Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

“Tell the pervert he’s fucking dead,” spat Vance, eyes bright blue.

“I don’t think that’ll help. I’ll ask him to meet us at the glade.”

“He won’t meet us somewhere so secluded.”

“Good point. All right, at the Bluebell Café on the promenade then.”

Vance nodded, drumming his fingers off the steering wheel as he imagined taking Adam Parker apart.

“I was expecting you to call,” said Adam’s smug voice on the other end. “I take it you received my package?”

“I did,” replied Faith. “What are you playing at Adam?”

“You messed with me, so I’m messing with you.”

“How did I mess with you?”

“You have for years Faith, picking me up and putting me back down again like I was a toy.”

“And this is my punishment, is it?”

“I’m not discussing it over the phone. I take it Vance is with you?”

“Yes.”

“Of course he is. Where one is the other is too.”

“I think we should talk face to face. We can meet you at the Bluebell Café in fifteen minutes.”

“Sorry Faith, you don’t get to dictate any longer. I’m at The Red Lion. I’ll wait for you to come.”

“Why there?”

“I have my reasons. I’ll see you soon,” he said before hanging up.

“He’s at The Red Lion,” Faith told Vance.

“Then let’s get it over with.”

Dread rose in Faith’s gut. “What if he’s going to show everyone the photos? Or what if he already has?”

“Then we’ll handle it.” He took her hand. “Don’t worry. Whatever happens we’ll deal with it. Nothing is stronger than us when we’re together.”

She smiled and gently squeezed his hand. “You’re right. If he is going to unmask us then so be it.” Faith however didn’t feel the confidence of her words. If their secret got out the consequences would be even more devastating than they could imagine.

They walked into the pub and anxiously looked around, wondering if everyone was going to stand up and start calling them perverts and sickos but no one batted an eyelid. A few of the customers nodded at them in greeting and Lil was behind the bar chatting up some young stud. To their consternation, Adam was nowhere in sight.

“All right Faith?” smiled Lil as they approached the bar. “What can I get you both?”

“I’ll have a white wine please,” she replied, feeling she needed some Dutch courage.

“Orange juice for me please Lil,” said Vance, doing a good job of sounding relaxed. “I’m driving.”

“Coming right up.”

“Have you seen Adam?” Faith asked her.

“He said to tell you he’s in the beer garden. Why he wants to sit out there in this weather I don’t know. He never was quite right.” Lil’s gaze was sharp as she looked at Faith. “I warned you often enough.”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “I remember.”

“Is Caleb coming in?” Lil casually asked.

“No. He’s busy getting Eclectic ready for its opening night.”

“The lad’s gone far,” she said with a fond smile, making Faith wonder if Lil’s feelings for Caleb ran deeper than just sex. She thought perhaps not when after serving them she returned to chatting up the stud.

Faith and Vance picked up their drinks and wandered through the back door by the toilets out into the beer garden, although this was an ambitious name for the few cracked paving slabs that played host to three old picnic benches. The parasols that usually adorned them had been taken inside for the winter. Surrounding the so-called garden was a ten foot high wall. There was no greenery in sight, just concrete and bricks.

Adam sat at the least wonky of the three tables, a pint of lager before him, hands stuffed into his coat pockets, a black beanie hat pulled down over his blond hair. Faith got a lot of pleasure from the fact that he looked cold.

“Why are you out here freezing to death?” Faith asked him, taking the seat opposite him.

“I didn’t think you’d want anyone to overhear this conversation.” His pale grey eyes flicked to Vance as he took a seat beside Faith. “You were together when you received the photos, weren’t you?” His eyes narrowed. “Can’t say I’m surprised. Had you just had sex?”

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” thundered Vance, rising to his feet.

Faith patted his arm. “Sit down Vance. That’s not helping.”

He slammed himself back onto the bench seat, rocking the table, causing their drinks to slosh onto the wood. Adam merely appeared amused by his rage.

“I used to be so jealous of how close you were,” continued Adam. “I knew I could never come first with you Faith because of your relationship with Vance but never once did I think you’d got that close. I take it you were sleeping together when we were dating?” he asked her.

“On and off,” she said.

Adam gritted his teeth and shook his head, his jealousy plain for them to see. “I loved you so much Faith, I worshipped you and all the time you were cheating on me with your own brother.”

“Not all the time,” she casually replied. “Just some of it.”

Vance glanced sideways at her but didn’t speak. Her tone seemed designed to wind Adam up and he wondered if she had a plan in mind, she knew how to handle him better than he did.

“And for your information,” she continued, a smile playing on her lips. “We’d just had sex seconds before that envelope was pushed through the door. Hot, satisfying sex up against the wall.” Her lips curled into a smile. “He made me come so hard, he always does.”

Adam and Vance stared at her with their mouths hanging open, both equally surprised before Adam leapt up and banged his fists off the table. “You dirty fucking slag.”

Vance