A Saviour

Twenty Six

Knowing that aside from Jessie, Lucie was the only ever friend that Katie had ever spoken about, Johnny did all he could to welcome the woman into their lives. Starting by inviting her over for dinner at Sweetzer the week after he had met her.

Lily-Rose was thrilled to meet one of Kate's friend and bombarded the woman with questions about her travel to Bali, Fashion, and everything in-between. Katie had prepared a wonderful dinner for the group, and was now chasing Belle around the living room attempting to get her ready for bed. The little girl immediately spotted the moment Johnny sat down in the armchair and launched herself into his lap, he chuckled and scooped her up. "Now now darling, you might have me wrapped but what Mumma says goes I'm afraid." Kate smiled and slowly approached taking her daughter from his arms "I'll be right back." She kissed Johnny before heading out into the foyer and up the stairs. "Dad can I go into the studio I wanna practice the guitar.." "Sure son. But don't touch anything of Uncle Jeff's." "I won't... bye Lucie!!" The boy ran off as his sister stood "I need to go finish that essay anyway.. it was nice to meet you Lucie, you should come over more, Kate would like that." Johnny smiled as he waved off his eldest child.

Lucie who was normally overly confident, shuffled in her seat and smiled nervously. Johnny could tell she was uncomfortable so tried to put her at ease. "Look I know this must be weird for you.. so ask away. I've got nothing to hide." Lucie's eyes widened. "How do you mean?" "Well if I were you, I would have some concerns. Your best friend leaves an abusive relationship and is now in one with a man who was accused?" Lucie shook her head "I may have been out of touch over in Bali Mr Depp but I know a liar when I see one. I knew you were innocent in all that." Johnny slowly nodded "Really?" "Yep. After seeing Kate, and how she suffered and then looking at your ex wife, an alien could tell she was lying from a million miles off." Johnny nodded once more. "And there's nothing else you wanna know?" "Is there something I should know Mr Depp?" "No not really. What you see is what you get around here. I'm just me, you're welcome in our home and in our lives as long as you follow my most important rule, safety and privacy are key." Lucie smiled "That's fine by me." "Then can I ask you a question?" Lucie nodded sipping her wine. "Sure." "Why were you not around when Kate was going through all that with Ryan?" Lucie closed her eyes for a moment "I wish I had an answer.... She made everything sound so good, so happy, after loosing her parents, god all I wanted was for her to be happy. I had my own life and stuff going on. New York was not around the corner. By the time I found out it was too late." "Too late?" "She feared him so much she cut me out." "Cut you out?" "He told her to. She wasn't allowed friends from before her life with him or friends that were not his. I guess another way of controlling her and ensuring she had nobody to help her." Johnny nodded sadly. "I flew to New York one weekend, to surprise her for her birthday. She acted as if I had planted a bomb in their apartment. We went out for one coffee, and she used her credit card to pay for a hotel for me because she knew how mad he would be if he found out I was there.... Turns out he didn't even celebrate her birthday with her. She sat at home all evening after work waiting for him to arrive. He had promised to take her out for dinner, and he never did. He rocked up two days later with a hickey on his neck and a bag full of blow in his trouser pocket." "Jesus." Johnny said before rolling a cigarette. "I want him out her life for good." "Johnny, so do I. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes." The man nodded before they heard Kate come back down the stairs.

"She's finally asleep! I guess the excitement of seeing Auntie Lucie again was just too much." Kate said happily sitting beside Johnny. The latter stood and announced he was going to the patio to smoke. Lucie offered to join him, whilst Kate went into the kitchen to make drinks. Lucie followed Johnny out to the patio. "You smoke?" Johnny asked. "Now and again. Not addicted or anything." "Ha. You want one now?" "No just let her think I am." Johnny's eyebrows furrowed. "What's the plan? How do I sting the fucker?" "Lucie, I need to know I can trust you with this. We both have one common interest right now, and that's Kate and Belle's happiness right?" "Yes." "Ok... my guys have put a tail on Ryan. We've been following him since he arrived in LA. He's squeaky clean, for now anyway. He's not slipped up once, it's only a matter of time though. I think you could be his weakness." "How?" "We need to ensure he gets in enough trouble that no judge would ever let him have access to Belle." "So a lot of fucking trouble then?" Lucie said turning to admire the gardens. "If you can ensure that I'll get out Scott free and that one of your guys will have my back the best they can then I'm prepared to do whatever." Johnny nodded "I'll ensure of it, I swear." "Ok well look let's go back in, I don't want Kate worrying about this on top of everything but let me know whenever you need me." Johnny nodded stubbing out his cigarette before retreating to the house.

The next day Travis and Mark pulled up at Belle's daycare with Kate and the trio jumped out, with Belle in Kate's arms. Ryan rushed over to them from the car park where he must have been waiting. "What are you doing here?" Kate said sternly trying to make her way in. Travis held his arm out blocking Ryan. "Sir, can you step away from Miss Baxter please, we need to get the child settled." "Don't act as if you don't know I'm that child's fucking father you beefcake." "Ryan you need to leave. You're entitled to supervised visits twice a month that's it. How did you even know where to find us?" "It's on the paperwork darling, goodness you really do fit the stereotype bimbo these Hollywood predators like don't you?" Kate gasped before Travis said sternly "That's enough. You need to leave Pal." Ryan rolled his eyes "Look I've got a free day, I thought I could spend it with Belle, surely daycare every day isn't good for her?" "She's not in daycare every day thank you very much and besides what don't you get? You're only allowed supervised visits. Now please go away." Kate said almost breathless before pushing her way into the building. She settled her child before speaking to every member of staff, explaining that nobody but her could collect Belle today and to not interact with anybody regarding her daughter's welfare. Finally after kissing and hugging Belle for what felt like the hundredth time, she was satisfied and left the toddler to have fun with her friends. Mark stayed close by but out of sight, and Travis and Kate left heading to the SUV. "Thank god that fucker has gone." Travis said holding the car door open for Kate. "What was he even doing here?" Kate said worryingly. "You know the boss man will want to know." Travis said driving off.

Ryan was cowering in the driver's seat of his car in the corner of the car park under a large tree. He watched as the mother of his child drove off without Belle.

"What do you mean he was there? Sean I thought we had tails on him." "We do Sir, but they didn't know that today was one of the days Belle would be attending. You know we are trying to mix it up, throw off the press and that fucker of her whereabouts. He's never approached the centre before, maybe it was just a coincidence?" "No there is no such thing as a coincidence when it comes to narcissism, it's all calculated. Was Kate ok?" "Trav says she handled it like a trooper. She's a strong lass. I think it will take more than him to ever break her again." Johnny nodded "Ok I'm gonna call her shortly. I can move some things around this afternoon and go get Belle. She will be safer back here" "you wanna take care of a two year old?" "Yeah.. why not? I've raised two of my own you know." "Well it's just.. you've given Hilda the day off... and the kids are here after school?" "So?" "So... what are you gonna feed them? Dinner wise?" Johnny thought for a second before chuckling. "Take out it is."