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“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sadie raised her head. In the moonlight, herbe quietlook was cutting. I patted her side, and she settled.
“Does he follow you all the time?” I lowered my voice so as not to disturb the queen.
“I-I’m beginning to think so.” He sounded rattled.
I didn’t blame him. His father seemed to take control freak to the extreme.
“How does he know so much about me?”
Teague stared apologetically. He started his soothing rhythm on my back again. “If it were anyone else but him, I’d think he was bluffing. Just making lucky guesses. But he’s been doing his homework.”
“Why?” That was the question that had played over and over in my mind. It was why I couldn’t rest.
In Samuel Hollingsworth’s world, I was no one. Insignificant. Except I took some of his son’s time.
“Do you think he has someone set for you to be with?” I asked before Teague could answer my first question.
“Like an arranged marriage?” He laughed bitterly when I nodded. “Knowing him, I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s never mentioned it though.”
“He seems to want to control every part of your life.”
“He’s always been that way.” He touched his forehead to mine. “I don’t know if he’s harder on me than Lincoln and Beau because I don’t conform, or if that’s just my perception.”
“He’s awful.” I sank my teeth into my lower lip. “This is going to sound crazy, but I think he genuinely believes he’s doing right by you. That he’s a good father.”
He shrank into the pillow. “I’m the problem.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I said quickly.
“In his eyes,” he amended.
That was exactly how it seemed. Which was hard to wrap my mind around.
“What if he was responsible for those fires?” I’d posed the question before, and it was no less difficult this time. That was a heavy accusation. Serious. But everything pointed to his father.
“If he did, and I lead the department in his direction, it could be dangerous for whoever is investigating,” he said flatly.
“You think he’d kill them too?” I asked incredulously. “If he’s involved,” I amended.
“He seems to have no regard for life.” His voice was pained. I tried to imagine if one of my parents had done this. How I’d feel. I couldn’t. It was too upsetting to think about. And yet, this was what this incredible, thoughtless man next to me knew. A man he believed was actually capable of heinous crimes.
“Who’s next?” I dug my nails into his strong arm.
“I don’t know.” He pulled me closer. “I need to tell Burke, but I don’t want to put a target on his back. Besides”—he hesitated—“I saw the captain in my father’s car tonight.”
I gasped. “The one who fired you?”
“The one and only.”
My grip on him tightened. “Your father got you fired. To force you to do what he wanted.”
Teague recoiled as if I’d slapped him. His mouth opened and closed several times. Once the initial shock subsided, realization dawned on his face. “And I played right into his hands.”
The self-loathing in his tone was heartbreaking.
