Page 160 of Sin City Lights

He knew there would be no flights until morning, but he could tell arguing would get him nowhere.

“OK.” He held his palms up.“I’ll drive you.”

“I’d rather not have you do that.” She cleared her throat.“If you don’t mind, I’d like some privacy so I can change.”

Privacy. She wanted privacy now.Christ.

The look in her eyes was killing him.

His gaze dropped to the floor.“If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

“All right.” He pushed the covers off, instantly assaulted by the frigid air. Slowly, he rose and headed to the door, hoping against hope to hear her call him back.

He pressed down on the door handle.“At least let Ian drive you.”

She didn’t answer.

He dared one last look at her. She stood there, barefoot, in her long nightgown, chin up, hands white-knuckled on the hanger of her wool sweater. Her eyes were dark pools.

Wounded.

His stomach plummeted. Chest heavy, he opened the door and stepped out of the bedroom, praying he wasn’t also stepping out of her life.

He rapped on Ian’s door, which was the next one over. Ian yanked it open, his mouth grim. Adam met his gaze and knew at once his brother was aware of everything.

“You heard?”

A curt nod.“The walls are paper thin.” He stepped aside and closed the door behind Adam. “I’ll go get dressed.” He had the grace not to comment.

“Thanks, man. Take her to the Radisson Blu.”

“The airport hotel?”

“Yes.” Adam lowered his voice so Eve couldn’t overhear.“I’mpretty sure there’s a KLM flight to Vegas leaving around nine tomorrow. One stop. See about getting her a ticket.”

“She’ll want to pay for it herself.”

Adam sank into a worn armchair.“Whatever she wants.”

Ian dressed quickly. Grabbing his coat and gloves, he put a hand on Adam’s shoulder.“Try not to overthink this. I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

Adam merely nodded. The door shut quietly behind his brother, leaving emptiness and the loud ticking of a vintage clock.

Adam sat there, staring at a framed picture on the wall. It was a portrait of the four of them as little kids. He looked at his younger self, a lanky kid, grinning hugely, missing his front tooth. He had been happy back then, before the darkness caused by his bad choices and Ingrid’s actions. And he hadn’t known happiness for many years, until…

The clock ticked, marking each passing second.

It hit him like an anvil to the head.

Eve was his happiness, and she was leaving.

Adam surged to his feet, barreling out of Ian’s room, taking the stairs as quickly as his bare feet would allow. He reached the landing, only to hear thethunkof car doors slamming. An engine cranked and roared to life.

He yanked the front door open. Icy air blasted in his face, so cold that his breath stopped for a second. He stepped out, the frozen slate burning his feet.

Don’t go. I love you.

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