Tell Me - Ashe Barker Page 0,61
don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Another brief flash of anger flared within her. “Oh, and you’re such a great judge of what constitutes a good idea. I was fine until I started doing things your way.”
“Now Thea…”
His warning tone was lost on her. She whirled away from him, grabbing her coat from her desk where she’d deposited it when Eric first hurtled into the room a lifetime ago. She shouldered her bag and headed for the door.
“Thea! Wait.”
“Fuck off. This is all your fault.”
That’s no way to talk to your Dom. The thought flittered uselessly among the tangle of emotions coursing through her as she slammed the door behind her.
Chapter Twelve
“What have you been up to? I agreed to let you borrow Mrs Richmond, not whip her half to death.”
Tony groaned at hearing the familiar voice, on this occasion laced with a liberal dash of disapproval. “Hello Stephen.”
“Don’t hello me, lad. What’s been going on?”
“You know about our little problem then?” Tony had learnt long ago not to even think about hedging with his godfather.
“Some joker sent me a picture. To my home at that. What if Diana had seen it?”
Privately Tony thought Stephen’s wife was made of sterner stuff than her husband gave her credit for and would have likely survived the shock, but he didn’t share that opinion. He settled back on the sofa in his dining room, an untouched glass of whisky on the low table in front of him, and resigned himself to a difficult conversation.
“But she didn’t. Has Thea been in touch with you?”
“No. Does she know about this then? The picture I mean, not the, the…”
“Yes, she knows.”
“Shit! How did she take it?”
“Not well.”
“I’m not bloody surprised. For crying out loud, what is this? I mean, what were you playing at?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Tony failed to conceal the exasperation in his voice. It didn't go down well.
“Don’t take that tone with me lad. I know it's glaringly bloody obvious what you were up to. What I want to know is, why did you let someone take a photo of the pair of you? And then send copies to all and sundry? What you do for fun is your own concern, behind closed doors. That goes for Thea too. But couldn’t you have been a bit more discreet?”
“It’s a long story, Stephen.”
“And it’s not a story I particularly want to hear. Christ, Thea must be mortified. Is she there?”
“No. She went home.”
“And you just let her? On her own?”
“It wasn’t my preferred option, admitted.”
“So why? If you’re into all this, this control stuff, how come you didn’t stop her?”
Good question. “It’s not that simple…”
“It’s every bit that simple. I’m going over there. She shouldn’t be alone right now. She needs to know who her friends are.”
Tony couldn’t argue with that. Neither was it lost on him that Thea appeared to be the exclusive object of his godfather’s sympathy. Whatever, he wasn’t about to let Stephen Kershaw take over his responsibilities.
“No need. I’ll go.” He realised he’d been planning to anyway, which explained why his whisky remained untouched after almost two hours
“You do what you like, lad. I’m going to see her. Now.”
“I’ll meet you over there then.”
The phone clicked as Stephen hung up. Tony had the distinct impression he’d just been manipulated.
He heard the banging even before he entered the converted mill where Thea had an apartment on the second floor. He could hear the din from outside. And above that Stephen’s voice, raised, demanding entry.
“Thea! I know you’re in there. It’s me. Let me in.” More thunderous knocking, then. “Thea! If I have to get a sledgehammer, I will. Open the bloody door.”
Tony jogged up the two flights of stairs to join Stephen on the landing on Thea’s floor. The older man raised his fist and hammered again on the solid wood.
“Here. Let me.” Tony tapped him on the shoulder.
Stephen rounded on him. “I can thump a door as well as you can.” His expression suggested he might not stop at attacking the door.
“I don't doubt it. Neither do any of Thea’s neighbours. Maybe it’s time for a more subtle approach though.”
“Right. If you’ve got a better idea feel free, bright spark.”
Tony fished a key out of his trouser pocket. “I’ll start with this.”
Stephen grunted and stepped aside. Tony slipped the key in the lock and opened the door.
The hallway was in darkness, the place silent.
“I thought you said she’d be here.”
“She is. Or she should be. She told me she wanted to come