Page 81 of Criminally Yours

“I was Mum’s perfect son. I couldn’t let anyone find out. After that, I left my job and told you I was going travelling, but instead, I went into detox for a few months. Caleb paid for it with his savings. The day I came out was when Mum learned you were ditching your plans for university and you and Caleb were in love. I was terrified he’d tell Mum and Dad what I’d done. I encouraged her to ban him from seeing you. I couldn’t let my secret get out.”

Any sympathy she had for what he’d been through left with those last two sentences.

Millie shook. “You selfish arsehole. He did all that for you, and then you fucked his life. And if you’d been on our side, Mum would have relented. He wouldn’t have joined the army.”And experienced things that nearly broke him.

“It’s not my fault.”

“Take some fucking responsibility. Did you read the letter?”

“Briefly,” he grumped. “It didn’t mention me, but if you two had gotten back together, you and Mum would have found out. You needed to believe he’d ditched you. By returning that ripped-up letter, he’d think you’d rejected him. He wasn’t good enough for you.”

Millie raised her voice. “You didn’t think the man who saved your life, gave you money, and kept your secret was good enough for me?Me?”

“No one was good enough. You’re special, Millie. He was a nineteen-year-old loser with no future trying to bed you. He convinced you to ditch medicine.”

“Don’t pretend you did this for me. This was all about you,” she snarled, running her fingers through her hair. She hissed as she snagged a knot. “I chose psychology. I’m a fucking adult, just like I was then yet you made decisions about my life. Caleb’s lived with guilt and pain for years. Are you sorry?”

“Of course I am. If I could change it now, I would.”

“I don’t believe you,” she snapped. “If you’re so sorry, change it now.”

“Wh—what do you mean?”

“Tell Mum and Dad what happened that summer. Stop pretending you’re the perfect son. Tell them the truth. We won’t speak until you do.”

“But, Pixie?—”

“Stop calling me that,” she shouted. “You gave Caleb an ultimatum. Now, I’m giving you one. Speak to Mum and Dad, or consider our relationship over. And write a letter of apology to Caleb. I’ll pass it on.”

“You’re with him now, aren’t you? You’re acting like this because of him.”

She slammed her hand into the wall. “I’m doing this because of me, a person you don’t know at all. Fix what you did, Dexter, or we’re done.” Millie hung up and screamed.

There was a knock at the door.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” The panic in Strike’s voice was like barbed wire around her throat.

Her body shook as each revelation from the last few days pinned her. “I’m fine.” Millieopened the door. “See.”

Strike loomed over her. He stared at her before studying every corner of her room. His dark-rimmed eyes returned to hers.

“I’ve left some apple pie and custard in the kitchen for you. You didn’t eat much at dinner. Did you talk to your family?” he asked, his jaw tight.

“Yes.” He inspected her face. She’d worn a mask for years. He didn’t stand a chance of getting her secrets with one glance. “Why are you still awake?”

He visibly bristled. “I was heading to the gym. I couldn’t sleep.”

His T-shirt gripped his torso tightly, and his shorts were on the cusp of ripping around his thick thighs.

“This house has a gym? I still haven’t looked around.”

“Knowing the layout and exits could save your life. I’ll give you a tour tomorrow. We’ll discuss how I’m keeping you safe and the next plans.”

He stretched, causing his shorts to rise slightly. The movement revealed the black ink of a tattoo on his thigh. When he realised where she was staring, he yanked the hem down.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me so far,” she said, still focused on his thighs. “And for the apple pie.”

“No worries. You can look after yourself, but I needed to be useful and…” She waited. She wouldn’t let him hide from his thoughts. “I like knowing you’re eating something I’ve prepared for you.”