Page 160 of Bishop

“Good idea,” Layla cuts in.

She attempts to keep the conversation flowing during the meal, but estranged siblings, a soon-to-be sister-in-law I barely know, and whatever the hell Bishop and I are to each other, don’t make for the most companionable dialogue.

It also doesn’t help that the trauma Bishop shared with me in the bedroom keeps poking at the back of my mind. Him being here may have started as a favor to my brothers and continued out of respect to Lorenzo, but I now think he not only wants to ensure my safety, but to make amends for not being able to save his sister.

And that’s not fair.

It also makes him unreliable. Too prone to react due to emotion.

I can’t risk it.

I won’t do that to Tilly.

As soon as Bishop finishes his meal, he pushes from the table to dispose of his rubbish in the trash. “I’m going to take a shower.”

My pulse increases.

Is he going to do a runner?

No, he wouldn’t. If he was going to skip out of here he wouldn’t hide it. His actions would be made without apology. But it doesn’t lessen the urgency to make my own moves.

“I’ll be outside once you’re finished.” I give a sad smile, already silently apologizing for what I have to do. “I need to take a walk and clear my head.”

He pauses near the entry to the hall, shooting me a skeptical glance over his shoulder. “In the dark?”

“I’ll stay in the yard.”

His chin hitches, and I wait for him to protest. Instead, he continues into the hall and out of view.

I hang my head, my pulse thundering until a door closes in the distance and it feels like my heart stops completely.

“Everything okay?” Matthew asks.

“No.” I raise my gaze and meet his eyes. “Do you want to make up for abandoning me all those years ago?”

He bristles. Layla snaps rigid.

“It’s a simple question, Matthew.” My heart kicks back into gear, thudding like thunder beneath my ribs. “Will you help me or not?”

He places his can of soda on the table. “What do you want me to do?”

29

BISHOP

I shove my face under the shower’s spray, my hand around my dick, my thoughts fixated on Abri. I jerk off to the image of her. The sound of her voice in my head. The memory of her soft skin.

But the physical release doesn’t stop the sense of impending doom from flooding my veins.

I can’t let her meet with Geppet.

If she goes on her own, who knows what that asshole might do?

She could get hurt. Or worse.

And if she comes with me, it’ll be a clear sign she’s working with Lorenzo.

The only choice is to go without her, and it’s not like she trusts me to stick around anyway.

---