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Charlie stopped him, putting a hand gently on his chest. "It's okay. I'll go with Gabriel. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked, concerned.

She nodded.

He kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

Gabriel took her arm, escorting her through a side door. "You two seem to be getting on well."

"Do we have a choice?" she asked.

"No, but it's good to see, nonetheless."

* * *

Sin dropped the bags off at his small apartment. He rarely used it, preferring to stay in Edinburgh. He found the confines of the Tower to be a bit stifling. Plus, the farther he stayed away from his uncle, the better. He shut the door and headed down the hallway toward the infirmary.

When he got there, Gabriel was seated in the waiting area. "She asked for some privacy," the angel explained. His clear blue eyes ran up and down Sin.

"Aye, she doesn't like anyone to see it. Not even herself." Sin sat down in a chair next to him. Gabriel was one of the few men he trusted at the moment.

"Is everything okay?"

"Are you asking, or is Alex?" Sin's brow arched.

"Me," Gabriel said fondly.

"Well, let's see, besides nicking a print worth millions of pounds from the National Gallery and a young man getting murdered, I guess you could say yes. Charlotte's at her breaking point, though."

"That wasn't fair of me." The ex-priest laid his hand on top of Sin's. "Of course, I meant no offense, you've both been through a lot. I don't presume to think it's all right."

Sin gave him a smile. "None taken." Gabriel's kindness and love towards others was unparalleled, be it male or female. Sin found it reassuring, to love so unconditionally, so equally, and so fully all human beings. "I often wonder what it is my uncle has over you that you would join such an organization as The Watch, knowing what we do."

The briefest of shadows crossed his eyes before he spoke. "He has nothing over me. God led me here."

"But you're an ex-priest," Sin countered.

"Aye, but I still listen to the man upstairs."

Forbes came out of the exam room, shutting the door behind himself. "She's changing," he said.

"And?" Sin asked.

"No infection, but it's scarring more than I would like. It's because she's so fair." He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "I was hoping some of the redness would have faded, but I fear it won't. I've given her a new cream to put on it."

"Did she say anything to you about it?"

"No, I had to pry her to say anything at all, and when I went to talk to her about the scarring and the cream, she stopped me. I'm afraid she's in denial."

"Aye, I've come up against the same thing. I don't think she's even looked at it." Sin stood up.

"When she's dressed, we need to head over to Alex's office."

Sin nodded then knocked on the door, opening it. Charlie was putting on her shoes. "Okay?"

"I wish everyone would stop asking me that. I'm fine. I don't know how many times I have to say it."

He reached out for her and brought her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "We're just concerned. You've been through a lot."

"I'm fine, really."

He took the tube of cream from her hand and deposited it in his pocket. "We need to go see Alex."

She nodded slowly.

He could see the weariness in her face. "I promise it will be okay. We'll go see Alex, and then I'll take you to bed and hold you."

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