Page 15 of Sanctuary

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Just disappointed about the bingo hall, I guess.”

Connor’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening. “Yeah, that is... unexpected.”

As we walked to the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling we were being watched. I scanned the parking lot, trying to appear casual. Nothing seemed out of place.

“Let’s go get dessert,” Connor said, his voice light but his eyes alert. “I know a great little place not far from here.”

The deal was for him to make it, but I didn’t persist, instead I nodded, sliding into the passenger seat. As soon as the doors closed, Connor’s demeanor changed.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the keypad. “Rory? Yeah, it’s me. Listen, I need you to do something. Buy Lucky’s Bingo Hall. Yeah, the one on 5th Street. I don’t care how much it costs, just make it happen. Tonight.”

I made a sound of protest and raised an eyebrow, but Connor held up a finger, listening intently to the voice on the other end.

“I don’t care what it costs,” he insisted. “Just make it happen. And Rory? Be discreet.”

He ended the call and turned to me, his expression a mixture of determination and

something I couldn’t quite read. “For you. For our weekly dates.”

“Connor, you can’t possibly do that for me.”

“I just did. Now, change of plans. We’re heading home.”

Chapter 8

Mia

As the days passed, I found myself settling into a routine at the estate. Doing nothing. Absolutely nothing, and it really started to get to me.

Connor was often busy learning everything he would need to become clan captain, attending meetings, making phone calls, and pouring over ledgers late into the night. I understood the importance of his work, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit lost and restless.

One morning, as I wandered the grounds, I headed to the stables. The rich scent of hay and leather filled my nostrils, and I found myself drawn to the gentle nickering of the horses. He found me there, leaning against a stall door, stroking the velvety nose of a chestnut mare.

“You look like you could use something to do,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I turned to him, grateful for the company. “Is it that obvious?”

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Well, I’ve got a proposition for you. How do you feel about mucking out stalls?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You want me to shovel horse manure?”

Connor shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Hey, it’s honest work. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to get to know the horses better, and Declan claims it’s therapeutic.”

To my own surprise, I found myself nodding eagerly. “You know what? I’ll take it.”

And so began my new routine. Every morning, I’d make my way to the stables, armed with a pitchfork and a determination to prove myself useful. The work was hard and often messy, but there was something satisfying about it. The repetitive motion of scooping and spreading fresh bedding became almost meditative, and I found myself looking forward to the quiet hours spent in the company of the horses.

As the days passed, I began to notice little changes in myself. My arms grew stronger, my skin tanned from the hours spent outdoors, and I felt more grounded, more present in my own body than I had in years.

One particularly sunny afternoon, after finishing up in the stables, I decided to tackle another project that had been nagging at me since my arrival - the estate’s library. The room was impressive, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining every wall. But the organization left much to be desired, with volumes haphazardly shoved onto shelves with no rhyme or reason.

I rolled up my sleeves and got to work, pulling books from the shelves and sorting them into piles on the floor. As I worked, I lost myself in the task, the familiar scent of old paper and leather bindings bringing back memories of my life before... well, before everything changed.

Hours passed unnoticed as I methodically reshelved each book, carefully arranging them in alphabetical order by author. I was so engrossed in my task that I didn’t hear the library door open or the soft footsteps approaching behind me.

“You’ve been busy.”

Connor’s voice startled me so badly I whirled around, the book in my hands flying from my grasp. There was a sickening thud as it connected squarely with his face.

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