I throw him a dirty look, fighting the urge to lay into him. This shit is something we needed to know last week. Not today. “How do you know?”

  “Because the only company he’s stealing from is his father’s. I think he’s planning on starting up on his own. I think his plan to take your business had nothing to do with bringing up profits.”

  “Then what was it about?”

  “Starting up on his own and making sure his dad has nothing. I’ve been analysing him, and he’s a man of power, or a man who thinks he has power.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “Imagine being told by your dad you aren’t good enough, that you are weak, and you’ll never amount to anything. Imagine being a man like Black and being told if he doesn’t meet the profit margins, he’ll be cut off. He’s not going to like it. He doesn’t like being told what to do. So, he’s going to set out to prove to his dad he isn’t those things, and that he can do better.”

  “But our profits aren’t as high as theirs, so that makes no sense.”

  “It does if it’s not the business he actually wants but the contracts. He can move drugs or whatnot whenever and to wherever he wants. He’ll have holdings over high-end clients, and he’ll bleed them dry. And he’ll bring his father’s clients with him before he runs that business into the ground. You guys not selling has put a damper on his plan.”

  “That’s even if it is his plan. And I’m not saying you’re wrong, but there are other companies with similar shipping routes as ours.”

  “Yeah, and those have investors or multiple shareholders. You don’t. And even if you did, I don’t think he liked how you said no. You embarrassed him and he doesn’t like that. His father has put him down his whole life and it reminded him of it.”

  “Boohoo. Give the guy a fucking lollipop,” I growl.

  “And let’s not forget, you have one other client he has been told no from, and he couldn’t get to them using blackmail or by any other means. And if getting control over this client was a part of his plan, then it went in the shitter the minute you guys laughed in his face and said no.”

  “All this because some guy couldn’t get his own way. I’d say he’s acting like a child, but kids have more common sense than him. And they learn from their mistakes.”

  “I didn’t say it was reasonable. I’m just giving you my theory.”

  “And the money you said isn’t real, or you thought wasn’t real?”

  “It’s real. He’s been taking the money as earnings, but from Monday last week, he’s been slowly moving the funds. I can’t access the account, but I’m working on it. Wherever it’s going, his hacker is making sure it’s not traceable.”

  “But you’ll be able to find out?”

  “Yeah, eventually.”

  “Thank fuck,” I hiss. “He can’t get his hands on that money.”

  “I’m going to make sure of it.”

  “Are you two love birds finished?” Rebecca asks, and I grin, waiting for her to reach me before putting my arm over her shoulders.

  “Miss me?”

  “Like my period every month,” she retorts, before turning to Liam. “I swear, if you stop helping me, I’ll go somewhere else.”

  He cuts me an ‘I told you so’ look before addressing her. “I’m not going to.”

  She opens her mouth to argue, but then it hits her what he said. She turns to me, her eyes wide. “You didn’t tell him to stop?”

  “Of course not,” I lie, ignoring his snort. She rolls her eyes like she doesn’t believe me.

  Her gaze goes to the entrance, and her lips part in disbelief. “Holy fuck! She came!”

  I turn to find a young girl clutching a ratty backpack to her chest, her gaze darting around the carpark.

  Bruises mar her face. I dread to think what they looked like when she was first attacked.

  My entire body locks when her frightened gaze lands in our direction. “Fuck!”

  “Wish me luck,” Rebecca whispers, and begins to slowly make her way over to the girl.

  I take a step to follow, but Liam’s hand lands across my chest.

  “Give them a minute,” he tells me, watching as Rebecca meets her.

  I need a minute to process it. I believed Rebecca when she said it was bad, but I never imagined this. The girl is scared of her own fucking shadow.

  “A minute,” I agree, keeping a close eye on our surroundings and the two women talking.

  As I watch the girl huddle into herself, I hope she takes the help.

  Because if anyone needs it, it’s her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Rebecca

  Mina remains rooted to the spot as I slowly approach her. With one arm around her chest and the other gripping the bag so hard her knuckles are white, she has put herself in a protective stance, whether she knows it or not. Her gaze jolts around the carpark, like she’s expecting someone to jump out at her at any given moment. Mina reminds me of a wounded animal, ready to bolt, so I proceed with caution, not wanting to scare her.

  Her bruises have cleared up some, and the swelling has gone down, but even after nearly a week of healing, they still look painful and sore.

  Her eyes show years she hasn’t lived. There’s a tale of the hardships she’s lived, and yet today she holding an innocence that I’m betting stems from the unknown. Not knowing what the future will hold, nor the path she is now taking.

  I announce the obvious when I approach her, and her gaze meets mine. “You came.”

  She drops a hand to her side. “You did mean it, right? You said—” She takes a steady breath, and as she turns to leave, she mutters, “Forget it, I should go.”

  “Wait,” I call out. “I meant every word. I swear. I’m here to help you.”

  Her shoulders sag and tears pool in her eyes as she stops and turns to me. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she tells me, fear in her tone.

  “You are doing the right thing,” I reply softly.

  “What you said about my mum kept going around and around in my head,” she chokes out. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and it started to drive me crazy. I think I might be crazy.”

  “You aren’t crazy,” I tell her, taking another cautious step towards her.

  She steps back, her eyes clenched shut for a moment.

  “Don’t touch me,” she heaves on a broken rasp.

  “Please, take a deep breath. You’re going to hyperventilate.”

  She shakes her head as her fingers tighten around the strap on her bag. “I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted to believe she loved me, and she never asked for this life. I wanted to believe I could help her stop, and that if I did, she’d change.”

  “I know,” I whisper, but from the dazed look in her eye, I’m not even sure she’s present.

  She stops shaking for a moment to meet my gaze dead on. “She wasn’t all bad, you know. There were moments she would be sweet, funny, and determined to change her life around.”

  “And I bet she meant them at the time. Most addicts do.”

  She swipes away the tears that slip down her cheeks. “No. She didn’t. It was just another lie she told herself to excuse her behaviour. She was never going to change. I was just too stupid to see it.”

  “No, you are a daughter who loves her mother. You wanted her to keep to her word because it’s something you’ve been desperately wanting,” I explain. “Does she know you’re here?”

  She forces out a laugh. “No,” she admits. “After your visit, I kept thinking about what you said, and so yesterday, when we got into an argument, I asked her what she would do if I left, and you know what she said?”

  “No,” I whisper, hating the heartbreak I’m witnessing.

  “She said I couldn’t go. Not because she loves me or will miss me. No. She didn’t want me to leave because he won’t give her drugs if I do.”

  “Oh, Mina,” I murmur in a low voice. I didn’t want to be right, and it certainly doesn’t feel good that I am.

  I take another step, but she holds her hand up, warning me off. “Don’t. You were right. She was using me.”

  “I didn’t want to be right,” I admit.

  “I have no one. I have no friends, I don’t have any other family, and I don’t have a job. And the one person who is meant to love me unconditionally sold me out.”

  “You have me.”

  “I don’t even know you. I don’t even know why you care or why I even came.”

  “Because you aren’t stupid. Somewhere inside of you, you know I can help. But I also peg you as a girl who likes to do things herself. You’ve had to. It’s how you’ve survived this long. Which is why I’m not going to make you dependant on me. I’m going on a guess here, but I get the feeling your mum told you you’ll have nothing without her.”

  “Yes,” she whispers, her head lowering a little. “I threatened to run away when I was younger, and she laughed at me. She told me to enjoy living on the streets, begging for food. And that if I left, she would never let me come back.”

  “That is something you don’t have to worry about. I promise. Right now, you’re scared. Your entire life is about to change, and you’ve no longer got the comfort of what you’ve known your entire life.”

  “That isn’t helping.”

  “My point is, I’m going to make you independent. I’m going to make you realise you don’t need your mum. You don’t need me or anyone. And you don’t need to be worried about money, food, or a place to lay your head.”

  “I’m scared,” she admits.

  “I’ve got you,” I promise. “This is my dad’s club. He knows you’re coming for an interview, and before you say anything, I haven’t told him to hire you as a favour. You’ll get this job because he’ll see what I see: someone doing their hardest to survive.”

  “And if I don’t get the job?”

  I shrug. “Then I’ll help you look for one.”

  Her lower lip quivers. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything. Once you’ve seen my dad, I’ll show you to the loft. It’s within walking distance.”

  “What about college?”

  “Let’s go meet my dad before we get into any of that.”

  Her eyes widen as they go over my shoulder. “Who’s the tattooed guy?”

  “A pain in my arse,” I mutter as I turn to find Eli and Liam heading over to us.

  “Should I be worried?”

  “No, it’s not you he knocked up.”

  “Hey, everything okay?” Eli greets as they reach us.

  “We’re good,” I reply.

  His expression softens as he gives Mina his attention. “You doing okay?”

  “He’s your boyfriend?” she whispers dreamily.

  He grins. “Yes.”

  “No,” I reply shortly, before tilting my head in Mina’s direction. “Like I said, pain in my arse.”

  “She’s not one to brag,” Eli teases.

  “Let’s go and see my dad,” I announce, rolling my eyes.

  When Mina doesn’t make a move to leave like Liam and Eli, I take a step towards her. “Are you okay?”

  She flattens her hand against her T-shirt. “I’m not really dressed for an interview,” she replies quietly as her hand moves to her face. “And I’ve got bruises still. I tried covering them, but I don’t have the right makeup.”

  The guys stop not far away, and I’m not surprised it took them so little time to notice we aren’t following.

  I put my back to the guys, blocking their view. As I gently place my hands on her shoulders, she flinches, but makes no move to brush me off.

  “You look good. But if it eases your mind, he prefers it when people don’t go to too much effort. He always feels like they are concealing something.”

  “Really? Or are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

  I drop my hands to my sides. “All true. Although, he’s not really a judgemental man. You’ll see that when we go and meet him.” Sensing her hesitance, I drop my hands to my sides and give her some room. “If you aren’t ready, we can go right to the loft, and I’ll ring him and reschedule.”

  She runs her gaze over the building. “I don’t want to let anyone down.”

  “You won’t be letting anyone down. He’ll understand,” I swear to her. “You’ve done the hardest part. It’s up to you when you take the next step, but whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

  “No one has ever done that before,” she whispers, tears glistening in her eyes.

  “Done what?”

  “Supported me. Not teachers, not my mum, not even the social workers. My brother left years ago, and I’ve not seen him since.”

  “Do you want us to find your brother? Liam, he’s who helped me find you.”

  She tucks her hair behind her ear as a warm breeze blows it into her face. “No. Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. He left. I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m angry at him. He promised that once he was old enough, he would look after me. He didn’t. As soon as he hit sixteen, he left. I don’t blame him for not coming back, but he could have come back for me. I needed him.”

  “Maybe he’s still figuring it out.”

  “I want to believe that, I do, but I’ve got a feeling the gang he was a part of is the reason he never came back for me.”

  “I don’t know anything about your brother, so I’m guessing here. But from what you’ve said, you were close, close enough that he made those promises. If he’s not come back, it could be because he can’t offer you more than what you already have. Or he got in too deep with the gang and is on a different course.”

  She tries to shrug it off, but I can see plain as day that she wants her brother, or at least, believes he meant what he said.

  Her gaze goes back to the building, and she straightens her spine. “I’ll go for the interview. I have nothing to lose.” She stops, and I have a feeling she wants to say more.

  “I feel a but there,” I announce. “I don’t bite. You can tell me or ask me anything.”

  He shoulders drop. “Please don’t leave me. I know you said he’s your dad, but I, I…”

  “Of course,” I answer, and gesture for her to go ahead. We walk side by side in silence as the guys continue in front of us. “And, Mina, when you are ready, we can look into finding your brother. You don’t have to approach him or tell him where you are. It can just be Liam telling you what he’s found; if there’s anything to be found.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she breathes out, standing outside the entrance.

  “You’ve got this, kid,” Liam declares.

  “Her dad’s a marshmallow and easily won over,” Eli adds.

  “He says that like it applies to him. What he doesn’t know is my dad is biding his time with him,” I lie, winking when her eyes widen.

  “Hey, he likes me,” he announces as we step inside, the cool air-con a relief on my clammy skin.

  “Miss James, it’s good to see you.”

  “Becca,” I remind Cassandra, but she shakes her head as always when I ask her to call me by my name. “We’re here to see Dad. Is he in?”

  “Sweetheart,” Dad calls out, crossing the foyer. “How is my darling daughter and grandbaby?”

  “Wow, you weren’t lying about being knocked up,” Mina mutters.

  “We’re good. How are you doing?”

  “I’d be doing a lot better if the guy who knocked up my daughter made an honest woman out of her,” he replies, arching his eyebrow at Eli.

  Eli puffs his chest out. “Funny you should bring—”

  I slap my hand over his mouth without glancing away from my dad. “Ignore him. He loves the sound of his own voice,” I retort. “Dad, meet Mina, the girl I was talking about.”

  His eyes fill with mischief as he watches Eli take my hand, removing it from his mouth. Instead of questioning my behaviour, he gives Mina his full attention.

  He holds his hand out. “It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Tom, Rebecca’s father.”

  She hesitantly takes his hand for a handshake but then quickly drops it, placing it across her stomach. “Mina,” she replies.

  “Tom! Tom!” Lincoln calls out, racing over. “So glad I caught you before you locked yourself away in your office.”

  “Lincoln, you’ve met Liam, but this is Eli, the baby daddy, and this here is Mina, the young woman I told you I was interviewing today.”

  His eyes widen as they land on Eli, and he whistles as his gaze goes to me. “Missy, you seriously missed out a lot.”

  I groan. “Not right now.”

  He grins, and his attention moves on to Mina. “Can you carry trays?”

  “Um, yes.”

  “Are you known to be clumsy, and are you acquainted with basic math?”

  “Not that I know of, and yes, I got top marks in my maths G.C.S.E.”

  Lincoln, not one to be shy, presses his hands together, twirling on his feet until he’s in Dad’s view. “Please hire her. Please.”

  Dad rolls his eyes and turns to Mina. “I’m going to need you to fill out paperwork and run over the days you are free to work, as my daughter informed me you go to college.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please, call me Tom,” he declares, his expression soft. “I believe my daughter wants to get you settled into the loft, but if you are free later this evening, we can give you a tour and fill you in on what duties we want you to take on. Don’t worry, we won’t give you more than you can handle.”

  “You’re the one moving into the loft?” Lincoln asks.

  “She is,” I answer.

  He claps his hands. “Yes, I finally get a neighbour. Please tell me we can watch Veronica Mars and binge eat?”

  “Um,” Mina hums, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

  “Lincoln lives in the loft opposite you,” I explain.

  “Yep, this one hired me and offered me a place to stay after my parents kicked me out for being gay,” he explains, pointing to Dad. “When this one was old enough, she bought it off him so we could live next to each other. But then she up and left me to live in a house with a white picket fence and rope swing in the garden.”

  “I do not have a white picket fence. And the rope swing is gone. You made sure of that,” I remind him, before addressing Mina. “Don’t worry. He’s harmless. And he makes the best cocktails.”