He'll come through

Chapter 12 - Home, home on the range

Chapter 12

One year later

London was always stuffy this time of year. Lilah was glad she’d worn sandals and a long loose sundress. It was light enough to cope with the heat of the streets, but covered her up enough that she wasn’t conscious of being under dressed in the city, where suited business people shuffled around with a sense of purpose.

She remembered landing in Heathrow a year ago, almost to the day. She’d never been so glad to see her homeland, or so devastated. Lilah had never actually believed that she’d make it to the embassy in one piece; she was so nervous of stranger men, and the taxi she found was driven by a talkative man who pointed out the sights as he wound through some narrow streets. When he’d pulled up outside a large gated property and pointed at the door with a smile, she almost kissed him. Would she ever trust people, men again?

The door was guarded, but when she pleaded poverty, explained her predicament, she was waltzed into a luxurious office and questioned. No one knew anything about her circumstances, knew she’d been kidnapped, despite her protestations and eventually arguments. All the while she half expected Quinn to turn up, say he was sorry and at least corroborate her story, instead, she was alone...again.

After an interminable amount of time, a middle aged, well-spoken man who introduced himself as a diplomat had appeared and explained that she wasn’t registered as missing. No one had reported her kidnap, and frankly no one knew anything about her. They were unable to help her without a passport no matter what the ‘perceived’ circumstances. It was at that point she’d seen red. The words ‘pompous’ and ‘buffoon’ had erupted from her mouth, her manners preventing the list of expletives that tickled her tongue, ready to fly.

The knowing look as the two men observed her only served to incense her further. It was then that she remembered the flight. She’d been booked onto a flight, the bus hadn’t got to the airport but her luggage had. The look of panic sweeping over their faces would have been funny if she hadn’t been so tired, so emotionally fraught. After a few urgent phone calls, it all went a little crazy. She was able to speak to her parents, book a flight home, and once she’d spoken further to them and the police who lost interest once they realised she couldn’t help them locate either her captors of the location that she’d been held at, a customs document was organised and she was waiting for her transport to the airport.

As she was sat patiently, Gavin had burst into the room.

She remembered looking at him as though she was above observing from afar. His trimmed moustache, his tight lips, narrow eyes...all the features she’d found attractive, now repulsed her. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, but then the perverse side of her wanted to watch him squirm, the concern on his face almost looked genuine. She’d have been fooled if it wasn’t for Quinn. There he was again, invading her daydreams too....

                “You’re safe!” Gavin had offered coming towards her with open arms.

                “Don’t touch me!” she snarled. “I don’t want you anywhere near me.” He had the decency to look shocked, but that only inflamed her further. “How dare you leave me? How dare you!”

Gavin suddenly looked nervous, and he seemed to be choosing his words carefully, “I came as soon as I heard Lilah.”

Her laugh was so loud that an associate of the diplomat came into check on her. She assured him she was fine before launching herself verbally at the ‘man’ in front of her. “They phoned you, asked for a ransom....or something. It was you they wanted to hurt. And you ignored me! Ignored my plight.”

                “They said you were with a man, I didn’t think you knew anyone else.” He took a step back, “it could’ve been any female, why would I believe it was you?”