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

“Not surprising when I feel like it,” he said flatly.

After assurances had been given that they were both okay, the meeting finally began. This time Vance, who had been refreshed by the nap in the car, related everything that had happened, omitting the part about Adam’s compromising photos of himself and Faith together in the woods. As he talked, Faith read through the information Matthew had sent her, which didn’t tell them anything new.

“I always said he was a dodgy bastard, didn’t I?” snarled Kevin when Vance had finished.

“You did,” said Faith. “You all tried to warn me at some point about him.”

“I don’t know this Adam,” said Michael. “Who is he?”

“Faith’s ex,” replied Abi. “I’ll fill you in later babe.”

“So, he’s in league with the firefighters,” said Jason.

“We need to find out how they met,” said Faith. “The link between them could be crucial. And we need to plant the tracking device on Amanda’s car while she’s teaching her class at the community centre tonight.”

“I’m not sure I’m up to that,” replied Vance. “I’m aching all over and I’ve got a horrible headache.”

“I can do it,” said Kevin. He looked to Faith for approval.

She nodded. “I know you can Kev.”

“Cheers,” he smiled, puffing up with pride at her faith in him.

“Jason will go with you but he’ll wait in the car. After the attack on me and Vance today it’s even more important that we don’t go anywhere alone. They were lying in wait for us and we had no idea.”

“But why try to kidnap you?” said Abi. “They’d already taken the product. What could they have to gain?”

“They must know we’re onto them,” said Vance. “And they’re trying to strike before we do.”

“That’s what I thought,” said Faith. “Until I let Ben know that I knew his name when he tried to drag me out of the car. It definitely shocked him but I gave away our only advantage.”

Kevin patted her shoulder. “You didn’t let them take you. That’s what matters.”

“Thanks Kev,” she beamed at him, delighted they were back on track. “But now they’ll be even more frantic to silence us.”

“You…you think they might try to kill us?” rasped Michael.

“I certainly wouldn’t put it past them.”

“Jesus,” he breathed, turning pale.

“Caleb, you live alone,” she told him. “That makes you vulnerable.”

“Please don’t tell me to move back into Mum’s.” Before she could continue, he said, “I could move in with you Vance.”

“Err…,” began Vance.

“But that will leave you alone Faith,” said Abi.

“I’m in a secure building,” she countered. “I’ll be fine.”

“They could still get in. If a nob like Adam can follow you without you knowing then Ben Cooper and his friends certainly could.”

“The three of us could move into your place Faith,” said Caleb. “You’ve got three bedrooms. Vance’s flat only has two.”

“Well…”

“Great idea,” said Jason. “Then none of us will be alone.”

Faith glanced at Vance, who shrugged resignedly. “Yes, I suppose that is the best solution.”

“It’ll be fun,” said Caleb. “Like when we were kids.”

Faith saw the lovely evening she’d envisioned curled up on the couch in Vance’s arms slipping away. “Then it’s settled,” she sighed, trying not to sound disappointed.

“So what do we do?” said Michael, sounding a little panicked. “We have to do something before they attack us again.”

“It’s all right babe,” said Abi. “Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted.”

“Kev’s going to plant the tracking device on Amanda’s car this evening,” said a weary Faith. “Let’s see where she takes us. They won’t do anything else today. They’ll be nursing their wounds,” she added with a satisfied smile.

Vance, Caleb and Faith entered the latter’s flat, Caleb grinning as he hauled in his bags. Vance carried the takeaway they’d collected from the Chinese on the way.

“Which room’s mine?” Caleb asked Faith.

“This one,” she said, gesturing to the room at the opposite end of the flat to her own. She was hoping she and Vance would still manage to get some alone time with him around.

“Great. I’ll dump my stuff then we can eat. I’m starving.”

While he vanished into the guest room, Vance and Faith headed into the kitchen with the food. After dumping the food on the table, he pulled Faith to him and kissed her hard.

“This is going to be a difficult few days,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“I know,” she replied. “Although I’m sure we’ll get a few snatched moments.”

They kissed again more gently. Even if they had been alone neither of them would have felt up to sex after the day they’d had.

When they heard Caleb’s footsteps in the hall, they relinquished each other. Vance took the plates out of the cupboard while Faith switched on the kettle.

“I’ll be very cosy in there,” announced a smiling Caleb.

“You seem excited about staying here,” said Faith.

“It’ll be fun the three of us living together. Sometimes I get a bit lonely. It was a culture shock going from living in a house packed with people to just me.”

Faith’s heart went out to him and she patted his arm.

“At least I don’t have to put up with Kev’s feet anymore,” he added.

They’d just finished eating in the living room in front of a film when Kevin rang to confirm that he’d planted the tracking device on Amanda’s car.

“She’s one hard bitch too,” he told Faith on the phone. “I watched her through the window teaching her class and she threw this big bloke across the room.”

“Good work Kev,” she said. “You did well.”

“Cheers,” he said, the pride audible in his voice. “What do you want me to do now?”

“Go home and keep an eye on Amanda’s movements and try to get some rest.”

“Will