Her eyes widened in shock. “I can’t believe he would do that. I knew word got out that a rival family, a bit higher than Dean’s mum and dad, were going to kill them off in a bid to stop them taking over in the future. They came to us because they were fearful for Dean’s life. They wanted revenge but, ultimately, they could see it would mean putting their son’s life in jeopardy. They were going to cut a deal, exchanging information for protection. Obviously, they weren’t protected enough. They still found them in the end. Luckily, Dean wasn’t there when it happened. I heard he was upset and ran off. They went looking for him and that’s when it happened.”
A twinge of guilt washed over me, thinking maybe he was upset over me and that caused him to flee. If it wasn’t for that, maybe his parents would still be alive.
“Why didn’t you tell me all this?”
My mother sighed. “Because it wasn’t my business to tell. Client confidentiality and all that. Besides, I wanted to protect you. I didn’t want you to get embroiled in all the mess.”
I could feel the anger rising a little. “Mum, that wasn’t for you to decide. You knew how much Dean meant to me.”
She nodded and grabbed my shoulders. “Yes, but your well-being was my only concern. I was only doing what a caring mother would do in order to protect her daughter. I didn’t tell you simply to keep you safe. Ian thought it was for the best. He even suggested we not tell you anything.” My mother shuddered a little, now realising that he was secretly playing everyone.
My stomach twisted, remembering the events that took place tonight. Now Ian was dead, and I was left feeling an absolute devastating loss for something I never even had. What are friends for if you couldn’t even trust them? I was determined now that I would never let anyone in like that again. Jeremy was right to think the way he did. Everyone just shit on you in the end. I was never going to trust anybody ever again.
“Did you not think to ask how Ian knew all about it himself?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I assumed he knew because he was friends with Dean. I just assumed Dean had told him everything.”
I laughed. There was that word again. Lately, it was fucking up everybody’s lives.
Shaking my head, I looked into my mother’s eyes. “I could ask more, but I don’t think we have a lot of time. Can we go now?”
My mother nodded and called for my father to get off the phone and come down so we could go. “Your father has been on the phone all night, trying to sort everything out,” she explained. I nodded, but that was all. After everything that had transpired tonight, I was just itching to get away…and fast.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, watching as he appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hey, pumpkin,” he answered, taking me in his arms. “I’m so sorry you’ve been through all this alone. Why didn’t you tell us you were being stalked?”
I shrugged, not really wanting to get into this right now. My mother could tell I wasn’t in the mood, so she turned to my dad. “Look, Derren, I don’t think she really wants to get into this right now. Let’s just get her away, then we’ll talk about it all later when we have time.”
I nodded with a smile and we headed out the door as quickly as possible.
It felt strange seeking help from my parents. I had always took pride in trying to go it alone and do my own thing. My mum and dad always wanted to be there and aid me anyway they could, but I never let them. This was the first and only time I would seek their help. And it was all because of a boy who had stolen my heart twenty-three years ago. Funny how life can change things so dramatically. Dean was certainly right about one thing. He was the man of my dreams and my worst nightmare rolled into one. He captured me, stole me, ruined me, and he ultimately got what he came for. I was ruined. I was broken. I was, and always would be, his.
Chapter 44
Tyler
In my car, I followed my parents the fifty miles or so to Brighton Harbour where we met Jose, a loyal friend and a skipper for the yacht named Sea Trials. It always made me smile whenever I thought of that name.
“Chica,” Jose bellowed from the yacht. “Such a long time, no see.”
I smiled up to Jose and came on board to give him a hug. “It’s nice to see you, Jose. I’m sorry we’re disturbing you so late in the evening.”
Jose pulled away and waved his hands dismissively. “It is never a problem for you,” he answered, a Spanish lilt to his accent. He had lived here thirty years, but still couldn’t hide his true roots.
“You know what to do, don’t you, Jose? You got everything?” my father asked.