Page 39 of All My Broken Dreams

“It was on a mug that I gave him before he came. It wouldn’t mean anything to anyone, but I understood. He needs my help.”

“I think it means Harry is off on a sabbatical, figuring himself out. He’ll come back. He has no reason not to come back. He has a father and a brother–two good reasons to return.”

“He has a sister and that wasn’t enough,” she said. “He might come back sooner if he knows I’m here. It just doesn’t make sense. Harry wouldn’t throw away a gold standard education over this. He’s a maniac for higher learning. He was disappointed in me when I left college. He didn’t tell me he was, but I could see it in his face when I told him I dropped out. He was patient with me … tried to understand….”

“But he didn’t.”

“No.” She lifted her chin to peer into his face. “I don’t want to alarm you, but I think you might be the first person I’ve met who does understand.”

He stroked her hair off her face. She was breaking him. A part of himself that he didn’t know existed was breaking inside.

“Do you have to feed the cats in the morning?”

“Yes. Do you want to come?”

She nodded. “Why do they use you to do their work for them? Fuil Bratach. The one who is Harry’s half brother said you worked for them.”

Deacon looked away. “I do odd jobs on occasion. Everyone in this city works for the Order at some point. There is plenty to do and they pay well.”

Robbie settled against his chest again. She was warm and soft. Deacon gathered her to him in his arms and held her as though protecting her from what was coming. Leaving was the only safe option. Maybe she would change her mind about staying after talking to her mother.

She couldn’t stay. And he didn’t know what to do about it.

Chapter Twenty

Robbie’s voice was slurry with sleep. “Sarah was underage when he got her pregnant. That’s statutory rape. The Black is not a good man. Maybe that’s why Harry bolted. Maybe he found out the truth about his biological father.”

“Maybe,” Deacon said, wishing she would just let it go. “The law is different here. Girls and boys can have sex at a young age and it’s not illegal. The age of consent in Scotland is sixteen. In Germany it’s fourteen.”

“What is his real name? Do you know?”

“I know his name,” Deacon said roughly. “There’s a reason he uses an alias. People are out to get him, tear him down. He’s had to defend himself his whole life.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult him. I just wondered if you knew who he was. He matters to you, doesn’t he?”

“He’s my uncle. He raised me from boyhood. I’ll not hear a word against him.”

He was curt with her. He wanted her to shut up, to keep her out of this. But it was too late for that and Deacon knew it was too late.

“The Black is your uncle?” Robbie’s tone was flat. “My brother Harry’s father is your uncle. What else haven’t you told me, Deacon Wake? How many other secrets are you keeping?”

He could feel her spirit pull away from him and after being so intimate with one another, it was a terrible loss.

“I found out he was Harry’s father at the same time you did. Your brother was my cousin and I didn’t know it and I should have known. My uncle is a hard man, but he has his reasons for doing what he does. If Harry was his son, then he’s suffering far worse than either of us.”

Robbie gazed at him. “Why are you talking about Harry in the past tense?”

Deacon could’ve cut his tongue out. “It’s just my way. I didn’t know him as my cousin. I won’t credit it as fact until we hear it from Harry himself and he can produce the letter. The Black could have invented the story to put an end to your search.”

“Is that something he would do? That’s diabolical. I was going to call my mom and tell her what I learned. Maybe I should hold off until I have all the facts. If I get this wrong, Sarah will never let me live it down.”

“It’s late,” Deacon grunted. “We should get some sleep.”

“Don’t forget you’re taking me to the cat colony in the morning.”

“I won’t forget.”

With his arm draped around her, he was amazed that she was still in his bed. That they had pleasured one another and that she wanted to do it again. That she wasn’t in a hurry to go.

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