Darkness by Heather Atkinson

Author:Heather Atkinson [Atkinson, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heather Atkinson
Published: 2017-01-19T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

“You can’t keep me prisoner,” yelled Rachel.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Try me.”

“That’s it, I’m out of here.”

“No,” said Ryan, remaining before the door, determinedly folding his arms. “I’ve had enough Rachel. If you want a divorce then please tell me because I can’t live like this anymore. If you’ve met someone else then likewise tell me. I just need to know because I can’t sleep, eat or even think properly until you do.”

“Met someone else?” she repeated, her eyes turning even blacker. “You really are a fucking idiot.”

His eyes flickered with hurt but he stood firm. “Am I really? Then please do explain.”

She looked to Mikey for help but he shook his head. “You’ve pushed us to this Rach. What’s going on?”

She made for the door, intent on going through it but Ryan refused to budge.

“Get out of my way,” she snarled at him.

“There’s my wife,” he said. “There’s her fire. Please Rachel, we’re not being cruel. We only want to help.”

“Why did you have to push it?” she exclaimed. “All I wanted to do was keep it to myself for a bit. Do we all have to know every single thing about each other all the time? Aren’t I entitled to some privacy?”

“Keep what to yourself?” frowned Ryan.

“I might have cancer, okay?” she yelled. “Happy now?”

The three of them stared at her in stunned silence.

“Ca…cancer?” repeated Ryan, praying he’d misheard.

She sighed and slumped onto the end of the bed. “I found a breast lump. They said it was suspicious so they did an excision. I’m waiting to find out whether it’s cancerous or not.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” exploded Ryan. He didn’t want to shout at her but he was bewildered and afraid and he couldn’t help it.

“Because you’ve been through enough. You were kidnapped by that sick pair of serial killers, you’ve already lost nearly all your brothers, you nearly lost me twice, then you thought you’d lost Jules after the compound blew up.” Her voice cracked. “And there was Thomas too. I didn’t want you thinking you might be losing someone else, I couldn’t bear to put you through it.”

“That’s why you kept me at arm’s length?”

She nodded, eyes filling with tears. “The surgical scar’s still noticeable. I knew you’d pick up on it straightaway.”

He gathered her in his arms and she hung onto him.

“I was going to tell you about it last night, when you’d prepared that lovely dinner,” she went on. “I could see you were worried and I hated how much I was hurting you. It was crushing me. Then we got the call about Jules and I couldn’t do it to you.” A single tear slid down her cheek. “I just couldn’t.”

“We’ll leave you to it,” said Jez. He had to pull Mikey from the room, who was staring at Rachel, stricken.

“I’m sorry,” Rachel said into Ryan’s shoulder when they’d gone, gripping onto him for dear life.

“It’s alright,” he soothed, gently rocking her. “It’s okay.”

“I was trying to protect you and I fucked it up royally.

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