Nicola squealed.

THE END

Thank you for reading.  I hope you enjoyed the book!

If you would like to know more about the author, her other books and next projects, please visit her website at http://www.hcelliston.co.uk