Two-Faced Read Online Free Page A

it – and that was one of the rare things Michelle and Mia were in definite agreement about.
    Not that their mum cared what they thought. If they complained, she just said it was her house, and if they didn’t like it they knew what they could do – which was basically nothing, because they weren’t old enough to leave. And they’d only met their real father once, so they couldn’t go running to him. Mia had threatened to on more than a few occasions when she’d been sulking about something or other, but their mum had just laughed and told her to go for it, knowing full well that she wouldn’t know where to start looking.
    Still, creepy as Eric was, at least he wasn’t violent like a few of her mum’s exes had been. And he didn’t spy on her and Mia, or barge into their bedroom in the hopes of catching them getting undressed, like the last one. So Michelle supposed she could tolerate him.
    As long as he stayed away from her.
    She reached Alexandra Road a few minutes later and was about to cross over to walk past the park when she spotted a gang of older girls from the estate hanging around at the gates. Knowing from experience that they would have a go at her if she walked past, she decided to go through the park instead. It might take twice as long, but it was better than getting her head kicked in.
    She climbed through the broken fence and walked quickly, keeping an eye on the bushes as she skirted the inky waters of the lake. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind her a few seconds later, she glanced back, her heart lurching when she saw the shadowy figure of a man running towards her. But before she could even think about moving out of his way he barged into her, knocking her flat on her back.
    Reaching down to help her up, he said, ‘God, I’m sorry, love! I didn’t see you there. Are you all right?’
    Shrinking from his touch, Michelle pushed herself shakily to her feet and stared up at him. He was breathing hard, his face flushed and sweaty from running, and there were wisps of steam rising from his dark hair. He had a soft Irish accent which made him sound non-threatening, but without being able to see his eyes she couldn’t be sure what he was thinking. All she knew was that she’d be powerless to defend herself if he went for her, because he was so much bigger than she was.
    Fortunately for her, Liam Grant had never attacked a girl in his life – and he wasn’t about to start now. Sickened by the fear in her eyes, because he’d seen it so many times in the eyes of his own mother, he raised his hands and stepped back.
    ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to touch you. But there’s plenty who would, so why the hell are you walking through here by yourself at this time of night? Don’t you know how dangerous it is round here?’
    Wiping her muddy hands on her jeans, Michelle muttered, ‘I’ve lived here all my life, and nothing’s ever happened to me.’
    ‘ Yet ,’ Liam countered, frowning at her. ‘But you’re only a girl; you shouldn’t be out on your own in the dark.’
    ‘ Only a girl,’ she repeated indignantly.
    Tutting softly, he said, ‘You know what I meant. Anyhow, come on . . . I’ll walk you the rest of the way.’
    Taken aback by the unexpected offer, Michelle stayed where she was when he began to walk on. Most of the lads round here didn’t have the slightest sense of protectiveness towards the girls in their lives. Darren Mitchell, for example: it probably wouldn’t even cross his mind to make sure that Mia got home safely from wherever he’d taken her tonight. He was the sort who would get what he wanted and then turf her out into the dark, forgetting all about her as soon as the door was shut. But here was a total stranger, showing genuine concern for a girl he’d never even met before.
    ‘Are you coming, or what?’
    Snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of his voice, Michelle gazed at him. ‘Sorry?’
    Walking backwards now, Liam flapped his hands. ‘I said