CHAPTER TEN: A SECRET LIFE

"We sorted things out," said Eloise that evening. Mark was sat opposite her, eating the dinner that Rose had prepared with gusto. He glanced up at her and paused, swallowing his food.

"Hope you told him he's a grumpy swine," he said. She laughed and shook her head.

"No, when I went in he apologised before I had time to speak. He's just stressed about this meeting. I don't know why though. .."

"Paul has that effect on people," replied Mark, darkly. "Quite frequently as it happens. He's probably one of the few people our dad feared."

"Feared?" repeated Eloise. Mark nodded, seeing the expression on her face.

"Kane's a big boy; he can look after himself. Trust me. Paul's just a little bloke. Kane can handle himself."

"So why did your father fear him then?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light. Mark smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant smile.

"He had a way of making people fear him," replied Mark. "Sometimes it isn't what you know; it's who you know."

Eloise pondered this for a moment and then changed the subject, deciding she had heard enough about Paul Wright.

"How do you like the renovations?" she asked.

"The house looks great, even better than when I was a kid," replied Mark, enthusiastically. She smiled and they chatted about the work that had been done, even though in her head all she could think about was what Kane might be doing.

***

Paul embraced Kane like a son and smiled broadly at the sight of him.

"Kane, my boy, how are you?" he asked. "Keeping yourself trim I see. I need that from my boys though, don't I?"

"So why the urgency then Paul?" asked Kane, ignoring the smaller man's endearments. Paul rubbed his hands together gleefully.

"Business straight away eh Kane? That's how we always like to do things, isn't it? I believe your big brother has come to visit?"

"Yes," said Kane, not bothering to ask how Paul knew about Mark's arrival. "What has that to do with why I am here?"

"Nothing at all, dear boy, nothing at all. Now, down to business, straight away. A new target. He doesn't need killing; just a wakeup call. Borrowed a vast sum of money from a friend of mine; no names of course. Just turn up at this address, give him a hiding and leave the rest to me. Ok?"

"Fine," said Kane, grimly. He took the name and address and a smile spread across his lips. This assignment he liked; it would give him the chance to rid himself of some of his pent up rage and aggression. In his head he pictured Eloise and Mark together; as he knew they would be now without him in the house and headed out, swiftly, to do the work Paul had demanded of him.

***

Kane had been unusually quiet for over a week. He had had several appointments with Paul as well, which worried her. When she broached the subject he either clammed up or changed the subject and so she gave up asking him. Mark had been in the house a lot too, pottering around, tinkering with his bike and overseeing some of the work. He showed no signs of leaving, though he hadn't strictly speaking moved in either. Eloise wished in some ways he would. She was beginning to see some building of bridges between the two of them which could only be good for Kane.

He was sat down in the chair opposite, pretending to read, but his eyes seemed to be gazing at the same page for a long time; too long for him to actually be reading anything. She smiled, fondly.

"You want to go for a walk, sweetheart? It's a beautiful day," she said, standing up and stretching. He looked at her and put his book down, nodding, wordlessly. She took his hand and tried to pull him up from his chair. He watched amused as she couldn't move him and then stood up, lifting her up to kiss her, before standing her in front of him.

As they headed out to the garden, she noticed he was limping.

"What happened to your leg?" she asked. Kane glanced down and seemed to be thinking this one over before he answered.

"I twisted my ankle on the stairs," he said, eventually. It was obvious he was lying and Eloise scowled.

"Why won't you be honest with me?" she asked. "Is it something to do with Paul?"

Kane stopped and released her hand, tilting his head back. She knew he was annoyed by her question, but she didn't want him keeping secrets from her. He began to walk away from her, back towards the house and when she grabbed his arm, he yanked free so forcefully that she lost her balance. She gave a cry of surprise as she hit the ground with a thud. Kane paused and looked at her. He held his hand out to help her up, but she pushed him aside, angrily.

"Get lost!" she snapped, getting to her feet by herself and storming back into the house without a backward glance. She locked the door to her flat when she reached it, keeping him out. If he was going to shut her out, she would return the favour.

***

When she finally came out of her rooms for dinner, she found Kane sitting alone in the dining room. There were candles lit all over the room and a single rose on her placemat. He crossed the room when she entered it and held the rose out to her. Eloise looked at it and then took it from his hand, realising suddenly that he was trembling. Her heart went out to him and she took his hand in hers, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry, Eloise," he said, quietly. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Why couldn't you just have answered my question?" she asked.

"I don't want you involved. It could put you at risk and I won't do that. Anything else we can talk about, but not that."

"Ok," she said, softly. "But if it ever looks like you're in real trouble, you will tell me, won't you?"

He looked at her for a moment and then nodded slightly. She smiled and stepped into his embrace.

***

"So you planning on keeping her in the dark forever?" asked Mark, when Eloise had gone to bed. Kane glared at his older brother.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

"I think you do," he replied, quietly. "How long have you been one of Paul's minions for then?"

"I am not a minion. I work when I want to work and that is that. What has it to do with you anyway? I am not the only member of this family to have done Paul a few favours."

"He told you I've done some work for him then?" said Mark, unsurprised.

"Practically a son to him," said Kane, narrowing his eyes. Mark shrugged and scowled at him.

"Paul put me up when I left home. What can I say? He did me a favour. I did him several favours…"

"From what I understand you nearly killed his ex wife," said Kane, narrowing his eyes. Mark looked up and an evil smile crossed his lips briefly.

"Best assignment I've ever done," he said. "She sure put up a fight, but she soon saw things Paul's way."

"She must have been half your size, Mark," said Kane, with disgust.

"Most people are. I didn't ask any questions, just did as I was told. That was a long time ago. I'd imagine she's healed up pretty well by now."

"You almost beat the poor woman to death and that's all you have to say? No regrets?"

"None at all. She was a bitch and deserved every slap, trust me. She hurt Paul pretty bad. If you'd ask I'd do the same to your ex."

Kane's eyes widened and he glared at Mark.

"Have you no morals?" he said.

"I'd never hurt a kid," said Mark. "And I never get sexual. Look Kane work is work and at the time I needed the money. Despite what you might think I've never touched my inheritance all these years. I wanted to earn my money. I had a lot of aggression and Paul's work gave me an outlet. Didn't matter to me if it was a man or a woman as long as I got paid."

"Do you still work for him?"

"Not for a while. Last job I did was twelve months ago; a husband and wife. That was fun."

Kane shook his head, disgusted by what his brother said. He had never taken an assignment to hurt a woman; he meant what he said to Eloise he didn't agree with being violent to women.

"I wouldn't hurt a woman for the sake of it, Kane. Some of them had done things that would make your skin crawl. That particular couple had a brothel going, bringing in naive young women from Europe and Asia. They were asking for some retribution."

"You'd better stay away from Eloise," muttered Kane.

"Why would I hurt Eloise? I actually like your girlfriend, Kane. I wouldn't hurt her."

"Good, she's had enough of that," he said. Mark raised an eyebrow, questioningly. "Her ex. He beat her up here once, in the garden. Luckily I got there before he could really hurt her, but she's a nervous wreck sometimes."

"She'd have a fit if she found out what you're really doing with Paul then," said Mark, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly," said Kane. "That's why I have no intention of telling her. And you'd better keep it to yourself what he employed you for too."

***

It was raining outside, heavy darts banging against the windows and the roof. Rivulets streamed down the glass that she looked out of, sighing deeply. Kane had been away for a week and Mark hadn't been much company for the last three days. His ear seemed to be attached to his mobile. Every time it rang, he headed out of the door, rushed off to find somewhere private to talk. She had overheard something about a job gone wrong but that was all. Job gone wrong. She had checked Kane's diary and found that there was no information there other than his last appointment with Paul Wright just over a week ago. There was nothing to say where he was now. Just reading Paul's name made her shiver though; gave her a bad feeling. The door opened behind her and she looked up, half hoping to see Kane. Instead Jacob was standing there, carrying a tray with two cups of tea and some biscuits.

"Good morning, Miss Eloise," he said, beaming at her. She met his smiling eyes and felt a little more relaxed already. Jacob was a good man; it was like having a father around, or even a grandfather she reflected, looking at the old man before her. "I thought you might like a cup of tea and a chat. You must be missing Mister Kane's company."

"I am," she agreed, sadly. "It seems like he has been away forever!"

"Not forever, miss," he chortled. "Just a few days. Mind you, I suppose the house is quieter with most of the work being done."

"Yes, I guess it is. He's still paying me, but I feel like a thief. I mean I'm being paid for nothing now really. Especially when he's away like this."

"He will not see it that way, miss," said Jacob, with a smile. "He knows how hard you worked at the beginning, working well beyond your paid hours. I doubt he paid you overtime."

"No, I guess he didn't," she replied, with a smile. "Where is Mark today?"

"He has gone off on his bike, miss. Said he had business to attend to whatever that means."

"I see," she said. "Just us then, Jacob. Another weekend alone."

Jacob smiled and laughed.

"Almost. Rose will be here too."

"Maybe the three of us could go out for a meal, Jacob? I really appreciate how much you two have done for me since I started here. Would give me a chance to say thank you properly."

"If you wish to, Miss Eloise. I am sure Rose would enjoy that immensely. We do not get out much."

"That's settled then. We'll go out for dinner," said Eloise, a broad smile spreading across her face.

Later that evening, they sat in the local Chinese restaurant. Rose and Jacob stared around themselves, gleefully and confessed to Eloise that they had never before had Chinese food. Eloise smiled and said that she would order if they liked, some food that she enjoyed and hoped they would too. Jacob and Rose laughed and joked with her, as they ate the food and it was a pleasant evening. They got a taxi back to the house. She saw the light on in the study before they did and her grin widened.

"He's home," she said, lightly, rushing up the drive to the house, fumbling with her keys. Jacob laughed and took them from her, opening the door for her. Eloise dropped a kiss on first his cheek and then Rose's before rushing down the corridor to the study. She opened the door without knocking to see Kane sat at the desk, his head in his hands. He looked up sharply as she entered, his eyes filled with anger.