‘I know, but after all these years I never told him. All that time he didn’t know who killed Tommy and I did. I should never have kept it from him.’

Michael placed his hand on hers. ‘We all do what we need to survive, Grace. My old man included. He’ll see that eventually. I promise.’

Staring into her coffee, she mumbled. ‘I hope so.’

‘But about this plan of yours. I’m not so sure about that.’

Grace’s head snapped up. Immediately back in charge. ‘It’s the only way to keep us all safe.’

Michael shook his head. ‘Well I beg to differ. You must understand I can’t just sit back and do nothing after what he’s done?’

‘It’s the only way, Michael. I know it goes against every instinct you have but you have to trust me. Even if you could get to Nathan, which is unlikely now given that he’s upped his security, one of his minions would step up and take his place and they’d come after us instead. Not through any sense of loyalty to him, but because they’d be looking to prove themselves worthy of his crown. My way, nobody gets hurt except Nathan. No one will come looking for us. We can all walk away unscathed.’

‘You’re crazy, Grace. But if you could pull it off …’

‘I will.’

‘So this is it then? I have to just disappear?’

Grace nodded. ‘Only until it’s over.’

Running his hands through his hair, he sighed. ‘But what if it goes wrong. What if he figures out what you’re doing? What if he hurts you?’

‘Trust me, there’s nothing he can do to me that he hasn’t already done. I’m a tough old bird. Don’t worry about me.’

‘You’re the toughest woman I know,’ he said softly. ‘But what if you need me? I’ll be too far away to help. I feel like you’re putting me out to pasture.’

Grace laughed. ‘You? Out to pasture? Never. I just want you all to be safe while I sort this out. Take your dad and Hannah to Scotland to stay with the boys and take care of your family.’

‘You are my family.’

‘And you’re mine. Which is why I need you all out of here.’

‘And what about Sean? Steph? Sophia? The kids?’

‘I’ll take care of it. They’ll be safe. I promise.’

‘Fine,’ he sighed. ‘Are we getting too old for all this shit?’

Grace nodded. ‘I think we might be.’

‘Maybe we should run off into the sunset and leave it all behind?’

‘Nice idea. But it would never work.’ She smiled.

‘Worth a try.’ He shrugged.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Untangling herself from the soft cotton sheets, Grace slipped out of bed.