Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) (17 page)

What a diamond he was, taking her back to find her bag. She wouldn’t have got any sleep thinking about what could happen if Steve found it.

Yet, despite being rescued by Derek, which she would be eternally grateful for, she couldn’t help worrying about what might have happened if Steve wasn’t as drunk as he was. Or if her aim to his balls had been off its mark. Or if he’d been stronger than her regardless. He would have raped her, she was sure of it, because she had put up a fight.

She closed her eyes but all she could see was him pushing his tongue into her mouth.

‘Two kebabs!’

‘That’s me.’ Keera took the order and ran back to the taxi.

‘There was a massive queue,’ she said, as she climbed into the passenger seat again. She handed a paper parcel to Derek.

‘Thanks.’ He turned to face her. ‘Are you sure you’re okay? Don’t you think you should report the incident to the police?’

Keera shook her head. ‘I would if it didn’t mean involving The Candy Club.’

‘It doesn’t have to. You weren’t at work when it happened.’

‘I know, but—’ Keera wondered if she should confide in Derek, then realised she couldn’t see any harm in it. ‘He’s Ramona’s brother and she owes him five hundred pounds. He could cause a lot more trouble if I grassed on him.’

Derek gnawed on his bottom lip. ‘Well, if I see him in there, I’ll give him what for.’

‘You don’t know what he looks like.’ Keera laughed. ‘Thanks, anyway.’ She unwrapped her food. ‘I’m ready for this. I’m starving.’

They sat in silence for a few moments while they tucked into their food.

‘I’ll give you a lift back once we’ve eaten,’ said Derek eventually.

‘You are an angel, has anyone ever told you that?’ Keera smiled. ‘It’s nice to have you around. I live in Trudy Place, number twenty-two. You can drop me off at the end of the street, if you like.’

‘I think you’ve had enough trauma for one evening.’ He turned towards her more. ‘I want to see you going inside your house, if you don’t mind.’

‘Sure.’ Keera shrugged. ‘I’m not complaining. My feet are aching so much.’

They both watched as three young men walked past, loud but happy.

‘How do you usually get home?’ asked Derek once it was quiet again.

‘I catch the ten past twelve bus.’

‘I don’t like to think of you coming out at midnight and catching the bus every night.’ Derek wiped his mouth with a napkin. ‘Would you be okay if I picked you up on the evenings that you work late?’

‘I can’t afford a taxi every night.’ Keera shook her head. ‘But thanks for the offer.’

‘I don’t want paying. How about I drive past the bus stop if I’m free, and if you’re there I’ll take you home?’

‘But you might miss another fare.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I’m always knocking off around that time, anyway. I don’t want any money from you, either.’

‘But it’s how you make your living!’ Despite his kind offer, Keera still didn’t want to take advantage of his good nature.

‘There will definitely be no strings attached, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ he added. ‘I just want to see that you’re home safe and well.’

Keera smiled. ‘You’re far too nice to me, Mr P.’ After a moment’s thought, she nodded. ‘Okay, you have a deal. If I’m there, I’m there. If I’m not, go without me. I’ll feel better about it if I catch the bus every now and then. But I’ll be very happy to cadge a lift when you’re free.’

‘That’s sorted then.’ Derek smiled. ‘You have an unofficial chauffeur.’

Keera smiled back. It seemed that she had an unofficial guardian angel as well. She’d been so relieved when she’d seen that it was Derek who had stopped. Her feet were so raw in places after her long walk. Imagine if she hadn’t been able to run if she’d needed to.

Still, a nightmare had turned out to be her knight in shining armour moment, even if it was in the shape of a forty-eight-year-old man.

In a way, it was like having a father figure – Keera had hated her own father when he’d abandoned them all those years ago now, and still hated him for what he’d put her mum through. The day he’d moved out and left them to it had been good riddance.

But Derek was lovely. He’d made her feel so warm and safe tonight, and that was always a good thing in her books.

Donna lay in bed, her mind going over every single detail of the evening. Owen had left about an hour ago, and they’d arranged to meet again in a few days. The night was muggy and she pushed aside the duvet to let air to her naked skin.

Idly, she ran her fingers up and down and across her stomach just the way Owen had. Her stomach flipped every time she remembered what he had done with his mouth, his hands, his tongue. He was like a drug and she couldn’t wait for her next fix.            

She closed her eyes to relive it all, scrunching up her toes at the memory of the waves crashing over her body as Owen brought her to the brink of no return. She knew she was infatuated by lust, but it had awakened within her and she wanted to remember it forever.

A few moments later, she heard the front door open and close.

‘Is that you, Keera?’ she shouted, jumping under the covers.

‘Yeah, it’s me, Mum.’ A few seconds later, Keera popped her head around the bedroom door.

‘You’re late,’ said Donna. ‘Everything okay?’

‘Fine. I had a drink with a few of the regulars. How’s Sam doing?’

‘He’s his usual moaning self.’ She looked at Keera properly. ‘You look bushed, hard night?’

‘You could say that.’

‘Go and get some sleep. Things always seem better in the morning.’

Keera looked embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry that I haven’t had time to help out much. But I need the shifts so that I can save some money to—’

‘I can manage.’ Donna sat up in bed, keeping the duvet covering her body. She smiled at Keera.

Keera eyed her warily. ’What have you been up to? You seem all smiley and in a good mood.’

‘Oh, it’s nothing.’ Donna waved her away.

‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’d—’ She paused and when Donna didn’t speak, she grinned. ‘I’m right, aren’t I? You’ve met someone.’

‘I might have.’

‘Come on, spill.’

‘There is no way I’m telling my daughter about my date! Besides, it’s early days yet. That’s why I haven’t said anything to anyone.’

‘Are you seeing him again?’

Donna nodded.

‘Well, I hope it works out, Mum. No one deserves to be happier than you.’ Keera yawned. ’I’m off to bed. Night.’

‘Night, love.’

Donna tried to settle to sleep again. Even though she thought that Keera looked tired, one thing she would never worry too much about was her daughter. She could always rely on her not to bring trouble to her door.

Donna felt sad that Ibiza hadn’t worked out for her and Marley, but from what Keera had told her about the attack on her friend, she was glad to have her home again, too. Keera would get by. She wasn’t like Sam, determined to scrounge off the social for as long as he could. Donna hated it but she couldn’t do anything about it. She’d long ago given up on telling him what to do.

The one thing she
would
like to worry about was a grandchild. She wished that the two of them would find decent partners to settle down with. It would be lovely to have some new life around her, even if that meant being a gran in her forties. And maybe with a toyboy granddad.

Donna laughed to herself before turning out the light.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As Megan was finishing her shift on Monday morning, she went into ward seventeen on the pretence of forgetting her cloths. She’d missed Sam over the weekend and having found out he was being discharged that day, she wanted to catch him to say goodbye. It had been nice having him around for the few days that she had got to know him. It had made her job that little bit more interesting.

Megan caught him packing his bag, blushing when he treated her to a smile.

 ‘So, you’re off then?’ she stated the obvious when she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

‘I sure am.’ Sam’s smile widened. ‘I need to come back next week to have my stitches removed, and then it’s lots of physio.’ He held up a bag of sweets. ‘Do you want these?’

Megan shook her head. ‘No, thanks.’

‘Because you’re sweet enough? Is that what I should be saying?’

She grinned at him. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘It is.’ Sam sat down on the bed and beckoned her closer. ‘Megan, can I ask you something?’

‘Sure.’

He patted the bed next to where he was sitting but she shook her head.

‘I might get into trouble if someone sees me sitting next to you.’

‘Why?’

Why indeed, she cursed herself. The truth was that someone might say she shouldn’t get too close to the patients but if she said that, then Sam might know she liked him.

‘They’d think I was skiving,’ she replied, relieved at getting herself out of a hole.

‘Oh, right.’ Sam paused for a brief moment. ‘Could I see you again?’ He sniggered. ‘Well, when I say again, I mean in proper surroundings? Take you out for a drink, maybe, or something to eat?’

It was what she had waited to hear, but still her heart sank. She couldn’t see Sam unless she showed him the real Megan – but she knew that would be too painful after what had happened the last time she’d done it. But despite her misgivings, she really did want to see him again.

Why was life always so complicated?

‘I’ll think about it,’ she said finally.

‘No witty putdown?’ Sam held his hand to his chest and feigned his heart stopping. ‘I’m shocked.’

‘Sometimes I get stuck for words too,’ she admitted.

‘Could I have your phone number then, and I’ll text you?’

Megan shook her head. ‘I shouldn’t really.’

Sam wrote on the newspaper, ripped off the corner and handed it to her. ‘Here’s mine. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.’

With a heavy heart, Megan took a sneaky peek at Sam as he stood up again. She drank in his features, the shape of his body, the gleam in his eyes, the smile she wished he reserved only for her.

Megan fixed his image firmly in her mind, because she doubted she would use his number. It was easier that way, rather than say no to him now. The closer they became, the harder it would be to face the rejection. This way, if he texted or called, she could ignore it. Her secret would be safe.

‘Right, then,’ Sam said, hauling his bag on to his good arm. ‘I’ll be off. See you soon, yeah?’

Megan nodded. ‘Soon.’

Sam gave her arm a quick squeeze before moving past her. She turned to watch him until he was out of her sight. Perhaps she shouldn’t automatically shut down the possibility that they might get on well enough for her to reveal the truth?

Regretting her indecision, she sighed loudly. The world had just become that little bit dreary again.

Sam let himself into his flat with great difficulty. Using his left hand to put a key into the lock seemed so alien. The bag on his right arm slid down and knocked his injured hand. ‘Shit,’ he exclaimed.

Behind him, Donna sighed.

‘Here, let me do it.’ She reached for his key.

Sam snatched it away. ‘I can manage.’ A few seconds later, the door was open.

‘It smells like someone has died in here.’ Donna covered her mouth with her hand. ‘And I cleaned up at the weekend. What is that flatmate of yours doing?’

Sam ignored her as he went through into the living room. The flat was tiny for the two of them but at least there were two bedrooms so he didn’t have to sleep on the settee. Brendon Carver’s girlfriend had lived there until a few months ago, when she’d left him for some other bloke. Sam had seen an opportunity and badgered Brendon to let him stay for a few days. He’d been there ever since and had no intentions of leaving. Despite what his mum thought, Sam knew he could cope. He wasn’t going to move back in with her.

Donna had opened a window in the kitchen and was now putting food into his fridge. ‘You should have seen the state of this before I cleaned it, too,’ she exclaimed as she popped eggs out of the box and into the shelving. ‘Scummy, the pair of you. Do you want a cup of tea?’

Sam shook his head. ‘I’m tired, I just need to get some kip. Those wards are so bloody noisy.’

Donna nodded. ‘You get some rest and I’ll sit here until—’

‘I don’t need a babysitter!’

‘I know but …’

‘Mum, just go, will you? I’ll be fine.’

Donna turned to him abruptly and closed the fridge door with a slam. ‘I’m only trying to help. You’ll need to learn to do so much with your left hand until your right is better. And you can’t get that bandaging wet, so you’ll have to wear—’

‘Mum!’

Donna raised her hands in surrender. ‘Fine.’

Alone at last, Sam sighed with relief and lay down on the settee. Feet up, he wondered what he should do first. He wasn’t tired in the slightest, but he had wanted to get away from his mum’s fussing.