13

Six months on

His hand spread across her mouth preventing her from screaming. She went into a state of panic. ‘It’s ok Kelley it’s me.’He got closer talking into her ear. ‘Ice.’

Her eyes showed fear, how had he survived? They had all been lead to believe he and Justin were dead. ‘Stay calm okay, all I need is to know where Ashleigh is.’

She nodded.

He removed his hand off her mouth. ‘He said you were dead.’ She said breathless.

‘Well as you can see I am not.’

‘And Justin?’

‘He will be there I promise you that.’

‘I don’t know where they are honest.’

‘And Kieran?’

‘He’s kept in contact, but doesn’t say much to me just that she’s okay.’

‘Guess she’ll be having the kid soon?’

‘Twins.’

He looked at her shocked. ‘What!’

‘She’s having twins late October.’

‘Is he treating her well?’

‘Kieran says he is.’

‘Have you spoken to her?’

‘Occasionally she just cries.’

‘Ashleigh cry? Impossible’

‘She misses you Ice. She thinks you’re dead, how Ice he’s clever?’

‘Yet another lame aim Kelley.’

‘Don’t go after them Ice he may not miss next time.’

‘So you do care?’

‘I always have.’

He leaned forward, their eyes fixed.

‘Kelley.’

The door opened Ice had gone. Kieran walked in to the bedroom. ‘I thought I heard voices.’

‘No, just me thinking out loud.’

‘First sign of madness that.’ He cracked.

She smiled.

‘You okay Keels?’

‘Where’s Ash Ke?’

‘Safe.’

‘I know, but where?’

He placed his hands on her face. ‘She’s safe babe okay Phoenix is taking good care of her. We can visit when she’s had the twins.’

‘I want to see her now. It’s been over a year.’

‘I know babe, but they’re hiding out.’

‘Did they ever you know?’

‘I guess so nothing was solid they found Ice’s and Sandman’s blood, but no bodies. Why?’

‘Oh nothing.’

‘Look Ash is safe okay that’s all you need know, they’re somewhere no one can get to them.’

He pressed his lips on hers kissing her. He moved away talking into her ear unaware that they were not alone. He looked at her. ‘Everything’s going to be okay Kelley. Ash may never forgive him, but she has to put it behind her to bring the kids up.’

‘I know it just seems so heartless.’

‘No one will forget them Kelley.’

He kissed her softly. ‘I’m off to meet the guys now okay.’

‘Okay.’

‘I’ll be back late so don’t wait up.’

‘I won’t.’

He kissed her again dropping his hand off her face. ‘I love you okay.’

‘I love you too.’

‘Night Kelley.’

‘Night, enjoy yourself.’

‘I’ll try.’

He closed the door behind him. The flat door closing.

‘I thought he’d never leave.’

She jumped, turning looking directly into his green eyes.

‘You haven’t got to be afraid of me Kelley, you never were.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Good, cause you’re coming with me.’

‘I can’t Kieran.’

‘He told you something. You are coming with me.’

‘I can’t he’ll…’

He grabbed her hand pulling her out of the bedroom and the flat, the flat door closing behind them.

‘Please Ice be reasonable.’

‘I’ll be reasonable when people start to take me seriously and tell me what I want to know.’

‘You heard Kieran, she’s safe.’

‘I’d like to see for myself, and you’re going to take me to her.’

‘I already told you I don’t know where they are.’

‘He told you something and I want to know what it is.’

‘He didn’t.’

‘Don’t lie to me Kelley.’

‘I’m not I.’

‘In the car.’ He said opening the door.

She looked at him. ‘In NOW!’

She slid onto the chair he closed the door sliding over the bonnet as she sat nervously, waiting in the car. He closed the door revving up the car she sat nervously she hadn’t seen him this angry since the cabin with Phoenix he’d never been like it with her, ever. He pulled away the wheels spinning forming a mist behind them.

‘You okay Ke?’

‘Yeah, just Keels has been asking really weird questions.’

‘Like last time?’

‘Yeah. I can’t keep lying to her much longer Kobe.’

‘You won’t have to Phe said that they were heading where it was quiet where no one knows them.’

‘Do you think they survived?’

‘Not sure they never found them.’

Kieran opened the door to the flat. ‘Keep it down she’ll be sleeping.’

They all stepped into the flat quietly closing the door. ‘I’ll be back in a while guys I’m just going to check on Kelley.’

They nodded.

Kieran walked away going into the bedroom. ‘Kelley I’m back. The guys are staying over. Kelley.’

He put the lamp on the bed hadn’t even been slept in. ‘Shit!!!’ he bolted.

‘Where are you going Ke?’

‘She’s not here.’

‘Maybe she’s gone down the offy.’

‘It’s closed.’

‘A walk.’

‘Shit Ice shit.’

‘But.’

‘It makes sense guys. She hasn’t said much about the whereabouts of Ash and Phe for a while now, till tonight. Shit, he’s not dead, shit they’ve gone to look for them. Shit we’ve got to go.’

‘Calm down Ke.’

‘You don’t know Ice he’s so unconventional. He’ll stop at nothing to get the truth out of her.’

‘You told her didn’t you?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘What did you tell her Ke?’

‘Cross Keys.’

‘Shit come on.’

Kieran picked up the keys for the truck opening the flat door they all followed him out Kobe closing the flat door behind.

They all piled into the truck. ‘I hope for your sake Kelley’s safe, and they never find Phoenix and Ashleigh because he won’t hesitate in killing her too.’

‘What have you done Ke?’

‘I didn’t know honest.’

Ice closed the door of the chalet dropping the keys on to the drawers. Kelley at down, shaken. ‘The heat will be on soon.’

‘Why Ice? Why couldn’t you let everyone think that you were dead?’

He sat beside her. ‘I couldn’t do that, he hasn’t won Kelley.’

‘He has Ash like he’s always wanted. You can’t stop him Ice I tried he’s a bully, he knows which buttons to push to get success, to get exactly what he wants.’

‘So he is Sandy? Oh fuck he created a double.’

‘Please Ice he won’t stop until your dead, and everyone who gets in his way until he gets Ash all alone.’

‘We shall see.’

She sat shaking. He placed his arms round her. ‘I’ll keep you warm if you like.’

‘Why are you being so nice, before..’

‘You know me Kelley. I didn’t mean to scare you.’ He kissed her brow. ‘Come on get some rest we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.’

She lay her head on the pillow his arms round her. ‘Go to sleep Kelley, I promise you are safe.’

Her eyes closed out of exhaustion, the room had grown warm a lot quicker than expected.

Ice’s cold stared alerted Kelley her eyes sprung open. ‘Ice what’s wrong?’

‘Just watching you. You looked so peaceful just like Candice always did.’

‘I’m not her Ice.’

‘I know.’

‘I’m not as old either.’

‘I know. I was thinking about when she was your age. When we both were, you may not believe it but I’m a little younger than Sandy.

‘I know you said a million times. Every time I visited with Ash.’

‘You came alone too.’

‘Only because you asked me too, no one knows especially Ash.’

You kept that one quiet.’

‘I didn’t want her to think I was taking you away from her.’

‘You never could do that.’

‘I liked hearing your stories.’

‘I liked telling them to someone other than Ash. You seemed so interested how I managed to get myself caught.’

‘For love. You wanted what was best the only problem with that was the cops were waiting for you to cross the border something you hoped wasn’t going to happen, but did. All you wanted is to carry on loving Candice. You and Justin never forgave yourselves for leaving them when they needed you the most.’

‘God you tell it good’

‘I listened. It must’ve hurt not seeing your kids.’

‘It did, I never thought I’d see Ash again, but she wanted to see me, and I was so glad she did.’

‘I’m just surprised that we never bumped into Phoenix.’

‘Me to. He was there when you were, you all had the same visiting days. Justin was so proud of him getting into college, less for knowing who he’d leached onto. We tried so hard to keep them apart Kelley, even visiting it was lucky we were in those rooms, or you would’ve met a lot sooner.’

‘She loves him you know.’

‘Pity he’s Satan.’

‘He looked up to Justin.’

‘Too much if you ask me. He took it a lot further than we ever did.’

‘You killed your parents.’

‘They were evil Kelley that is different than trying to kill someone that is trying to help.’

‘He thought he was losing her.’

‘He was doing that all by himself Kelley. At least Sandy knew how to love he don’t.’

‘I guess.’

‘So are we going for brunch?’ He asked quickly changing the subject.

‘You’re chirpy this morning.’

‘Just glad of the company, to know someone cares as much for Ash as I do.’

‘She’s my best friend he’s took her away from everything.’

‘He won’t any more I promise. Come on.’

They pulled themselves up going out of their chalet to the restaurant. The waitress placed down two full English’s and two coffees. ‘A full breakfast for the road.’ Ice said digging into his breakfast she smiled remembering how Kieran ate one, like a pig. She laughed.

‘You okay Kelley?’

‘Yeah fine.’ She paused. ‘Do you really think you’re going to find them?’

‘Yes I do. Eat up.’

She picked up her knife and fork eating her breakfast, they ate in silence Kelley looking out of the window every now and then.

‘We’ll grab you some clobber on the way seen as we daint pack.’

She stared out of the window.

‘Kelley!!’

‘Mmh.’ She turned to look at Ice.

‘I said I’ll get you some new clobber.’

‘Sure.’

‘You okay?’

‘Fine.

He placed his hand on hers. ‘Kieran will be fine without you for a while. I’ll take you back once I’ve found them. I promise.’

‘Do you really think that they are going to be happy with you just turning up?’

‘Not sure, but, it’s a chance I’m willing to take just to see her and knock some sense into her.’

‘She won’t listen Ice, she’s into deep.’

‘She will.’

They drank their coffee’s leaving the restaurant handing in the keys getting into the car.

They walked around the town endlessly for some new clothes, booking into a motel. Ice closed the door behind them dropping the bags. ‘Take a shower okay.’

She smiled grabbing some towels, and fresh clothes. Ice sat on the bed waiting for her to finish, he felt so old today she’d dragged him around practically every shop. Why couldn’t she be a man? He just got what he wanted knowing it would fit, but, oh no she had to try every fucking thing on though he enjoyed it, it was getting rather old by hour three. ‘Come on Kelley hurry up we won’t get a room at this rate.’

‘It’s the last one.’ She opened the curtain in a black dress with a red rim. ‘So how does it look?’

‘Great, let’s get it and go.’

‘Gee you sound like my dad.’

He looked at her disapprovingly.

‘Okay okay.’

She closed the curtain changing back into her jeans and tee shirt, her worn slims. She opened the curtain. He looked at her. ‘So are you having it?’

‘I don’t know.’

He looked at her raising his eye brow.

‘Yeah.’

‘Come on then.’

He paid for the dress and they were on their way once again. He smiled, laughing he often imagined going shopping with Ashleigh and how she’d be exactly like that. He now knew that would never happen.

Kelley walked back in wearing the black dress he had brought her earlier that day. He looked up and smiled.

‘So it’s okay.’

‘Yeah.’ He coughed ‘It’s fine.’

‘You can use the bathroom now.’

‘Sure.’ He pulled himself up. ‘Don’t get falling asleep on me now.’

‘I’ll try not to.’

She sat on the bed as he went into the bathroom to shower.

Ice walked back into the bedroom Kelley was laying on the bed, why did this girl have to make it so easy? He’d always admired her admiration, and her interest in him.

He’d watched her grow into something so perfect though not pure. If he wasn’t where he was then he would’ve taken her, taking her purity away. He walked over to the bed sitting down. ‘You okay Kelley?’

She turned looking at him he pressed his lips on hers before she had chance to answer him, kissing her, she lay shocked he’d mad many passing comments some pretty heavy and even once she thought he’d have had her on the floor he got that close. He pulled away looking at her. ‘You’re really special Kelley.’

He edged forward.

‘Don’t Ice.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because.’

‘You know and I do if it weren’t for them screws I would’ve had you that day.’

She looked at him.

‘I can’t control it Kelley you bring out the beast in me.’

‘Well you should try. It cost you seeing me alone.’

‘We’re not there now, we’re all alone.’

‘I can’t.’

‘You can.’

‘I..’

He pressed his lips on hers kissing her

She foolishly returned his kiss, his tongue escalating down her throat, his hands gliding up her leg touching her, kissing her neck. ‘I want you Kelley.’

She pulled away. ‘Sorry I can’t Kieran means more to me than this.’

He looked at her saying nothing just looking at her making her nervous. ‘I will have you Kelley.’ He pressed his lips on hers kissing her.