Forever Mine (Joe & Ella 2)

“Great choice of words angel.” He chuckled and I winced.

“Just give me a minute.” I said sheepishly.

“I’ll pass it through the door.” She snapped sounded distinctly annoyed and the door opened a crack. Nan’s skinny little arm crept around the door holding the phone but she kept the rest of her body well behind the door so she couldn’t see or be offended by what was on the other side.

“Thanks Nan. Sorry.” I said sadly, taking the phone from her hands. I heard her huff then disappear off down to the kitchen grumbling all the way.

“Hi!” I said into the phone cheerily.

“Hey Ella, its Max. Sorry to ring you at your Nan’s but I couldn’t get either of you on your mobiles.”

“That’s okay Max, the mobile coverage down here is rubbish, they don’t even have 4G and my Nan has no idea what Wi-Fi is! Is everything okay?”

Joe sat up now looking concerned at the sound of Max’s name.

“Is Joe there I need to speak to him.”

I handed the phone to Joe and watched as he listened and frowned, then looked pissed off then rubbed his forehead before saying, “Can you remove it?”

I frowned back at him and he looked at me shaking his head

in exasperation.

“Did anyone see it?” He asked then, “Get rid of it as quickly as you can, make sure no one has access to that part of the building and no mobile phones either. Last thing I need is some clean up guy taking pictures of it and putting it all over social media.” A few more nods and grunts then, “Fine, fix the CCTV in that area and get it done. Thanks for ringing bud.” Then he disconnected the call.

He threw the phone down on the bed next to him then ran both of his hands over his face and groaned.

“What’s happened?” I asked cautiously, sitting tentatively at the side of him on the bed.

“Someone cut the CCTV feed on one part of the club last night and spray painted graffiti onto the side of the building. Max said it should come off if we use specialist equipment. He’s on it now. Not many people saw it, and those that did I can trust not to spread any gossip.”

“What was the graffiti? Did it say anything?”

He looked at me and took a second before replying.

“It said murderer in bright red paint.”

My eyes bugged out of my head.

“What the fuck? Why would someone do that? Have you been using something to upset the animal rights gang or something?”

“No. I’m pretty sure I know who it was and they have a warped view of me. It’s nothing for you to worry about.” He reached over to pull me down onto the bed but I resisted.

“Nothing for me to worry about? Are you kidding? Of course I’m worried, somebody with a ‘warped view’ of you thinks you’re a murderer. How is that something to not worry about?” I glared down at him and he sighed.

“I don’t want you to worry princess because I’m not worried. It’s just someone from my past who has a grudge, but he’s harmless. Forget it, you won’t even know the graffiti was there when we get home tonight.”

“But it was there, and he can’t be that harmless if he’s willing to disarm CCTV and cause criminal damage. Is this anything to do with the letters, pictures and brakes being cut Joe?”

He looked down now, I knew he didn’t want to tell me the truth. He wanted to protect me, but I didn’t need protecting not when it came to his safety.

“Yeah I think so. Look, we are onto him so it won’t be long before it’s all sorted out and we can move on okay?”

I nodded unconvinced as he sat up and ran his hand under my jaw and stroked my cheek. Then he kissed me and I tried to push my worries to the back of my mind. There was nothing we could do out here at Nan’s and I didn’t want to spoil our last day with her, even if she was mad at me for my night time bed hopping.

“I think it might be a good idea to go and talk to your Nan. I think she poses more of a threat to my safety than any crazy graffiti artist with a grudge. Does she still have her sawn off shot gun?” He asked smiling his dazzling smile at me and I grinned back.

“Yes, so you might want to get your running shoes on now.”