Page 317 of Night's Fall
He just walked right to me and gathered me in his arms.
Once there, he held me close.
No.
Everything wasn’t okay.
I gave him some time, then whispered in his ear, “What’sup?”
He pulled away but replaced his arms around me with holding my head in both hands.
“The comms were traced.Theagent who was at theMasquelast night, the one who’d insinuated himself withErrol, did report toArnaudthat things were not going as planned.”
Oh farg.
I’d forgotten all aboutErrol.
How hadIforgotten aboutErrol?
“The spy has been picked up,” he continued. “TheRICwill deal with him.”
“Okay,”Isaid.
“AndErrolhad a number of questions about why he couldn’t transform last night, questions that we’ve answered, including showing him the vid of his interrogation before his memory scrub.Hedidn’t take it well.”
Oh dang.
“As such,I’vemade the decision thatRolwill be quietly admitted as an inpatient atEmpathySanctuaryonLuciusIsland,” he announced.
EmpathySanctuarywas the go-to rehab for the rich and famous.
“We just sent him off,” he finished. “Andwe did it against his will.Hewas restrained.”
“Oh honey,”Imurmured. “Thatcouldn’t have been easy.Butthis is a good idea.Hecan get help there.”
He took his hands from my head and put them to my hips. “Laura, there’s a section ofEmpathymany people don’t know about.”
Oh boy.
“What’s that?”
“It’s very nice, and he’ll get help, but it’s a lockdown facility.Hecan’t leave unless his doctors feel it would be detrimental for him to stay, but with the accommodation he’ll be afforded, this is highly unlikely, considering this is an exclusive, platinum star facility on a tropical island.Theother option is thatIrelease him.”
“So essentially, he’s going to a resort-type mental health and rehab hospital on a beautiful island, he’ll get top-notch counseling there, and he can’t return unless he’s convinced you he’s got himself together.”
“Not essentially.That’sexactly what it is.”
“And you feel bad about it.”
He shook his head.
“He conspired to murder your beast.Henearly got you killed, my beast possibly killed.Andhis actions, decisions and the beings he allowed himself to spend time with opened our family to peril and took the lives of eleven people.Threeof those dedicated their careers to keeping this family safe, and one of them a femaleIgreatly respected.No.Idon’t feel bad about sending my brother to a facility where he’ll be living in a luxury suite, waited on hand and foot, and spending his time in isolation aquariums and yoga classes.Ifeel bad that my mother and father are wondering where they went wrong.Mysister is heartbroken that one of her brothers is such a fuckwit.Andmy other brother feels betrayed, and also feels guilt he shouldn’t feel.”
“So you’re disappointed you couldn’t kick his behind.”
He gave me a small smile. “Yes.That.”
I fit myself to him. “Itstill was the right choice.”
