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She didn’t need to know what she didn’t need to know, but my conscience also told me it was time to stop treating her like the spoiled brat she pretended to be. Lilly was more than that, but to protect her, again, there was only so much of the truth I would share.
“There’s an associate of mine. Gabriel knows him as well. I need to make sure he’s okay. That your brother hasn’t–”
The frown returned to her face. “Hasn’t returned the favor?”
“Exactly.” Time to change the subject. I pulled out a chair for her. “Now, have a seat. What would you like? The eggs are probably cold now, but the bacon should still be good. A muffin?”
Lilly didn’t move. “Gabriel’s not as bad as you think he is, Sebastian. He’s a good man. The incident with Suzanne–”
I shook my head. “Don’t. Suzanne is off limits—to you, to Gabriel, to your whole family. There’s no excuse for what he did to her.”
“Why? Because he used her as a pawn to keep you in check? Because that’s exactly what he did, isn’t it? But it’s not any different from what you’re using me for, is it?”
How could I tell her we were different? From the very first night at the Robin Hood Inn, my plans had morphed and changed, twisting and evolving until I didn’t recognize them, all because she was more woman than I’d bargained for, and I was a weak fool who couldn’t get enough of her. What Gabriel did to Suzanne was unforgivable and had nothing to do with genuine attraction or love or anything remotely close to real feelings.
“Sit down and eat, Lilly.”
“You told me you’d tell me the truth.” She folded her arms and stood her ground while I grew more irritated.
“Yes, but I didn’t say when.” I would tell her when it was convenient for me.
“We can’t keep doing this,” she said softly.
“It won’t be for much longer. Once my man is cleared, and Dante has received Gabriel’s message that you’re with me, then–”
“Then what? In what delusional world does all this go away? I know who my family is, Sebastian. I know what the Calegari legacy means.” Real emotions clouded her eyes. “Everything that’s said, everything that’s done...it all comes back. Nothing ever goes away, Sebastian. It’s always one step away from you, no matter which way you turn. This farce, holding me as your prisoner, it’s not the end of anything. It’s just the beginning. Why can’t you see that?”
Her words made me remember who she was and why she was at my home in the first place. The war between who I was and what I wanted wasn’t over, no matter how much I wanted to be done with it.
“Eat, Lilly. I’ll see you later this afternoon.” I turned to leave.
“Wait! Aren’t you going to eat with me?”
I kept walking. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
***
“SHE SEEMS BETTER,”Fabian said as I returned to my office with a full plate of food. I lied to Lilly. I was starving, but I couldn’t stay with her to participate in a conversation I didn’t want to have.
“Keep an eye on her. I’m sure this momentary peacefulness is just because she’s hungry.”
“I’ll have Jared continue monitoring her.” He started typing into his phone while I sat behind my desk and shoved a good size bite of the quickly made omelet chef had prepared for me into my mouth.
“They should be at the house soon,” he added as he took a seat across from me.
I had three men on their way to the safe house to get Darion. We had maintained radio silence with him as a precaution, but we should have heard something from them by now.
“Are his travel arrangements made?”
“Everything’s secure. He has a passport and a plane ticket. They’ll go straight from the house to the airport.”
Darion wasn’t a complete idiot, but he also wasn’t cut out for this line of work. “Are you sure he’s left? He’s not in Connecticut anymore?”
“Intel said he’s gone. He never went back to Calegari, just like you told him.”
“Okay. I want to know the minute they–”
Fabian’s phone buzzed. “Speak of the devil.” He swiped right. “Go. Yeah? You’re sure? How long? Stay close. Don’t go anywhere yet. I’ll call you back.”
