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“Take Marina to Shannon. She’ll be able to help. Shannon needs someone who understands both worlds and is a connection to her past.”
“Out of the question,” I snarl. “I’m not taking Marina anywhere near that place.”
He sighs. “She’s strong, Jude. I think she’d want to help. Remember how she fought against Bash that night? All to get to Shannon. She’d want to be there.”
“I know damn well she would,” I shout. “That’s why I left her when she was hurt. I won’t put her in danger.”
“So that’s it?” he yells, growing red in the face. “You’re going to continue to spin your damn wheels with Shannon, all the while keeping the woman you purportedly love in the dark?”
“You’ve given your opinion. Now go,” I snap, but he remains rooted to the spot, eyes boring down on me. “What if she gets hurt, Law? What if Shannon can’t be controlled and it’s Marina who suffers the consequences?”
“Give her the option. That’s what she wants. To be your partner, Julian.”
“How do I tell her after all this time?” I ask, giving life to my innermost concern. How will she react when she realizes that given the opportunity last night, I still chose to keep secrets?
“You just do,” he says, chewing his cheek. “And you pray to whatever god you believe in that she forgives you.”
This whole fight feels like déjà vu. We’ve been arguing about this since I returned to Louisiana, and I’m tired of it. He’s right. I know he’s right.
“I’ll tell her after my meeting.”
“Tell me what?” My head snaps to the now open door where Marina stands, hands on her hips and head cocked to the side.
She doesn’t appear angry. More curious than anything. My face has surely paled, because a sudden chill sweeps through me.
“Hi, Marina,” Law says with a big smile plastered on his traitorous face. He’s more than happy to throw me to the wolves.
“Law,” she draws out his name. “You’re here sooner than I thought you’d be.”
“I had some business with my brother that couldn’t wait.”
“I see,” she says, clipped. “Well, don’t let me interrupt.”
“Actually, I was just coming to find you,” I lie, knowing that if I don’t tell her now, things will only be worse when I finally do.
“You just said you had a meeting.” She crosses her arms over her chest, looking good and pissed.
She’s definitely not happy.
I’ve been avoiding this conversation for so many reasons. Marina has been through so much, and this news will be another major blow in an already crappy life. She doesn’t deserve the horrible hand she’s been dealt, and I’ve only wanted to change things for her. To make her life better.
Lying to her isn’t the answer.
“Marina, please sit,” I say, motioning toward the maroon settee to her right. “What I have to say will be hard to hear.”
Her eyes narrow and her cheeks lose all color as she plops down roughly onto the hard sofa.
“What’s going on?” she asks, eyes bouncing back and forth between Law and me.
“I think this is when I take my leave,” Law calls, and I glare in his direction.
This whole conversation is happening now because he couldn’t just allow me to do things in my own time.
“No. Stay,” she orders, never breaking eye contact with me. Her hard stare manages to chill me to my immortal bones.
The things this woman—human, at that—makes me feel are surreal. Never have I feared consequences like I do in this moment. Will she forgive me for keeping her in the dark?
“I’ve been in Seattle at the new bite facility, but not for the reasons you might think,” I start, but pause, taking a moment to collect my words. “The night of Law’s party, when you ran off, something... happened.”
