Page 97 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

Into the darkness beyond the house.

Away from everyone.

Away from me.

Again.

I follow her, watch her push through a set of French doors and vanish onto the balcony.

My stomach tightens.

For three weeks I’ve tried convincing myself I don’t need her.

That I can exist without her so long as she’s safe.

That eventually it won’t hurt to be in the same room, that she’ll stop pushing me away and we can find something…peaceful.

Or at least, she’ll look at me without that quiet hurt sitting behind her eyes.

But it’s been three weeks.

And somehow she’s further away now than she was the night I got that picture of her tied to a chair from Sergio.

Worse? This distance…I built it myself.

No more.

I set down my untouched champagne and follow her outside.

The evening air is cool from the storm that rolled through earlier. River stands at the railing overlooking the gardens below, staring out into the darkness. And for a moment, she doesn’t move.

Then her shoulders sag.

As though the rigid control she’s held all evening slips.

Only slightly.

But enough.

Enough for me to see how exhausted she is.

Enough for me to see how badly she’s hurting too.

Enough for me to know this has to end now.

“River,” I murmur.

She straightens immediately, her armor snapping back into place.

Damn it.

“What are you doing out here?” I snap.

Christ. I’m an idiot. I’m a fucking idiot.

Her lips flatten. “Getting some air.” She turns away from me, deliberately giving me her back. Fucking ignoring me.

Again.