Page 71 of In Her Shadow

“What makes you so sure?” My uncle looks doubtful.

“The fact that he’s in love with her,” I answer. “He wouldn’t do anything to hurt Eloise.” I shake my head, remembering the fear I saw on his face when he saw that blood.

“All the more reason for him to incriminate you.” My uncle stares at me as if I’m crazy.

“Nah, Lance wouldn’t do that. He’s a decent guy. He’s gonna get past this by telling himself he loves her more, because he let her go, but in reality, he knows that he could never do the things that I would do to keep her safe. Lance ain’t a threat, and my girl’s gonna need a friend. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I trust him.”

Stefan nods his head as if he’s at least pretending to understand my logic.

“I need to call the governor, explain the situation, and make sure all the loose ends are tied. I can’t have this coming back on me, or her.” I stand up ready to leave, and my uncle frowns.

“What is it you have over him?” he asks with a curious smirk on his face. My alliance with Reginald has always confused him, and since he was honest with me earlier, I decide to put him out of his misery.

“Did you know Reginald’s wife used to be a surgeon?” I ask. “You can imanine the guy was pretty cut up when she found out he was fucking one of her co-workers. I was there the night he came around yelling at the door, warning Nile Meadows to stay away from her.”

“The govoner’s wife was fucking Eloise’s dad?” Stefan frowns at me.

“He wasn’t the governor back then, but he was still a powerful man; the kind of man I figured would be useful to have on side. So I went to him and I made him an offer.”

“You clever fucker.” Stefan laughs.

“I was killing the asshole anyway, might as well make the cunt useful for something.” I shrug, heading out the door so I can make that call.

I wait a few more hours before I open the door and creep into the bedroom. I’ve given her space all evening, but there's no way I can stay away from her all night.

“Go away,” she croaks, making a huge effort to turn over to her other side so she’s facing away from me.

“I just wanted to know that you're okay.” I step closer to the bed, desperate to kiss her. There was a time today when I thought I might have lost her, and I need to hold her to remind me that I didn’t.

“I’m not okay, Ren.” I can tell from how her voice comes out that she’s crying.

“I’m sorry, Kitten. But she should never have taken you. When I think about what might have happened–”

“Get out,” she whispers.

“How long are you gonna hate me for?” I reach out to touch her, then pull away when I think about how mad it’ll make her. She’s been through so much already, I don’t want to add to her stress.

“Right now, I can’t even look at you.” Her words come out so cold that I swear they stop my heart for a second, and I slowlystep back and leave through the door. Shutting it behind me, I make my way to the upstairs gym. It may have been the longest day of my fucking life but I need to do something with all my frustration. It’s not going to beat kicking someone's ass in the ring, but The Pit is too far away from her. She may not stand the sight of me right now, but love me or hate me, she’s still got my baby inside her. A baby that’s due to come anytime, and there's no way I won’t be by her side when it happens.

ELOISE

ONE WEEK LATER

“There's someone here to see you, Miss,” Otto informs me when he comes to take away my breakfast tray. I refuse to eat in the dining room with Ren, and since last week, I’ve spent most of my time up here in our room trying to avoid him. Of course, I know that when I’m sleeping, he sneaks in and sleeps in the chair at the corner of the room. When I get up to use the bathroom, he pretends to be asleep, and I never disturb him. As the days go on, I’m starting to wonder when my anger for him is going to let up.

I’m way past my due date. I should be focusing on how I’m going to handle that, not ways I can avoid the father of my child. I should be seeking comfort in him instead of dreading that he’ll walk into a room.

I know that he killed Katelyn to protect us, that that kind of behaviour is built into his nature, but I’d begged him not to. Ren didn’t know her story. He didn’t see the pain she was in when she told me. I just wish he had given me the chance to explain so we could have gotten her the help she needed.

“Who is it?” I look back at Otto curiously. It’s strange that I would have a visitor; the only person who ever visited me here was Katelyn.

“A Mr. Lance Worthington. Master Stefan authorised the guard at the gate to grant him access,” Otto assures me, as he opens the curtains to let in some light.

“Does Ren know he’s here?” I have no idea why Lance would be visiting me, but I know for sure Ren won’t be happy about it.

“Mr. Ashcroft is currently running an errand,” he explains, shocking me a second time this morning.

“An errand! What sort of errand?”

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