Page 58 of Widow's Walk

He prattles on, but I’m not hearing anything he has to say. When he finally wraps up with, “I’ll think it over,” I nod once and leave.

Think it over my ass.

I go straight to the surveillance room. No searching her usual spots or asking around. I’m in no mood for a game of hide and seek. “Where is she?” I say as soon as my toes hit the threshold. The demanding desire to find her is torturous.

Whomever is manning the tech spins in surprise, not seeing me coming. “Last I saw, she was heading out to the hedge maze, sir.”

There’s no need to have him double-check or make sure she hasn’t left that area, even though the sun is beginning to set. My girl thrives in the dark. She was born in it.

I move quickly and quietly through the hedge. Even after decades of exploring them, I still have to second-guess every turn I take. And Sinclair could walk it with her eyes closed only after months.

As I’m swiftly approaching the epicenter, I hear her voice. High-pitched and girlish. Not to give away my position, I stop to listen in.

“You’re such a piggy,” she coos. I blink, stunned. “After everything the world has done to you, you decide to trustme, of all people,” she says, switching back to her caustic charm.

She has to be talking to some kind of animal. Most likely trying to coax it in, to slaughter and leave it for someone under their pillow like coins from the tooth fairy.

I strain my hearing in search of any distress I might find telling in her tone. I know she is always listening, and today couldn’t have been a worse time to be eavesdropping on.

“Well,” she sighs. “The sun is going down, meaning they’ll send in a search party if I don’t emerge from here soon.” Her voice is just as dry-humored and impassive as always. “I’ll come back to see you as soon as I can.IfI can.”

There’s a cooling in my chest. She couldn’t have heard anything. One thing Sinclair cannot act her way through is her nasty temper. If she thought for a second her life was on the line, that betrayal was afoot, she would be burning this place down in an instant.

I stand rooted with my hands shoved into my pockets, putting myself at enough distance to make it seem like I was just walking up. Her light footsteps over the gravel fall in a rhythm before she comes around some foliage and spots me immediately.

“Your stalking used to be impressively subtle.” Her words are as smooth as honey. Her wit so effortless.

I pull her in around the waist. “I was just coming to find you.” Her scent surrounds me—sharp like smoke, sweet like sugar. “Hungry?”

Her hands move up my chest with a casualness that can match mine. “Starved.” She flashes me a toothy grin, the gold hoop under her top lip peeking out, and the diamonds ingrained in her teeth, blinding in the golden hour.

Nothing in her tone or demeanor resembles anger, putting my paranoia to rest.

Chapter twenty-three

Blackwell

Tension has been mounting at every turn.

Ever since the Bozzellis showed up with their proposition, everything has been unraveling. For two weeks, my father and I have been locked in a silent war over it. We’ve all gone round and round, trying to come up with a compatible deal. We offered them almost everything they wanted. We’d eliminate the Ortizs and give them a seat at the table. But they want insurance. And they want it in blood.

A marriage to tie our families is non-negotiable for them.

By refusing it, we’d be rejecting the entire offer and our alliance. Our first offense, and in our world, we never let anything go. We may have been their first choice, but we’re not their only. They’ll take their offer and bring it to another family. Cutting us out entirely, leaving me blind to their plans. And their plans include killing every single Ortiz. Including Sinclair.

I’ve been trying to stay levelheaded, especially with my father’s health declining. His heart is failing and needs surgery soon.We’ve kept it quiet, but it weighs on every decision. I’m taking on more than my fair share to keep the pressure off him, but it’s all too much. And time is working against us.

Through it all, Sinclair has been my quiet place, waiting for me in the eye of the storm where everything stands still. My only fucking peace. Her presence. Her oblivion. Knowing that she’s safe and completely unaware of the danger lurking behind her. It’s enough to keep me grounded.

The only thing that is for sure—Sinclair is mine.

If I have to agree to the marriage with the Bozzellis to buy us a window, then so be it. I’ll tear that window into a door and walk Sinclair right through it. The ring is just a tool, but Sinclair is the only future for me.

She’s had the green light to begin furnishing our estate, but she’s been dragging her feet on it. Most likely, dreading the permanence of it. But I’m done waiting. It’s time we finally have our space. No more his and hers when it comes to bedrooms and belongings.

It’s late when I go to look for her. I haven’t seen her since this morning. I left her in my bed, curled up in the sheets, naked and peaceful. Looking like she belonged there.

I haven’t made it two steps up the stairs when my name is called out with urgency. Scout and Hawk come running up to me, faces flushed and out of breath. My mind instantly goes to Sinclair.

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