He could see the confusion on her face at his question, and he wanted to slap her, wanted to make her react to him without thinking it through first. ‘Answer me! It’s not a hard question, is it? It’s a simple yes or no.’

Josephine looked down at her hands, unable to look her husband in the face. ‘Of course I’m happy, Michael. What a thing to ask.’

Michael put his finger under her chin, and he made her look him in the eyes, before he said seriously, ‘I don’t think you are, Josephine. I don’t think you have been happy for a long time. Not really.’

Josephine looked at her husband, saw the sadness in his expression, and the way he was waiting expectantly for her answer. ‘I am happy, Michael.’

She meant it. He smiled because he knew she was telling him the truth – as she saw it. ‘Good. That’s all I wanted to know.’

Chapter Ninety-Nine

Chapter Ninety-Nine

Jessie was frightened and cold. She was also starving, which amazed her because she didn’t think food would be high up on her priority list. But it was. She didn’t eat that regularly anyway but, for the first time in years, her stomach felt empty; the hunger like a gnawing pain inside her. Her arms and legs were tied, and it was so painful; every time she tried to move her body, a burning pain shot through her limbs.

She was terrified. It was so very dark. She felt tears running down her face, and she forced herself to stop them. She wasn’t going to cry, that wasn’t sensible; she couldn’t afford to let her emotions get the better of her. She was going to keep her wits about her, and try and work out what the situation actually was. If this was a kidnapping, which she doubted, whoever had organised it had better take the money and run as fast as possible. Her dad wouldn’t let something like this go unpunished – he would take it very personally, see it as an act of treason against him, and all he stood for.

The pain was shooting through her skull again, and it was so acute she closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip, trying to ride it out. It was a losing battle – the pain was too intense. She felt herself losing consciousness again, and she didn’t try to fight it this time. Her head was aching so badly, but at least it had stopped bleeding.

She embraced the sleep that washed over her; she was glad of it, even though she knew it wasn’t natural.

Chapter One Hundred

Chapter One Hundred