Mark came forward and shook Tione’s hand, staring him down. If she didn’t know her brother so well, she’d think he looked downright hostile. A far cry from his usual good-natured self.
“Thanks,” he said, sounding anything but thankful.
Megan was about to ask what his problem was when she realized it was obvious. Tione was a stranger to them—one who was rough around the edges. Mark was already kicking himself for not seeing what was going on with Charles, so he was treading carefully around other men in her life. She couldn’t blame him, since Tione wore tattoos and a scowl so well. Joe followed Mark’s lead, shaking Tione’s hand but assessing him carefully.
Tione locked eyes with her. “I need to make a start on lunch. See you later?”
She nodded. “Bye, Tee.”
The instant he’d exited the foyer, Mikayla waggled her eyebrows. Megan ignored her.
“Here you go.” Kat handed two sets of keys to Rose. “You’re all booked in. Lunch is served from twelve until one, and dinner is at six. There’s plenty to do in the area, if you’d like to get out and about, but I’m sure Megan can give you the rundown.”
“Thank you, Katarina,” Rose said, then gave her attention to her daughter. “We’ll get settled in later. First, we want to hear everything.”
A lead ball sank to the bottom of Megan’s gut. She didn’t want to relive everything over again, but at least this way she’d only have to go through it one more time.
“Okay, follow me.”
She led them to her bedroom, and waited while they found seats. Mikayla and Rose claimed the bed, while Mark and Clarissa sat cross-legged on the floor, and Joe took the desk. Megan joined her mother and sister, wishing she could climb under the covers and pull the blanket up to her chin, but she didn’t want to look any weaker than she already did.
Inhaling a lungful of air, she opened her mouth, trying to figure out where to start. A hand wrapped around hers, and she glanced down. Mikayla squeezed, and sent her a smile that said they were all here for her.
“Take your time, sis.”
Tears welled in Megan’s eyes. She had the best family ever. “I love you guys.”
Without further ado, she launched into her story, telling it as dispassionately as possible from beginning to end. Mikayla kept a hold of her hand, and she used it to anchor herself in the moment, and to remind herself that she was safe now, with people who cared about her. When she finished, no one spoke for a long time.
Finally, Mark slammed his fist on the ground and swore. “When I see that bastard next, I’m going to—”
“When you see him next, he’ll be across a courtroom,” Mikayla interrupted. “Isn’t that right, Mum?”
“Damn straight it is,” Rose agreed.
Megan stared. She’d never known her mother to utter anything remotely resembling a curse word.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” Rose continued. “My baby girl has been hurt by a horse’s ass. If I have my way, he won’t see the outside of a prison cell for years.” She reached over and rested her hand on Megan’s knee. “Show me your affidavit, honey.”
Megan disentangled herself, went to the desk drawer and withdrew the paper she’d written her statement on. She handed it to Rose and waited while she read.
“Good,” Rose said after a while. “You’ll need to sign it in front of a Justice of the Peace, and then leave it to me. I’ll file the documentation, then they’ll notify Charles of the proceedings, and all you have to do is appear in court at the appointed time.”
A cold shiver rippled over her skin. “I have to be in court at the same time as him?”
“I’d strongly recommend it.”
“Okay.” She bit her lip. This wasn’t a surprise, but it was something she’d rather not think about. Fortunately, a knock on the door drew everyone’s attention away from her.
22
Sterling entered,and he and Mark embraced, then Mark drew back, hands on hips, lips pinched together. “Why didn’t you call me the moment she arrived?”
Sterling’s expression didn’t waver. He seemed to have been expecting the question. “She used a false name, and it took me a while to recognize her.”
“Oh.” An awful silence descended as everyone in the room contemplated how messed up she must have been for that to be true. Mark swallowed. “Wow, okay.”
Frantically, Megan searched for a topic to distract them. One that didn’t involve the beating she’d received from Charles. “Sterling, Mark, what does it take to join a business?”