Page 113 of Bound by Love
Sir talked to Brie afterward, wanting to know her level of interest. “Gray insists it will be worth the early hour to observe the event.”
Brie shrugged. “To be honest, Sir, I’ve never seen one. If you want to, I’m willing to get Hope ready and join you.”
“Excellent.”
Sir woke Brie up several hours before dawn and drove them up to the California hills overlooking the city. This place held history for her. Sir had taken her twice after dealings with his mother, and she’d taken her own mother here after shopping for the wedding dress.
It had a breathtaking vista that could not be matched.
Sir helped Brie out of the car and then got Hope from her car seat. The baby was wide awake, looking around with a curious expression. Brie wondered if she was questioning why her parents had insisted on taking her out into the chilly air so early in the morning.
“Look, Brie…” Sir pointed up at the dark sky.
She followed his line of sight and a cold chill took over when she saw the full moon. It was the color of blood. While Brie appreciated that it was a spectacular sight, it reminded her of Rytsar. Without warning, she burst into tears.
“What’s wrong?” Sir asked, surprised by her sudden outburst.
Brie couldn’t even answer him, the lump in her throat preventing any speech. She just shook her head.
“Babygirl…” he murmured, wrapping his free arm around her. Brie smashed her face into his coat, embracing Hope with her other arm in a group hug, needing their connection to survive the overwhelming pain she felt.
Brie had no idea how long she sobbed, pressing her cheek against his cold jacket. However, the tears eventually stopped and numb relief followed. She pulled away from Sir, wiping her face before giving Hope a gentle kiss on the head. Without speaking, she got back into the car and shut the door.
Sir did not question her silence, buckling Hope into the car seat. He drove them back to the apartment, giving her time to work through her emotions, but he kept glancing at Brie, his concern easy to see.
Knowing he was worried about her, Brie fought through the painful lump in her throat and whispered, “Rytsar.” The tears threatened to start up again, so she said nothing more.
Sir nodded, staring ahead at the road, having no words of comfort to give.
Although the outing had been an emotional landmine for Brie, she found her heart growing lighter with the passage of time.
It left her to ponder if Marquis had somehow known it would provide her with a much needed release. Time became a friend to her again as she and Sir began reengaging with the world, their friends, and each other.
It left her receptive when Sir came to her one evening sounding excited when he told her, “I have something I want to show you, babygirl.”
Brie responded to his enthusiasm, fighting against the dark cloud that had been hovering over her. “If it pleases you, Sir,” she answered, assuming that the gleam in his eye had something to do with a new scene he wanted to play out together.
For the first time in a long time, she felt a surge of sexual excitement.
Expecting Sir to head toward the bedroom, she was surprised when he picked up the car keys. “Where are we going?”
“My secret,” he answered. “Get Hope ready.”
His unusual request stirred her curiosity, and Brie bundled Hope up for the night ride, excited about this unexpected jaunt.
As Sir drove, he kept glancing at her, a secretive smile playing on his lips.
Brie’s heart started racing when she realized they were headed toward Rytsar’s beach house.
“Sir…”
“Don’t say anything. Just wait.”
Brie could hardly breathe as they drove up to Rytsar’s place, but it shocked her when he didn’t slow down and passed by the beach house. The place was dark, and only helped to remind her that he wasn’t there anymore.
The joy she’d felt evaporated.
Sir pulled into a driveway two houses down. The house was lit up brightly with every light in the house turned on—a drastic contrast to Rytsar’s home.
