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

to be running smoothly. Hopefully we’ll get through tonight unscathed, then we can go home and sleep. I’m absolutely knackered.”

“Me too and I’m sick of not being able to share a bed with you.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking, I can’t go back to living in that flat, not after those bastards broke in. I won’t feel comfortable. So, I’m going to find somewhere else to live.”

“But it works so well where we are now. It means we can practically live together without the others knowing.”

“We can do that, in another block of flats. I’d also like somewhere on the ground floor, with a small garden so Blossom can sit outside if she wants to.”

“Who?”

“The cat I’m getting from the shelter.”

“Oh yeah. I forgot about that.”

“She’s a house cat but she still might want to bask in the sunshine. I also want somewhere with two exits.”

“I can understand that.”

“We might find somewhere with two available flats, so we can carry on as we are.”

“You’re certain you want to do that?”

“Yeah,” she said, frowning. “Why, don’t you?”

“I’d prefer it if we moved in together but I suppose it’s not the right time.”

“I’d love that too but it’s really not. We can only tell everyone once the business is stable and everything is running smoothly. If the family react badly we might have to move away and we need to be sure Caleb will be up to running everything without us.”

“So that was why you made him decide about opening tonight? You wanted to test him?”

“I did and he made the right decision. He doesn’t let panic or fear overwhelm him but he’s not ready yet.”

“I don’t think it’ll be long before he is, then we can finally be together.”

“Yes,” she quietly replied.

“You don’t sound very enthusiastic.”

“I’m worried about the effect it’ll have on our family. You saw how Caleb reacted to that photo of us together. He said it was the most disgusting thing he’d ever seen.”

“Because he thinks we’re related. He’ll change his tune when he finds out we’re not.”

“Or he might not.”

“Don’t worry about that now. Let’s just concentrate on getting through the next few days.”

Faith nodded but found it hard to put all her fears on the backburner. She knew the news of their relationship might destroy their family and she wondered if she had it in her to do it to them.

“Lil,” smiled Caleb when he saw her standing at the bar on the main floor. “You look amazing.”

“Not so bad yourself sexy,” she smiled, going up on tiptoe to kiss him.

He wrapped his big hands around her waist and kissed her.

All the young twenty-something women who had been hoping to catch his eye were confused by his interest in what to them was an old woman.

“Well done,” Lil smiled up at him, sliding her arms around his neck. “This place is great. I reckon you’ll make it the most popular club in town. I’ve even spotted a couple of footballers and a TV presenter.”

“And they’re all arseholes making demands about chilled champagne and exclusive use of the bathrooms. I told them to sod right off.”

“Good for you. Start as you mean to go on.”

Caleb smiled. They were surrounded by plenty of young studs but it seemed tonight Lil only had eyes for him. Despite his promise to distance himself from her, this was so rare he determined to enjoy it.

“Have you been up to the VIP room yet?” he asked her.

“I’ve not had the chance. I’ve only just arrived.”

“Come on up. Faith’s there.”

“Lovely,” she smiled. “It would be nice to catch up with her, she’s so busy these days.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close as he escorted her upstairs into the VIP room. Lil leaned into him, smiling like the cat that got the cream. She was with the man of the hour, as well as the most gorgeous man in the room and she loved the jealous looks she was getting from the younger women he hadn’t even noticed were there. They passed Jason and Kevin, who were surrounded by a gaggle of admiring women.

“She doesn’t look very well,” said Lil with concern when she spotted Faith slumped at a table, talking to Vance.

“It’s been a bit rough lately. She’s been through a lot.”

“Like what?”

“I’ll leave it to her to tell you.”

Faith looked up and smiled as they reached her table.

“Lil,” she said, getting to her feet to hug her friend. “Lovely to see you. Sit down. Would you like a drink?”

“I’d love some champers please.”

“I’ll get it,” said Vance. “Does anybody else want anything?”

“I’ll have another orange juice please,” said Faith.

“I’ll have champagne too,” said Caleb, sitting beside Lil. He caught Faith’s sharp look. “I haven’t had a drink yet and I’ll just have the one. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a clear head.”

“And I can’t drink champagne alone,” said Lil, planting a passionate kiss on his lips.

Lil was one of Faith’s closest friends but the way she treated Caleb annoyed her. She was only cosying up to him because he was the man of the moment. Despite what he’d said about breaking it off with her, he seemed very content to go along with it.

“So,” said Lil when she eventually let Caleb come up for air. “Tell me everything that’s been going on.” She looked to Faith. “Caleb said you’ve had a rough few days and you don’t look very well.”

“There was that fire at my flat,” she said. “I got trapped inside and had to be carried out.”

Knowing filled Lil’s eyes. “I heard about that fire but the funny thing is, despite all the smoke and the fire alarms going off, I heard there was no actual