Page 88 of The Sinner's Bargain

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

THORAN

My ass throbbed.

My back ached.

I had the mother of all migraines drilling holes into my temples and still I sat and listened as Vance went on about the crates coming into the city within the week. I knew I should have been more invested, but I’d been sitting behind my desk for over six hours, pouring over contracts and going over half a million different projects, orders, and budgets that had always been my life, but all I could think about was Blue.

She was somewhere in the house. Most likely in her room. Curled up on the bed with her book. Waiting for me.

I snuck a glance at my watch, relieved it was nearly dinner time. The only time Vance shut up long enough for me to see Blue. To touch her and lose myself in the warm comfort of her arms.

Two weeks.

Two fucking weeks of running around and tying up loose ends.

Two weeks where my time with Blue consisted of longing glances in passing. I almost had my hands on her once, but Vance was magically there, blocking my path and pushing me back to work.

If Vance wasn’t always that way, I could almost accuse him of deliberately keeping me away from Blue. I was sure that was also the case, but I knew these were things that did require my attention. If Blue wasn’t the main focal point of my every thought, I would be the one demanding all of Vance’s time and attention on the matters.

I told myself we were nearly done.

The club was nearly all good for opening night.

The fifty crates of ammunition custom ordered by one of my clients was about to hit the docks where one of my men would see the cargo safely to my warehouse.

The second shipment order of ten AK-47s was put through and waiting for process.

In all, we had made a lot of headway. I was just desperate for even a few hours with Blue.

“Let’s stop here,” I interjected the lengthy directions Vance was giving on the transport of three hundred handguns to one of our government connections. “We’ll pick up in the morning.”

Vance blinked dark eyes. His mouth opened and closed rapidly for several seconds before he sputtered, “We need to finalize—”

“Morning, Vance,” I cut in, pushing to my feet. Struggling not to wince. “I need to see Blue.”

I ignored his pinched lips.

I wouldn’t have cared at the best of times, but something was nagging at me as I started around the desk. My gaze flicked to the dark pane of glass and the light droplets of rain slicing down the long length.

Cyrus was just outside the office doors when I tore them open and marched out.

“Where’s Blue?” I asked, body already moving in the direction of the foyer.

Cyrus fell into step alongside me. “I haven’t seen her since earlier this afternoon.”

That didn’t mean anything, I told myself, yet my steps quickened.

I went into my room first, hoping she’d found her way in and was curled up on the bed waiting for me. My fingers were already itching to start undoing the buttons on my top. To strip it off and crawl in with her. To tuck her into the curve of my body and sleep.

She wasn’t there.

She wasn’t in her room either.

I turned to Cyrus. “Find her.”

He asked no questions as he whirled on his heels and sprinted back down the stairs, his phone to his ear.

---