Page 82 of By Sin To Atone

“What’s going on?” Isabelle asks me as soon as we’re alone.

I wonder how much she knows. How much her husband has told her. I don’t want to lie to her but am not sure how much I can say.

“I’m pretty sure you’re picking up the same vibe I am from them. Did you notice no one at the table said more than two words to us?” she asks.

“Zeke is charming like that,” I say with an eye roll.

Isabelle smiles, takes out her lipstick. “I know what brought Zeke back,” she says, keeping her eyes on her reflection in the mirror until she’s done, then turning to face me. An older woman walks into the powder room and Isabelle says hello to her, then takes me aside. “Jericho doesn’t want to upset me, given the baby and all, but I’d feel better knowing.”

I nod. She has a right to know. “I think one of the men guarding the Councilors may be connected to my father. I’m not sure how much you know about that, but basically, it’s bad news if he is.”

She studies me, a wrinkle forming between her eyebrows. “How bad?”

“Bad.”

There’s a knock on the door and we both turn when someone pushes it open and clears his throat.

A man.

I grab Isabelle’s wrist and push her behind me. If it’s him, if it’s Wyatt Hoxton, I won’t let him hurt her.

But I exhale a sigh of relief when Jericho’s head comes into view. He sees us, takes in my hand around his wife’s wrist. Isabelle steps around me.

“You’re leaving. Dex is outside. He’ll take you to the car,” he says.

“What about you?” Isabelle asks.

He glances at me. “I’m going to get Zeke.”

“Where is he?” I ask.

Jericho’s jaw tightens and he shakes his head once.

“Did he go?—”

“I don’t know,” Jericho cuts me off, glancing at his wife.

I look at her, then him. My heart races. Did he go after Wyatt?

“Let’s go.” Jericho says and holds the door open.

Isabelle steps out and I follow her. Dex is standing nearby. The gong chimes and people begin to pile back into the banquet room.

“I left my wrap,” I say.

“I’ll get it,” Jericho says. “Dex.”

Dex nods, and gestures to us to walk ahead of him.

Jericho wraps a hand around the back of Isabelle’s neck and draws her close. They look at each other, forehead to forehead, and it’s so intimate a moment, I feel like I should look away. “Zeke and I will take my car,” Jericho tells her. “Don’t worry. I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay,” she says, and I can hear that she is worried.

I look around for Zeke, trying to find him in the crowd as the gong goes again.

“Come on, Blue,” Isabelle says weaving her arm through mine and leaving me no choice but to leave with her, Dex following close behind us.

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