It took a few seconds until the proverbial penny dropped. ‘What? I really don’t believe you,’ he shouted. ‘How can you let him anywhere near you? How can you let that fucker touch you? You’ve been trying to get away from him for years, and now you’re going back to him? I don’t fucking believe it. Are you forgetting who he is?’

‘Of course not. But this is something I have to do. It’s the only way,’ she whispered, and then she told him everything. All about Nathan’s threats, the Carter twins’ stupidity and her plan to be rid of Nathan once and for all.

‘And you expect me to be okay with this?’ he said.

If she was honest she couldn’t give a flying rat’s arse if he was okay with it or not. It was her body and her choice. This was the smartest way to keep everyone safe. Why couldn’t they all see that?

‘Be okay with it, or don’t, Ben. Either way, it’s happening. Jake always has and always will be the most important thing in the world to me. I’m doing this to protect him. He is my main concern – not your ego. Anyway, if you really want us to be able to build a life together, then we need there to be no come back on this. Not from anyone. Not the police, John Brennan. No one.’

She felt like crying. Why did she keep having to do this to this man who loved her? He wanted nothing from her except for her to love him back and would do anything to make her happy. Closing her eyes, she tried to stop the tears coming, but one escaped anyway, and she felt it running down her cheek. He reached up and brushed it away with his thumb and that simple gesture was her undoing. Sinking to her knees, she started to sob. He was the only man she’d ever cry in front of. The only person she could be her true self with. He said nothing, stroking her hair until she was spent.

‘Why didn’t you tell me any of this before? I’ll fucking kill him,’ he growled.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she said. ‘It’s too dangerous. You know what he did to Pat. I won’t have you on my conscience too.’

‘It kills me not to see you, Grace,’ he said pulling her up onto the bed with him. ‘I love you.’

She loved him too. She’d never told him that, but she did. What would be the point in telling him? They could never have any sort of normal relationship while the spectre of Nathan loomed large in the background. It was better to keep him at arm’s length; it was kinder to them both. She kissed him instead and they fell back onto the bed.