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Back at the house, we gathered in the formal sitting room.
‘The wedding’s off,’ I said as jaws dropped around me.
Maeve clapped her hands and threw herself into my chest. ‘About time, Logan.’
‘Why the change of mind?’ Mac asked.
‘I found her brother up to the balls inside her at the club.’
Ewen choked on his drink while Alec laughed. ‘Always knew Hugh was a slimy little fucker. How on earth did he convince Nicole to fuck him? I’ll never know.’
‘What if it wasn’t a choice?’ Katie asked. Her voice was soft as she leaned back against Mac’s chest. ‘She’s a good few years younger than him, and their parent’s married when he was a teen and she was only a kid. What if he groomed her?’
After everything Katie had been through, I didn’t doubt her perception.
‘Maybe it’s been his game plan all along. Make her belong to him, be the little bird in her ear to get her to convince her dad to do his bidding.’ Maeve paced as Cam watched her.
‘But why agree to Logan’s proposal? He would have been active in the family and Tony would get the son he never saw Hugh as,’ Cam added.
‘Because he needed her locked down with someone who wouldn’t take her from him. He knew we didn’t have a connection, so he’d still be able to exert control over her.’
‘What if he planned to get rid of us all after we wed and had children? He’d be seen as the natural choice to run things until any children were of age.’ I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck as I spoke.
‘Whatever the reason, you can’t go through with it. They won’t be able to hold the agreement over you.’ Maeve smiled at me.
‘Will you all back me up if shit goes south?’ I asked.
‘Always. Yes. You know it.’ Their replies came in a flurry that warmed my heart. Valentina had been right. I didn’t need to do it alone.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE
VALENTINA
The bin bag was heavy as I pulled it out of the lift and toward the rear door of the building.
'I can do that for you, love,' Muhammed said, standing up and putting his book down.
'No, no. I'm fine, go back to your book.'
'It's not a problem, Miss Valetti.'
I smiled at the kindly older man before hoisting the bag up into my arms. 'I've got it.'
'At least let me open the door for you.'
Shimmying past him, I said, 'Thanks, Muhammed.'
'Do you want me to hold it for you?'
'No it's fine, I need to swing to the corner shop and grab some more flour.'
Muhammed's eyes widened. 'What sort of treats are you making today?'
'Just some scones. I'll drop a few down for you and your missus, promise.' I laughed as Muhammed patted his tummy before closing the fire escape door behind me.
The bag was heavy, but I knew Muhammed suffered with a dodgy knee and I didn't need him hurting himself on my behalf.
I was panting by the time I shoved the bag into the skip. They could be done with making them shorter, what kind of giants were able to just drop a bag in there?
