The drunk’s name was Daniel Kingsley. Tonight, though, he wasn’t drunk–yet the way he looked at Niamh was just as lecherous as ever, sending a chill prickling across her skin.
What Niamh never expected was that he’d be the first to cry foul.
“It was you who harassed me first. That’s why I hit you,” she said to the officer, her voice steady. “There are security cameras at the club. Check the footage and you’ll see what really happened.”
But Daniel stood there, arms crossed, exuding smug confidence.
“We’ve already reviewed the surveillance,” the officer said. “There’s no sign of him bothering you, only you kicking him.”
Niamh’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
Even if the footage had been tampered with, surely the police would have noticed. The only explanation was that the local cops were in Daniel’s pocket..
Facing the threat of detention, the officers told her to notify her family.
Clutching her phone, Niamh’s knuckles whitened.
Her family…
Her mother was in a nursing home with dementia.
As for anyone else…
There was only Jonathan.
The thought of telling Jonathan she was about to be locked up made her stomach twist. This would be a scandal–a disaster for her career, her reputation, everything she’d worked for. Even if she wanted a divorce, she couldn’t risk gambling her future.
“Mr. Kingsley,” she said, seeking him out. “About last night… Let’s settle this privately. Whatever medical bills you have, I’ll cover them.”
She was in the right–Daniel had harassed her, plain,and simple. But the world wasn’t always black and white, and Niamh wasn’t about to take a needless loss. If money could make this go away, she’d pay.
7
Daniel gave her a slow once–over and grinned. “Buy me dinner. We’ll call it even after that.”
1/3
14-15
Just like that?
Warth wasn’t sure whether to believe i Niamh
On the day of the settlemen, she met Daniel at the restaurant he’d chosen- swanky place in a five star hotel. Still, Niamh was certain she could afford whatever he ordered, so she didn’t object
But it wasn’t just the two of them. Daniel had brought along the chief of the Southborough precinct. Clearly, he was worried she might bolt.
Niamh could hold her liquor reasonably well, but she wasn’t invincible. Daniel kept pushing drinks her way, and she quickly realized what he was up to. Before her senses dulled completely, she made a move to leave.
“Hey, beautiful, we’re not done here! You can’t just leave,” Daniel called out, blocking her path and reaching for her waist.
Dizzy and desperate, Niamh snatched up a wine bottle from the table and smashed it over his head.
Chaos erupted. The restaurant staff shouted, people scrambled, and Niamh, mind spinning, seized the chance to escape. She staggered outside, nausea roiling in her gut, and collapsed onto the curb, heaving.
Between retches, she fished out her phone, intending to call Lana. There was no trusting the police–she needed a friend.
But her head was swimming, and without realizing it, she accidentally dialed Jonathan instead.
At that moment, Jonathan was having dinner with Marina. His phone, set to vibrate, buzzed insistently on the table.
“Who is it? Work?” Marina asked, curiosity in her eyes.
Jonathan glanced at the screen. For a split second, something unreadable flickered across his face.”
“Just a spam call,” he replied, and hung up.
Outside the hotel, Niamh realized Lana hadn’t picked up. Alone and unsteady, she considered hailing a cab, but in her condition, it didn’t feel safe. She found a bench nearby, sat down, and before she knew it, drifted off to sleep.
Her dreams were a tangled, feverish mess: fighting, running, someone chasing her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape.
2/3
14:15 )
Chapter y
She woke up drenched in cold sweat, heart pounding.
The fragments of memory came back quickly–she remembered falling asleep on the bench outside. But now, she found herself lying in a soft bed, in a strange
room.
2/2
14-15 –
Chapter 92
This wasn’t Lana’s place.
Nor was it her own apartment.
Chapte
