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“Only during sex?”
“Doesn’t have to be. You can say it whenever you’re feeling especially connected.”
Saying those words together was profound. It felt comparable to allowing him into my heart. He breeched the walls of the fortress surrounding it, the one I built to keep everyone in my life at a safe distance.
But I don’t feel distance between us. It’s as though it never existed.
That isn’t part of the plan.
Chapter Fourteen
Sinclair Breckenridge
I barge into the conference room and find Dad and Abram already waiting for me. I don’t greet either because I’m not in the mood for pleasantries. I’m mad as hell. “Which one of you did it?”
I see the puzzled expression on my father’s face and know immediately who the culprit is.
“It was me,” Abram admits.
“What did you do?” Dad asks.
I’m not at all surprised to discover last night was Abram’s doing. I’m glad to learn my father wasn’t party to this. I’m not sure how I might have handled a stab in the back like that from him.
“Abram sent me out on Fellowship business last night. While I was away, he ordered Malcolm to come into my home and go after something that belongs to me.”
“Tell me my son’s mistaken.”
Abram ignores my father, as he often does. “Since when does the American belong to you?”
He is asking if I’ve claimed her but I purposely do not respond. “What you did can be considered a betrayal.”
“You should select your words very carefully, Sinclair.” He’s pointing his finger at me. “Betrayal is a strong accusation.”
“What would you have me call it?”
“Investigation. But since you’re the one bringing up disloyalty, what about your involvement with her? She’s an outsider. You don’t consider that a form of treachery to your brotherhood?”
I don’t acknowledge his allegation against me. “You sent Malcolm after Bleu. How can you call that investigation?”
Abram gets up from his chair. I know his tactics well. This is a maneuver intended to intimidate. It places him above me so he may talk down—but it won’t work. I will not concede. “A girl from who knows where inserts herself into our world. She sways her arse and you go completely stupid. Have you not considered that she’s been planted among us by our enemy?”
“Of course I have. I’m not a fool. I did my own private investigation the moment I knew she’d been hired by Leith. We ran her prints and found nothing. I did a sweep of her place and a web search. Everything pans out. She’s clean. I’ve looked from every angle.”
“What about the matter of her looking like Amanda Lawrence? That’s no coincidence.”
“Are you never going to be able to move beyond Bleu’s resemblance to her? Amanda Lawrence is DEAD! Her daughter is DEAD! You have to get over this fixation you have with them!” It’s madness.
“I’m telling you this is no coincidence. Someone handpicked her and she’s here to destroy us.”
“Bleu is one person, not an army or coalition. She doesn’t have the power to destroy us. If you’d stop for one damn second and think rationally about this, you’d realize you’re wrong about her.”
“I’m not mistaken.”
“Then we must agree to disagree. Unless concrete evidence proves I’m wrong, I won’t allow you to send anyone else to execute her.” And what was he thinking doing that in my home?
“I didn’t send Malcolm to kill her. His assignment was to scare the lass into admitting who she is and why she’s here.” I’m not sure I believe him.
“You should’ve been clearer with your instructions because that isn’t what happened. He attacked her while she was sleeping.” I can’t tell him Bleu killed Malcolm. It will only arouse more suspicion. “I came home and found them struggling. It was dark so I had no idea it was a brother.”
“What did you do?”
“He’s dead.”
“And so it begins,” Abram sneers. “Don’t you see? We’ve lost a good brother because of her.”
“We lost Malcolm because you sent him into my home behind my back. This one is on you.”
“Mark my words. That girl’s lying in wait. She’s the devil in his most beautiful form and she’s here to sabotage us.”
“I’m warning you, Abram.” Now it’s my finger pointing at him. “Don’t send anyone else after her.”
“Or what, Sinclair? You’ll kill me? You’ll choose a stranger over your own family?”
“Enough!” my father growls. “No one in this family is killing another member.”
“I saw the way you looked at her, Thane. You have a soft spot for that lass because she reminds you of Amanda.”
Abram’s obsessed with Bleu’s likeness to Amanda Lawrence. I’m afraid he won’t be over it soon.
“Bleu reminds me of a happy time in my life but it doesn’t blind me to the risk she poses. And my son isn’t a fool. He’ll take the proper action if needed.”
Abram must understand he doesn’t get to deliver the verdict on Bleu. “You come to me if you have any further concerns about her and I’ll be the one to take care of them. Not you.”
“Do tell, Sinclair … what will you do if you find she’s not who she claims to be?”
There’s only one way to deal with a betrayal such as that. “Then it’ll be my place to kill her.”
He looks pleased. “When the time comes—and it
will—The Fellowship and I will hold you to that.”
“If she’s working for the enemy, I won’t hesitate.”
“It’s good to know she hasn’t completely impaired your judgment.”
I’m not telling Bleu that Abram sent a brother after her. It’s better she believes Malcolm was an intruder coming for me. There’s also no need for her to know my uncle suspects she’s an informant.
I want to keep things exactly as they are. I’ve secretly claimed Bleu so she’s my responsibility. If her presence becomes a problem, I’ll be the one to deal with it.
* * *
It’s peculiar how quickly one can become accustomed to the presence of another in their home. I enjoy having Bleu here—but she won’t stay forever. I’m slightly regretful about ending her employment at the bar. She’s free to spend her days tending to her aunt’s final arrangements while I’m working. That means she’ll return home sooner than I’d like. I’m not pleased about that prospect. I’ve become attached to her in a short time. I didn’t think it was possible.
I’m sitting in the living room sipping a whisky and listening to Violin Sonata no. 9 when Bleu arrives home. She comes through the door carrying two armfuls of bags and I recall her telling me she’d be going by the market. I’d forgotten about her cooking dinner for me tonight—something southern.
I move to get up. “I’ll get those for you.”
“No, I’m good. Nice song choice.”
She stops by for a quick kiss on her way to the kitchen. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She giggles and looks at the drink in my hand. “Rough day?”
“Aye, my leg was giving me a little trouble but it’s much better now.”
“Would it help if I rubbed it for you?”
“I’m good but I might take you up on that offer another time.”
I follow her into the kitchen. I’ve missed my Bonny Bleu today. “Were you able to find everything you need?”
“It was a struggle.” She sighs. “I’m used to huge stores where they sell everything plus a kitchen sink. There’s only small markets in this area, which I guess is okay since I can’t carry a shit ton of groceries home anyway.”
