Page 72 of The Sinner's Bargain

“Good,” I reached for the tray and took the muffin. I brought it to her. “Here.”

She took it and studied the golden dome of pastry before lifting her attention to me. “Are you just going to keep feeding me?”

“Yes,” I said without missing a beat. “Eat.”

She gave a little sigh but gave in. She set her cup down and peeled the wrapper off the pastry. Her bites were dainty, but she nibbled while we talked about our favorite desserts and all the reasons raisins should not be included in anything.

We didn’t stop until Blue yawned and I took her up to her room.

“Want me to come tuck you in, love?” I volunteered, a forearm resting on the doorframe as I leaned into her space. Needing just another hit of her scent before I had to walk away.

Blue giggled, her cheeks that tempting hue of red. “I think I’m okay.”

I clicked my tongue in feigned disappointment. “Well, in that case, I’ll get you for breakfast,” I said.

After promising to be ready, she slipped into her room and closed the door.

I waited a moment longer before making my way down to the dining hall where Vance and Oliver sat despite the late hour with their paperwork. Cyrus was a loitering figure at the end of the table, waiting for me.

“Good of you to join us,” Vance stated boldly. “We didn’t think we would see you tonight.”

I took my seat at the head of the table. “Why’s that?”

I knew why. I knew he was trying to get under my skin, but the fact was that I was in a good mood and not even Vance was going to make me feel bad about it.

“Just expected you to be entertaining Miss Smith for the evening.”

“She’s in bed. Hers.” I added just in case he thought to pipe in with something else. “What are we looking at?”

Vance set aside the documents he’d been pouring over. “Your downfall if you continue down this path with this girl. We know absolutely nothing about her. The longer she is here, the more at risk we all are.”

“What Vance means to say is that maybe it’s time we send her on her way. She was clearly headed somewhere. We could help her.”

“You don’t even know her bloody name,” Vance shot in. “She’s blinded you with her weak, damsel routine but what does she want? Have you even asked her? Give her money and let’s be done with her. Cyrus, tell him.”

Cyrus released a breath. “From a security standpoint, she’s a risk. She’s fine when she’s with us, but what is she doing when we’re not? At best, I think we should have someone stay with her—”

“No.” I sat back in my seat, fingers curling into the smooth wood of my armrest. “She’s not a prisoner.”

“May I ask what she is then?” Oliver cajoled gently, interrupting whatever Vance was about to say.

It wasn’t the first time I was faced with having to address that question. Not only in the solitude of my own mind, but with Cyrus. I still had no answer. I didn’t think I ever would.

“What’s on the agenda tonight?” I said instead.

I didn’t want to talk about Blue and her place in my life anymore. I didn’t want to think of the circumstances that might take her from me or the ones that will hurt her if she stayed. There were bigger problems, I told myself.

“The factory mishap,” Vance relented with a weary sigh. “David has settled the tragic loss with the family. They were compensated very well.”

“I want that place shut down. I don’t care if you have to burn it to the ground. It’s a hazard and I don’t need cops poking around my business.”

“We still have eight shipments—”

“Reroute. Pay the cost.”

Vance made notes, not looking happy by my decision, but I had no problems cutting ties with things that could jeopardize my entire organization. The factory had started as a front anyway that wound up making money by accident so I kept it, but it was becoming a liability I could no longer afford.

“If that’s all cleared up,” Oliver cleared his throat. “We still have the Ronin situation.”

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