Page 22 of Shrouded Past

Bryce fed Bella, who greedily ate as if it had been days and not hours. “How about sandwiches?” He faced her and forgot all about food.

Tears hovered in Piper’s eyes as if everything had finally caught up to her. He closed the space between them and gathered her close. “Hey, it’s okay.”

She shook her head. “It’s not okay.”

“Not yet, but it’s going to be,” Bryce amended because she was right. They were far from that now.

At his contact, it was as if a dam had broken free inside her and the tears she’d been holding back came flooding out.

Bryce found his own unshed tears over his wife stinging his eyEdmons. He’d broken down for a while following Jenna’s death, but then he’d walled up his emotions as if by keeping them inside he could control the pain. He couldn’t. And neither could Piper.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured, and he wasn’t sure if he was talking to Piper or Jenna. “So very sorry this happened to you.”

Sobs shook her frame. He held her and let her cry and gave himself permission to grieve as well.

She finally let him go and stepped away, swiping the back of her hand over her damp cheeks. “I’m sorry for crying all over you.”

“Don’t be.” His voice held a rough edge to it he didn’t want to examine in detail. He wasn’t sure what it was about Piper or the situation that got to him, but something sure had.

He cleared his throat. “Can I get you anything?” He cringed when he realized how lame the offer sounded.

“A sandwich sounds good.”

“Right. The sandwiches.” He chuckled and went over to the fridge then pulled out turkey and Swiss cheese along with mayo, tomatoes, and pickles.

Piper found plates and opened the bread. “You cut the tomatoes and I’ll make the sandwiches.”

“Deal.” He searched through drawers until he located a knife to slice the tomatoes.

She watched Bella lick her paws. “I think I had a cat when I was younger.”

This had Bryce abandoning his slicing task completely. “Wait—why do you think this?” Were her memories returning? He had no idea why she hadn’t been able to remember her past. According to Piper, Protector never hurt her. He’d simply taken her hostage. But how did he get her away from her family without someone knowing or Piper fighting him?

Her forehead wrinkled. “I honestly don’t know if it’s a real memory or one my brain just made up.”

“Maybe, but it could be now that you’re away from Protector that the missing memories are returning.”

“Wouldn’t that be helpful,” she said with longing.

Bryce went back to slicing the tomatoes. “Do you mind if we talk about your time with Protector?”

Immediately, he could see her putting up her guard.

“I know it’s hard to speak about, but I’m curious why your memories aren’t there. You said he never hurt you.”

Piper picked up some tomato slices and placed them on a sandwich before adding pickles. “That’s right. He was very kind to me for the most part. Whenever he spoke about the “devil” he was protecting me from, he’d become more adamant. He’d rant about the evil ones and swear he’d never let them hurt me like they had Marina.”

“Marina? Who’s Marina?” Bryce accepted the plate she offered.

“I don’t know. He never told me. Every time her name came up, he’d start crying and leave.”

“Perhaps Marina was his wife or someone Protector believes was harmed by your family, the devil?”

“Possibly.”

They carried their plates over to the table that looked out onto the same spectacular view as the deck.

Bryce got drinks while Piper retrieved the chips from the pantry.

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