Blood Red Roses by Lin Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

the only way to truly forget.
    Banks came in and stood behind her.
    â€˜How is he?’ she said.
    â€˜He’s going to die.’
    â€˜They’ve told you that?’
    â€˜He’s given up. I’m his mate. I can feel it.’
    She looked up at his cold furious face.
    â€˜That bitch did this. I told him what she was, but he wouldn’t listen. He wanted to marry her, can you believe it? You screw bitches like that, you don’t marry them.’
    He turned away. ‘I’m going for a coffee.’
    She waited until he was at the door before she called him back.
    â€˜Alec!’
    He turned instinctively. For a moment he didn’t know what he’d done. Then realisation dawned on his face and he came at her.
    She tried to duck the blow but he was too quick, a fireman’s reaction. His big hand circled her neck. She felt herself lift off the floor then the lights went out.
    Somewhere in the darkness she heard Bill’s voice shout her name.

 
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
    â€˜Banks was seeing Donna before Jonny met her at the club. He was obsessed by her. When Jonny started to go out with Donna, Banks did everything he could to stop it. To him Donna was a thing. To Jonny she was the woman he loved. Donna didn’t tell Jonny about Banks. Firemen are close mates. They have to be. Their lives depend on it. Sharing women screws that up. But she told Tracey. Which is why Tracey died.’
    â€˜Donna loved Jonny,’ Rhona said.
    â€˜That’s what Banks hated most. The fact they loved each other. Donna used what she had to give herself a future.’
    â€˜A fairytale wedding dress.’
    â€˜A romantic trying to live in the real world,’ Bill said.
    Rhona smiled. ‘A bit like yourself.’
    â€˜So. What’s happening with the saxophone player?’
    â€˜How do I explain fingerprint bruising on my neck?’
    â€˜You’ll think of something.’
    Sean fell asleep as soon as they finishing making love. The French called such sudden sleep,
the little death
. Rhona reached out and touched the warm cheek.
    Love and death.
    When she explained about the bruising on her neck, Sean had called her Lady Death. At the height of passion it sounded sexy and exciting.
    When he woke, Rhona was in the kitchen making coffee. Sean wrapped his arms about her and placed a kiss in the hollow of her neck.
    â€˜What you said... about us... ’ she began.
    He turned her round, hope on his face.
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜We could give it a try?’
    Rhona remembered the scent of Sean’s skin long after he left. She walked through the flat, imagining him there, wondering how it wouldfeel to share her space with him... and found herself smiling.
    She and Sean were bound together now. For how long, she had no way of knowing.