Dirty Bad Savage(70)

I tried to push the fear away. She’d be cleaning, or summat. Having a girl’s night in with Raven where they could talk and laugh and share stories about all their BDSM stuff. Maybe she had something special planned, some special outfit or something like that. An image of that twat Roger came to mind. What if she was … no, Roger wouldn’t be there. No fucking way.

It would fucking destroy me if he was.

Was gone seven by the time we reached Canary Wharf. Casey picked up pace, bounding along ahead until she’d squat on the pavement with her tail going, itching for me to chase her. I shot after her several times and she’d bark her head off, jumping up on her back legs with her paws against my chest, tongue lolling like a goof while I fussed her.

“Good girl,” I’d say. “Know where home is now, don’t ya? Know where we belong.”

I felt a prick over Vicki, but she’d asked for it. I’d make it up to her, and I’d show her, too. Show her what a nice person Sophie Harding was, and all the great things I saw in her. Maybe they could be friends one day.

Casey bolted straight through the foyer and into the lift, she even pawed at the right button, knowing the drill by now. “Hold your horses,” I laughed. “She’s only upstairs. We’ll be there in a minute.”

I got the flowers ready, purple and white things with a couple of roses. They were a bit battered but I straightened them out best I could. I pictured her face, smiling at me like I’d brought her the crown jewels. She’d like them, for sure.

My heart stuttered for a minute outside the door, ears straining for a hint of Roger. Of course he wouldn’t be there. Not a chance.

Sophie opened the door straight away, but rather than smiling she jolted backwards, eyes fucking wild. She was dressed up smart, in a posh little suit like she wore to work, her make-up all perfect and hair curled under her chin.

“Surprise,” I said, shoving the flowers at her. She took them, but didn’t smell them, didn’t say anything. My heart dropped through the floor, but I smiled anyway, pushing past her to get inside.

“We said I’d call,” she snapped. “I’m not ready yet.”

“You said you’d call,” I said. “I just went along with it, thought it’d be a surprise and I could help.” I looked around the place. It was clean right through, with no sign of Casey’s bowls or the cushions she’d trashed. The sofa was turned the other way around, to hide where she’d been scratching it. I choked back the dread, stomping on through to the bedroom where the few bits of shit I had were missing. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she hissed. “I’ve just got some things to do.” She looked at the clock, nervous. “You need to go, Callum, just for a few hours.”

“Why?” I folded my arms, throat all tight.

“I’ve got someone coming. Trust me, you won’t want to meet them.”

I fucking knew it. Deep down I knew. “It’s Roger, ain’t it? You’re seeing fucking Roger.”

Her pretty face turned dark. “Of course it’s not fucking Roger! What the fuck, Cal? Are you fucking serious?”

“Who then?”

“My sister,” she spat. “She’s coming over.”

The relief flooded over me like the fountain of fucking life. I smiled. “Shit, Soph, you had me worried pissing sick there. That’s cool about your sister, should have said.” I went through to the kitchen, flicked the kettle on. “I could’ve helped tidy up.” I took a sniff under my armpits, they held up alright. “Could’ve had a shower, too. Wanna make a good impression, like.”

Her expression pissed all over my parade. I didn’t have time to react before the doorbell went again. Casey barked and Sophie flinched, waving her arms around in a panic. “Oh fuck,” she said. “Jesus Christ, Callum, Jesus Christ. Please just play along, will you? For God’s sake just play along.”

I didn’t know what she meant until she opened the door. Sophie’s sister was taller than she was. A skinny thing with longer hair. Her nose was bigger, but she was pretty too. She sure didn’t look pleased to be there, clomping her way in with heels and a clipboard under her arm.

Sophie’s sister eyed me like a piece of crap on her shoe, and all thoughts I had of a great family introduction were smashed into pieces. “I didn’t realise you had guests,” she said.

I met Sophie’s eyes and they were desperate, frantic. They were cold. “They were just leaving,” she said. She ushered me into the hallway before I could react, Casey, too. “Thanks for dropping by,” she hissed. “I’ll check with the allocations team on Monday, Mr Jackson, see if we can get your application moving along. If you could call into the office I’ll sort out the additional paperwork.”