I started crying. ‘Annalise was in that fire. I had to leave her. She died before I could get her out.’

‘Oh my God.’ Dee gripped the steering wheel. ‘If this is true, you have to go to the police.’

‘No. No way.’

‘Why not?’

‘You think anyone will believe that Saint Michael Reyji Ray shot someone? That he kept a teenager in some makeshift prison cottage in the woods, where she gave birth to his child? I know him, Dee. He’ll talk his way out of it. And the police will make me give this baby back. No one will believe me. Who am I? Just some crazy American groupie.’

‘Well, what are we going to do about the baby?’

I clutched at Reign, my arms like steel cable. ‘I’m gonna take care of her.’

‘You?’

‘Me.’

‘How’s that going to work?’

‘I’m going to hide. Somewhere clever. Somewhere he won’t find us. I’ll say she’s mine. That I gave birth to her. No one in this country has seen my medical records. They don’t know I can’t have children.’

‘Don’t you think … I mean, shouldn’t you give the baby to the authorities and let them …’

‘Let them what? Give the baby back to Michael?’

We drove for a long time. I could have stayed in Dee’s car forever, that day. It felt safe, but the world outside … oh so scary.

‘Why were you waiting in the lane tonight?’ I asked.

‘I’ve been waiting for months,’ said Dee. ‘I wasn’t going to leave you.’

‘You’ve been parked on Michael’s lane for months?’

‘Every night. I sleep out here. I’m practically an expat now.’

‘You’ve been waiting this whole time?’

‘Of course. You’re my little sister. I’d do anything for you.’

I stared out of the windscreen, smiling.

‘What’s so funny?’

‘I had the real thing this whole time. While I was chasing after illusions of love in thin air.’

‘It’s not your fault. Michael’s a lot older than you. He took advantage.’

I gave a weird laugh. ‘Michael will try and ruin me now. He’ll make me out to be crazy.’

‘He already has.’

‘What?’

‘The press. I guess you haven’t seen the stories … you’ve been stuck in a Michael bubble. Well, according to the papers you’re a crazy stalker groupie. Michael’s PR team must be doing damage limitation. Or Michael’s trying to convince his wife that you’re nothing to him. There are articles about you, the unhinged cancer survivor, stalking Michael and his wife.’

‘He’s such a liar.’ I hold the baby tight. ‘He won’t mess with this baby’s mind, like he does everyone else. No way.’

It was spring, I realized. A time of rebirth. The leaves never looked so green.

Lorna