An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(37)

I berated Jamie, told him to grow up. Maybe it’s time I did the same.

“Yes, sir,” Rob whispered, his heart heavy. He looked Mr. Peterson in the eye, willing him to understand. “But it was a long time ago. It wasn’t supposed to be anything to hurt anybody, and I’m very sorry.”

Sorrier than he had ever been in his life.

Mr. Peterson regarded him in silence for a moment. Then he put the sheet on the desk, picked up a pen, and wrote something on it. Rob had a sinking feeling he knew what the words said.

Mr. Peterson cleared his throat. “Thank you for being honest. However, I’m afraid I can’t leave it at that. Ordinarily we’d call in the police, but I’m not going to go that far. That being said, there are policies in place that prevent us from retaining you as an employee.”

What shocked Rob most at that moment was the knowledge that Jamie had given Mr. Peterson exactly what he needed to get rid of him, and Mr. Peterson clearly wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity.

Mr. Peterson was still talking.

“You’ll be sent any pay that is owed to you, along with your P45. For now, I’m going to have to escort you from the building. You are no longer welcome inside the store—either as an employee or a shopper. Should you be seen on the premises again, we will have to take legal action against you. I’ll take you to your locker to watch you remove any personal belongings before I show you to the exit.”

This can’t be happening. Rob was trying so damned hard to straighten out his life. He’d found a job, he had his own place. He…. Fuck. This is a disaster.

Mr. Peterson stood and opened the door. Rob got up, took two steps, and stumbled out onto the shop floor. Mr. Peterson followed him to the locker room, then watched him like a hawk as Rob pulled a couple of tattered books and a pair of trainers from his locker. Then it was time to walk through the store, everyone watching them as Mr. Peterson escorted Rob to the main doors and waited until he stepped off the property.

Rob stood outside, shaking. What the fuck am I going to do now? He’d spent most of his saved money on trips to London, and what little he had left wouldn’t cover his bills or rent for the next month.

He was screwed.

He trudged across the car park, his mind already turning over his options. I could go back to my parents’ house. Except the thought of admitting that he needed to come home soured his stomach. He didn’t want to see his mother. If he could avoid her for the rest of his life, that would be fine with him. So, no, that wasn’t an option he wanted to consider.

That left the issue of a job. His applications so far had proved unsuccessful, and now that Rob had lost this one, he might never get another. He wasn’t naive. Word gets around fast, and bad news even faster. Who would want someone who had the reputation for being a thief to work for them?

He got home functioning purely on autopilot. When he walked through the door and glanced around his flat, it struck him that pretty soon this wouldn’t be his anymore. Landlords tended to take a dim view of tenants who couldn’t pay the rent.

Rob sank into his armchair, his head in his hands. He’d come so far, and now he was being thrown back all the way to the starting line. There was nothing to be done but take out his phone, call his parents, and get the whole thing over with. He’d move back to their house and the lies would continue.

Rob groaned out loud. He couldn’t stand it anymore. The whole thing made him sick to his stomach. Right now, all Rob wanted was something solid in his life…. Something he could cling to.

Or… someone.

His heartbeat raced and his breathing quickened. I can’t. Can I? The whole idea had the potential to blow up in his face like everything else, but he had to try. He got out his phone and scrolled through the Contacts page, but when he went to touch the button to dial, his hand shook so badly that he decided it probably wasn’t a good idea. Instead, he grabbed a bag and threw a few shirts, a couple of pairs of pants, socks, and underwear into it. Then he searched on his phone for the site for booking train tickets.

His heart was still pounding when he typed in his destination—London Euston.

One way or another, Rob’s life was about to change forever. And he had to admit, he couldn’t decide if he was thrilled or terrified.




VIC GLANCED at the clock. It was already half-past nine, and for the last few weeks, Rob had been at his door by seven.

He doesn’t have to share his itinerary with you, does he? That might have been true, but it concerned him more than he thought it would that Rob wasn’t there. Did he say he was definitely coming?

Rob’s face rose up in his mind, and Vic heard the words again. “Yes, I’ll be here.”

Then where is he? For some inexplicable reason, Vic’s heart was racing. Something’s wrong.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Rob’s number. It rang three times before a gruff voice answered.

“Hello?” There was a lot of noise in the background, a loud mixture of music and voices. “Can’t hear ya. Lemme step outside a minute.”

Vic had never heard Rob sound so rough. “Rob?”

“Yeah. Who ziss?” Quieter now, his voice accompanied by the familiar hum of traffic.

“It’s Vic. Are you okay?”

“Oooooh, Vic.” A pause. “Shit, it’s Friday. I’m s’pposed to be at your house, aren’t I?” Rob groaned. “Fuck. I’m sorry.”