Against the Tide Read Online Free PDF

hand over his face, and shakes his head slowly “I can’t,” he answers with a frown, his handsome features marred with worry. “We have to go. You choose, anywhere you want,” he says out of the blue, pushing me out of his way and quickly making his way upstairs.
    “What? What do you mean, we have to go? Go, where?” I ask desperately. I throw off my shoes and drop them on the tiled floor with a clatter. I take the stairs two by two and find Damien in our bedroom with my suitcase already wide open on the bed. “Pack,” he instructs. “We’ll go somewhere warm, yes?”
    “Damien …”
    “Lots of sun, we need a holiday together, now is as good a time as any.” He talks fast, more to himself than me, as he opens my drawers, taking out swimwear to pack in the case.
    “Damien,” I shout. “Will you tell me what the fuck is going on here?”
    He stops what he’s doing and sits down on the corner of the bed with a sigh. “I fucked up, Meg,” he whispers.
    “What do you mean, you fucked up?” I perch next to him carefully as to not stop him from continuing.
    “Something happened...”
    “What do you mean, something happened?” My heart starts to beat wildly as all kinds of scenarios fly through my mind.
    “There was a girl,” he says flatly, staring at the carpet.
    “Damien, you’re talking in riddles now. What girl?” Shit, something happened while I was with that guy, the guy whose name I still don’t even know. I’m such a whore.
    “I gave her some pills. Well, I sold them to her.” He speaks so quietly I can hardly hear him.
    “Oh, shit.”
    “How was I supposed to know they were fucking dodgy?” He throws his hands up and straightens his back.
    “Is she … Okay?” Shit. I always knew something would catch up with him. With us. I fucking knew it.
    “I don’t know,” he answers in a small voice. “But, Megan,” he turns toward me and takes my hands in his, “The old bill are gonna be all over it, which means I’m up to my neck in it if they find out. I was discreet, of course I was, but if anyone talks, they’ll know I was talking to her and want to call me in. I can’t risk it. I’m not sure how much damage limitation I can pull with this. ”
    “Why? I bet she talked to loads of guys this evening. It’s a nightclub, she could have gotten them from anywhere, or anyone.”
    “I slipped up, Meg. I need to get out of here. Just for a few weeks until we know how the land lays. Once she’s recovered, it’ll die down and we can come back.”
    “Oh no. Don’t think for one minute I’m going to drop everything and … go on the run with you?” I choke out a laugh. “I have a job, don’t forget.”
    “In one day I can earn what you earn in a month, Megs. What you earn is fag money,” he answers arrogantly and instantly I see a veil of red.
    “You fucking bastard,” I roar at him. I bring my hand back and slap him as hard as I can. His head flies to the side and it stings my palm like a motherfucker. “I have a life, Damien. You fucked up on a deal. Not a business deal. Not a legit transaction. A drug deal. You sold some poor girl shit drugs. Well, do you know what? You deserve it, you deserve to come unstuck. It’s just a shame you didn’t take one of those pills, which would do us all a favour. You can keep your exotic holidays and your diamond studded Rolex. I don’t want them, and I don’t want you. You wanna run like the coward you are? You’re on your own.” I scrabble to unclip the watch from my wrist and hurl it at him before I turn and storm away, running down the stairs and grabbing my bag. I slip on a pair of trainers, and just like that, I leave him to sort out his own mess.

    It might be July, but at four in the morning, the wind coming off the beach is cold. I tuck my knees in to my chest and rest my chin on them, shivering with the shock of everything that’s happened. Sitting under the pier keeps me out of sight from passers-by, but I have the view of