Lydia shook her head. ‘You set me up.’
Paul closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again and looked directly into her own, Lydia felt a bolt of electricity from her scalp to her toes. ‘I did not.’
Lydia began walking again, needing the motion.
‘This park has a bad reputation,’ Paul said after a moment, his tone conversational.
Lydia gave him side-eye. She was still trying to process Paul as the head of the Fox Family, her mind spinning with what must have happened between him and Tristan for that to happen. Where was Tristan? He wouldn’t take it lying down. She felt a spurt of fear for Paul’s safety which was infuriating.
‘People think it’s called ‘potter’s field’ because it was a pauper’s graveyard, but it actually refers to potteries which used to work in the area. It’s a funny phrase ‘potter’s field’. Do you know why it means common burial ground?’
‘I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.’
‘It comes from the Aramaic meaning ‘field of blood’.’ Paul raised an eyebrow. ‘I think that’s why people don’t like the name. But it’s actually got a perfectly innocent history. Just people making bowls and mugs and all that. A case of mistaken identity.’
‘I think people don’t think about the name and if they do, they haven’t the faintest idea of the Aramaic.’
Paul tutted. ‘Don’t underestimate human instinct. Right now, for example, the hairs on the back of your neck are raised. That’s because I’m a Fox. I’m no threat to you, but your instincts keep warning you nonetheless.’
‘Are you trying to tell me I can trust you or remind me that I shouldn’t?’ Lydia said. ‘You need to work on your argument.’
Paul set off from the main path to the edge of the park and a line of lime trees which sheltered it from the buildings and road beyond. Lydia followed, wanting to hear what he had to say, despite everything, despite the warning she could feel in her skin.
‘I’m not trying to do anything except be your friend,’ Paul said, leaning his back against one of the tree trunks and looking down at Lydia. The light, filtered through the tree leaves made dappled patterns on the planes of his face. ‘I’m being as honest as I know how and trusting that you will see the right path to take. You’re clever, Little Bird, I know you’ll work it out. I’m just saying that just because something has a bad name, doesn’t mean it deserves it.’
Lydia tilted her head. ‘Where is Tristan?’
‘Japan.’
‘Seriously,’ Lydia said. ‘Where is your father? You say he wanted to set me up or was happy to do so when the opportunity presented itself. Was it just his idea or did somebody suggest it?’ Lydia didn’t think it had been Paul, not in her heart, but it could have been one of the other Families or the Fox clan as a whole. She needed to know what she was up against and where the next attack was likely to spring from.
‘My father is in Tokyo. At least, that is where I last saw him. He could be out in the countryside by now, or one of the other cities, Nagoya, perhaps, or Kyoto.’
‘Does he even speak Japanese?’ Lydia realised as soon as she spoke that this wasn’t the most important question, but she was scrambling to keep her place in the conversation.
‘You know, I forgot to ask. He’ll manage. Foxes always do.’
‘I don’t understand what you are telling me.’
‘My father put you in danger. His part in the violence against your person and the involvement of the Met in falsely accusing you was directly against my wishes. He knew this. I told him that I would not tolerate any act of aggression against you and I am a man of my word.’ He flashed a lop-sided smile. ‘Even if you don’t believe that.’
‘I still don’t get Japan. You forced him to go on holiday?’
The trace of the smile vanished and Paul looked suddenly very dangerous. Lydia wanted to take a step back, but she forced herself not to move. It was getting easier with practice, this overriding of her fear with bravado. Maybe eventually she would bypass the fear altogether, become like Uncle Charlie. Or her dad.
‘I banished him. Tristan Fox will not set foot in London for the rest of his natural life.’
‘Banished?’
Paul smiled thinly. ‘I gave him the choice. He could leave the country or he could die. He chose well.’
That made Lydia pause. ‘You threatened to kill your own father?’
‘I was pretty sure he would take the travel option, but yes.’
‘He believed you, then?’
‘I don’t make threats unless I mean them. He knows me well enough.’
Lydia was still struggling to process this. ‘You threatened Tristan Fox. And he was frightened enough to leave London.’
‘Yes.’
She had always known that Paul was a powerful member of the Fox Family. The next in line after Tristan to take over, despite all his protestations about them not being a hierarchy or as organised as the other Families. But still. This was overwhelming. ‘Why did you do that?’
‘You know why, Little Bird.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Just that you trust me.’
‘I can’t say that,’ Lydia said. ‘I’m sorry. I know this is a big gesture.’
Paul laughed and it was a harsh sound. ‘I wouldn’t call it a gesture. I would call it a stake in the ground. A marker. A line. Tristan’s way is over. I’m head of the Family, now, and no harm will come to you.’
‘I thought you didn’t have a leader.’
‘Things change,’ Paul said.
‘You’re not wrong there,’ Lydia replied. She blew out a breath of air. Paul was very close and Lydia could taste the tang of Fox and feel the physical pull he exerted. Despite everything, he still had a disturbing effect on her animal side. ‘So, you sent him to Japan?’
‘I took him to Tokyo,’ Paul corrected. ‘Twelve-hour flight each way. I just got back.’
Lydia frowned, but before she could ask the question, Paul answered it.
‘You’re wondering why I went on the plane? You don’t just wave somebody off when you banish them. You have to root them somewhere new. Give them a new territory, sort of thing. Otherwise it’s a death sentence.’
Lydia couldn’t tell if Paul meant this metaphorically or literally. This was one of the many problems with the Families. Myth and hyperbole were part of the language, it was so difficult to know what was reality and what was a story from the old days.
‘He’s free to move wherever he likes within Japan, although Tokyo is his new den. He can travel, too, anywhere. Just not this island.’
‘Britain?’
Paul nodded. ‘Exactly. You never have to fear my father again.’
Lydia’s automatic reaction was to say ‘I never feared him in the first place’, but Paul’s revelations deserved respect and that meant not lying to his face. She nodded instead. ‘That’s… I don’t know what to say.’
‘Just say that you will consider an alliance between our Families.’
‘I told you, I’m not the head of the Crows-’