Redemption(33)

I felt bad that I was making them prisoners because of all this, but I was determined to get this done and make Dean stop.

“I’m so sorry I’m doing this to you all, Mum, but I’m going to try my best to stop it. By tonight, I think you’ll find Dean won’t be a problem anymore.” I sighed. “I know I’m asking so much from you right now, but can I ask for one more favor.”

“Sure, honey. Anything.” I heard the hint of worry in her voice.

“Can you just take care of Jeremy for a couple more days? I need to visit someone I haven’t for a while.”

“Sure, Tyler. Take all the time you need. Jeremy is fine with us. I promise you that.”

A single tear crept down my face. “I miss him so much.”

“I know you do and he misses you, too. But you need to do this, Tyler. Whatever it is, you need it. Get it done and get it finished. Only then can you and Jeremy move on.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Mum. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Do you want to speak with Jeremy?”

The biggest grin I’ve had in a long time spread across my face. “I would love to.”







Landing at seven o’clock the next morning, I headed straight for the address I had in my mind. I didn’t even bother going to the hotel first. I was only staying until tomorrow, so carry-on luggage was the only thing I had with me. I also didn’t have a lot of time, so I needed to do this immediately. I had been flying all night and felt tired. I needed a nap, but I had to do this first. I had plans to go somewhere else later, so time was of the essence

Getting out of the taxi, I paid the driver and walked the short distance to the door. It had been years since I had visited this place, so it all seemed surreal to me at the moment. I didn’t know what reaction I was going to get once the door opened, but I needed to apologize. It was the least I could do.

I rang the bell and waited. I didn’t hear anything for a while and I almost thought no one was in. I rang it again and heard her voice. “Okay, okay. I’m coming!”

I started laughing and only stopped once she opened the door. She stood there, mouth wide open, staring at me.

“Hi, Louisa.” That was all I could say at the moment.

“Tyler?” I nodded as I saw the tears in her eyes. “Tyler, is that really you? Because if it’s not, this is one sick, twisted fucking joke.” A tear rolled down her face. All I wanted to do was wipe them all away for her. I had been a terrible friend.

“It’s not a joke. It’s really me.”

When it sunk in, she rushed forward and took me in her arms. She cried on my shoulder a little before pulling away and looking at me. “I thought you were dead. Everyone thought you were dead.”

I looked sheepishly at her. “I know. I have some explaining to do, Louisa. I need you to know the whole story.”

She nodded. “Come in. I’ll put the kettle on.”

I sighed in relief, walked in, and shut the door behind me. Her apartment was just how I remembered, with the added photographs on the wall. A couple of them were of Louisa and me at a work Christmas party a few years back, but some new ones were of her with a man I had never seen before.

“That’s Thomas. We’re getting married in August. I met him about five months after…”

She paused a minute and I nodded. We walked into her living room and I could see some boxes piled up.

“I’m moving once we get married. We’re buying a place together a bit further out of London.”

Louisa walked away to get the tea, and I sat down. Once she was back, she handed me a mug and sat down opposite me.

“Basically, you know what’s happened to me, but what’s been going on with you?”

I sighed and began my story. I knew it would take a while to tell her everything, but she let me talk, only interrupting me when she realized my nameless sex partner was Dean. The only part I left out was that Dean had killed Ian. In fact, I hadn’t told anybody about that particular night. Everyone—including my parents—think he ran away after attacking me.

“Oh, Tyler, I’m so fucking sorry that happened to you. I wish I had known. I wish you could have contacted me.”

I nodded. “I know. I wanted to so many times. In fact, I picked up the phone and almost dialed your number a couple of times, but I knew Dean would find me. I knew Dean would then find out about his son. I had to keep Jeremy safe at all costs.”

Louisa smiled, nodding. She looked just as stunning now as she did four years ago. Her hair was slightly longer and she had put on a couple pounds but, other than that, she was the same woman. “I understand why you did it.”