Page 86 of Found

She nodded. "But I was wrong about the location. Sokolov only switched it because Phinneas had been snooping around. I actually set up the perfect scenario for him. He would get the print and torture me while creating a trap at the abbey. I made things worse."

"Phinneas approached you?" Alex asked.

"I was getting ready to leave and the fog had set in. He offered to drive me to Glasgow. I was desperate and knew I would never make it on my own with the weather. The closer we got to Glasgow, the more agitated he became, and then he turned off early. I knew then he was taking me to Sokolov." Sin took her hand in his. "He was afraid of Sokolov."

"Sokolov hurt you again." Alex had turned his back to them, putting both hands on the mantel. At first, she wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement, but his silence told her regardless, he expected some kind of explanation.

"Yes." She explained to him about Imogen and the false memory. He didn't react; he didn't even seem surprised. "It was Phinneas who was in the room. Sokolov's men had beaten him up. I mistook Phinneas for Imogen."

"What did he do to you physically?"

"She's been through enough," Sin said, speaking up. "Leave it alone."

"I need to know, and I need to hear it from her, son," he said, still facing the fireplace. "Our client will want to know."

"H-he said I ruined his masterpiece by marrying Sin. He was upset. He said I needed to be punished. He was going to carve the word whore across my back, but his man only got the W on."

"Bloody fucking hell," Alex said, finally turning around. "You'll go see Forbes and have it looked at."

"I'm fine. It wasn't as bad as my stomach," she said.

"Gabriel, she'll see Forbes. Make sure of it."

"Yes, sir." Gabriel glanced at her, his blue eyes apologetic.

"Sin, I want you back in Edinburgh. Put out all your feelers on Sokolov. I want to get this bastard."

Sin shook his head. "No."

"No?" Alex questioned. His voice turned as hard as steel. "Tread lightly, Sinclair."

"No," Sin repeated. "Sokolov isn't going anywhere. In fact, he'll probably disappear for a while like he did after Primrose. He knows Gabriel, Carmichael, Wraith and I saw him. We all know what he looks like now firsthand. He'll go underground, and I'm taking a break."

"You're taking a break?" Alex's eyes narrowed into thin slits.

"Aye. I'll be back after the holidays, after Hogmanay."

"And where exactly do you think you're going?"

"I'm taking Charlotte north, to our cottage, where she can heal from this nightmare."

"She can heal here at the Tower," Alex said.

"No, definitely not here. The selkie blood in her needs the sea and I need time too."

She went where she could find herself. Maybe she was more selkie than she thought. Maybe she was finally finding herself. She gave Sinclair's hand a squeeze.

"Christ, you're as bad as your father with your legends."

"Those are my terms, Uncle. I'll be back after the holidays, and trust me, I want nothing more than to bring that fucking bastard to his knees."

Alex sighed. "You'll need to come back for the ceremony. Phinneas was still a brother of The Watch. He was still under my command. I won't do wrong by him."

"I'll be here," Sin said.

"Both of you. She's part of us now."

"Both of us then."