Unveiled(135)
“I’ll see you in hell, Hart,” Charlie sneers.
“Been there.” Miller slams him one last, extra powerful time for good measure before dropping his hold. The evil bastard slides down the wall, looking weak and pathetic, while Miller makes an extra-long, precise job of straightening out his suit. “As much as I’d love the pleasure of killing you myself, our Russian friend here is an expert.” He steps forward, towering over Charlie’s slumped body, and draws a long, filthy-sounding cough. He stares at him for a brief moment before spitting what he’s collected in his mouth right in Charlie’s face. “And he’ll make sure there’s nothing left to identify. Good-bye, Charlie.” He turns and strides out, keeping his eyes focused forward, ignoring all of the quiet observers, including me. “Make it painful,” he says as he passes Vladimir.
The Russian smiles darkly. “With the greatest of pleasure.”
I’m suddenly on the move, courtesy of Gracie guiding me, looking over my shoulder as Charlie slips all over the floor, trying to get up. I feel nothing… until I find William and see him studying Charlie’s pathetic form. They both gaze at each other for a long, silent while. It’s William who breaks the connection when he eventually looks to Vladimir, nodding mildly. Sadly.
Then he starts to follow us out.
And I have to reason with myself not to stay and watch.
* * *
William’s driver greets me with a tip of his hat and a warm smile, opening the door for me. “Thank you.” I nod, sliding into the backseat. I watch for a few moments through the window as William and Miller talk. Or William talks. Miller is just listening, looking down at his feet, nodding every now and then. Every curious part of my brain wants to roll the window down and listen, but my curiosity transforms into panic when I allow the newsflashes of earlier to settle. In the space of a day, I suddenly have a mum and a dad. Miller doesn’t know. He doesn’t know that William Anderson is my father, and something tells me he’s going to be even more shocked than I am.
I’m out of the car in a split second, joining them on the pavement. Both men look to me, Miller with a frown, William with a knowing, almost smug, smile. He’s going to enjoy this. I know he is. I could think for years about the best way to word this and still be clueless. There’s no right way. There’s nothing that’s going to lessen the shock. Miller’s still regarding me closely a few moments later when I still haven’t spoken, so I draw the biggest breath I’m ever likely to and gesture toward… my father. “Miller, meet my dad.”
He doesn’t give me anything. His face has fallen into complete blankness. Poker-faced. Straight. The most impassive expression I’ve ever seen on him. All this time I’ve spent learning how to read him and deciphering his moods, and now I’m lost. I begin worrying my ring on my finger, shifting under his blank face, and I look to William to gauge his mood. His smugness is now full-on amusement.
I shake my head a little in despair and return my cautious eyes to Miller. He looks like he’s gone into shock. “Miller?” I prompt, getting increasingly uncomfortable as the silence extends.
“Hart?” William says, joining me in my attempt to rouse Miller from his daze.
It’s another awkward few seconds before he finally shows signs of life. His glazed gaze passes between us a couple of times before he takes in air. Lots of it. And lets it spill slowly out on three familiar words: “Just… fucking… perfect.”
William laughs. A proper belly laugh. “So now you really do have to respect me,” he chuckles, getting a cheap thrill from Miller’s reaction.
“Fuck… me.”
“Glad you’re pleased.”
“Fucking hell.”
“Less of that in front of my daughter.”
Miller coughs his thoughts on that and throws wide eyes my way. “How…” He pauses, pursing his lips… and they slowly slink into a mischievous grin as he leisurely returns his focus to William, brushing down the sleeves of his jacket casually as he does.
What’s he thinking?
Once he’s through fussing over his suit, his hand slowly extends toward William. “Nice to meet you.” His grin widens. “Dad.”
“You can fuck right off!” William blurts out, knocking Miller’s offering away. “Over my dead body, Hart! Just think yourself fucking lucky that I’m even allowing you in her life.” His mouth snaps shut and he looks embarrassed, and I know it’s because he’s just realized that he has no right to dictate that. “Just look after her,” he finishes, fidgeting under my bemused eyes. “Please.”