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Ronin waves them off with a curt gesture, looking only mildly inconvenienced. But my concern spikes as I push to my feet, my thoughts immediately jumping to Shilo.
Before I can take a step, a hand grips my arm with painful force, yanking me back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ronin asks sharply, his calculating eyes—so much like mine—pinning me in place.
“I just want to make sure everything’s alright.” I need to check on Shilo.
Ronin’s lips curl into something resembling a smirk. “Your concern for your brother’s girlfriend is admirable, but we aren’t done here. Sit.”
His voice is firm, leaving no room for debate, and the weight of every gaze at the table presses down on me. My throat tightens as I slowly sink back into my seat, my heart pounding so loudly I can barely hear anything else.
Olivia’s knuckles brush mine under the table, her worried gaze searching my face in question. Shaking my head, I pull out my phone to send Shilo a text.
Me:
Declan and your sister just left claiming a family emergency. Is everything alright?
Five minutes pass with no answer, the message still unread. A heavy weight settles in my stomach, the pulse in my ears drowning out conversation around me. Getting antsy, I shift in my seat until I can’t take it anymore, deciding to give him a call.
But it goes to voicemail. Twice.
Me:
Shilo, pick up the phone.
I need to hear from you.
My father leans toward me imperceptibly. “If company concerns are of no interest to you, perhaps I should give this position to someone else?”
Goddammit.
Clenching my jaw, I shove my phone into my pocket and force myself to focus, or at least pretend to. I barely register the conversation, offering vague answers when prompted, my mind in a panic. Every second stretches endlessly as I wait for the buzz of a notification to ease the growing dread in my chest, thinking up one bad scenario after the next.
Where is he? What if something happened? What if he’s been hurt?
The thought hits like a punch to the gut. I’d never forgive myself.
Fuck, I shouldn’t be here. It’s his birthday, for Christ’s sake, and instead of celebrating with the boy I love, I’m dealing with fucking work matters—
All at once, the air is sucked from my lungs, leaving me breathless. The realization crashes over me like an icy wave, chilling me to the bone.
Love. I love Shilo. And I haven’t even told him.
Minutes drag into an hour. Supper ends, and Ronin invites everyone into the drawing room for drinks. The moment we’re dismissed, I slip away, pulling out my phone to call Declan.
No answer.
What the fuck is going on?
“Is it your boy?” Olivia’s voice startles me as she approaches quietly from behind.
“I don’t know.” I exhale sharply, running a hand through my hair. “No one’s answering their phones.”
He needs to know. I have to tell him how I feel.
Just as I pull up KC’s number to call for information, my phone buzzes with a message from Declan.
Finally.
