Page 44 of Dangerous Exile
“It’s not on your hands, Ness. It’s on mine. And I don’t mind blood.”
“But—”
“Correction.” His right hand lifted and he set his palm along her neck. “I mind your blood. I mind your blood spilling. I mind it a lot. Would you rather be accosted?”
“No.”
“I’d rather it not as well, so let me handle this, Ness.”
“All part of keeping me safe?” The tightness in her chest didn’t ease. She hated this. Hated all of it.
“I promised I would, and I intend to keep that promise.” His hand dropped away from her neck and he moved toward the door. “Get into your room and don’t leave it until I’m back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To take care of it. The less you know, the better.”
“But, wait, don’t leave yet.” Her hand flew up to stop him as her mind started working again.
His fingers twitched, anxious to be gone. “I have to Ness. This has gone on long enough. The one man we have isn’t talking and that’s about to change.”
“But my father.” Her gut suddenly sank, her fingers going to her mouth as new terror seized her. “Oh, no—my father—”
He shook his head, turning away from her. “I don’t have time for your father right now, Ness. I need to find out if Declan is any closer to learning the location of the other men.”
Talen was gone in the next instant, his footsteps retreating quickly downward in the house until they disappeared out the rear door.
Her hands quivering, Ness sank into the chair behind the desk.
Her father.
Her fingers reached out, shaking so badly she couldn’t hold the letter from Juliet, so she let it fall to the desk, her stare on the ink, rereading Juliet’s words. Again and again and again.
Her father had already shown up to claim her.
Her father.
She hadn’t thought past the fact that Talen had kept this letter from her. Hadn’t thought past Gilroy’s death. Hadn’t thought past her fury.
But hell and damnation.
Her father.
She curled her right fist into her belly, trying to stop the tremble in her hand, trying to quell the bile quickly turning over in her stomach.
Her father.
She’d been afraid of Gilroy, but with him dead, that meant she’d be shuffled back under the reign of her father.
No. No. No.
Her gut roiled, ice freezing her veins.
This wasn’t freedom—this was a completely different prison she was destined for.
For her father terrified her more than anything else.
More than Gilroy ever had.