“Dammit.”A deep sigh, followed by thick silence. “Are you sure? I can’t be in two fucking places at once.”
I’ve been snoozing on and off most of the day when Sinclair’s voice wakes me up. He’s over by the large windows with his broad back to me, his shoulders tense as he pulls his hand from his pocket to rub his brow. Outside, night has fallen and the full moon outside bathes him in a silvery hue.
“She’ll bite my head off if she finds out I have her shadowed. She won’t care that it’s for her own good.” He snorts at whatever the person on the other end has to say. “You clearly don’t know Darian very well. If he were ever to find himself pussy whipped, it was always going to be by a woman like Cecilia. She’s headstrong and doesn’t take his shit.” His eyes meet mine over his shoulder. “Look, I’ve got to go. Don’t lose sight of her, but tell the others to be discreet.” Hanging up, he pockets his phone.
“Where’s my wife?” I ask, my throat dry and scratchy.
Sinclair strides over to me, takes a seat in the chair, and hands me the glass of water on the nightstand. I gulp it down, some spilling onto my chin. After placing it back beside the bedside lamp, I settle and look at him expectantly.
“She’s gone home to shower and sleep.”
I’m already pining for her. It’s pathetic at this point how much I love having her by my side at all times, but maybe I need to give myself some slack.
“Who was that on the phone?”
Sinclair’s eyes darken before he runs a hand down his tired face and sits forward with his elbows on his knees. Restless energy pours from him in waves as he hangs his head. “The Bishop knows you have her.”
“Fuck…” My voice is low as a sense of dread moves through me.
“He’ll come for you,” Sinclair says, lifting his heavy head, eyes brimming with regret. “I don’t know what to do here, Darian. I’ve got our most trusted Pawns shadowing Cecilia and two men stationed outside this room, but you know he won’t stop until you’re dead.”
“Well…” I stare up at the ceiling. “We both know I can’t go back.”
There’s no returning to the Exodus now. I could only hide Cecilia in plain sight for so long before the Bishop figured it out. This was always going to happen sooner or later.
The scent of fresh linen surrounds me as I roll my head on the soft pillow to look at Sinclair. His shoulders slump as if the weight of the world is weighing him down. Bloodshot eyes gaze at me through dark lashes, and he jiggles his knee for a beat. “Fuck, Darian… We’re screwed. What are we going to do?”
“We’renot going to do anything.”
His face pinches, about to retort, but I can’t bring him down with me. This is my mess and my mess alone. I know he’s loyal to me, just like I will always be to him, but I need him to put his own safety first for once.
Realization dawns on him, and he straightens, growing larger and wider. “Don’t you fucking dare, Darian! First her and now you?”
“Her?” I ask, confused, but he shoots to his feet and tugs hard at his ruffled silver hair while pacing the room.
He jabs a finger in my direction. “We’ve been friends since the fucking womb. Do you really think you can push me awaynow? Fuck you, Darian. Fuck you to hell and back.” A bitter look comes over his face, his jaw tight, as he runs his hand over his stubble. “Why did it have to be her? Couldn’t you have fallen for some sweet little Elder’s daughter with soft thighs and nothing in her brain? Why the van der Meer’s daughter?”
I open my mouth to reply, but he makes a throttling motion in the air, pretending to shake sense into me. “Don’t answer that. I know far too fucking well why you fell for her, but dammit, you couldn’t have thought with your brain for once instead of your fucking genitals? We wouldn’t be in this mess if you didn’t stick your dick inside Dalton’s property and then put your ring on her finger.”
“What did you mean when you said, ‘first her’?”
Pausing, his brows pull low.
I shoot upright. “She’s going to run.” I’m out of bed in the next second, pulling off wires and making for the door.
“Are you fucking nuts? You’re not in shape to leave yet. You suffered a brain bleed, you fucking moron.” Sinclair wrestles me back, and I curse that he’s bigger and stronger than me when it matters. If I weren’t so weak, I could give him a good fight, but even I can admit I’m not in good shape.
He shoves me down. “Don’t move, or I’ll shackle you to the bed.”
“I’m not one of your fuckbuddies.”
In the next second, he’s punching me square in the jaw, then shakes out his fist, cursing under his breath. “You deserved that.”
I wiggle my sore jaw. “You’ve got a mean hook on you.”
Adjusting his circular glasses, he smiles weakly and flops into Cecilia’s chair. “Fuck,” he breathes, looking defeated, rubbing his brow.
“I can’t let her leave. I need to find her before she runs.”
