Page 88 of Dearly Betrayed

“He won’t,” I say, squeezing her hand. “It’ll be okay.”

Casey doesn’t seem convinced, but that doesn’t bother me. We fall into an easy, comfortable conversation, and Fallon practically glows the whole time. It’s like she slept for a week, and I feel the same way, like a part of me grew back last night when she was resting in my arms.

I don’t know how I ever thought I could survive long without her.

Adler comes down to join us. His children attack first, hugging him tightly. I pull him aside as he eyes Fallon warily and sit him down at a nearby bar. We ask for coffees as he studies me, his lips pressed into a tight line.

“How do you know it won’t happen again?” he asks, not bothering to ease into this conversation. That’s my brother, straight to the point.

“Because I love her.” Saying the words is easy now. It’s like we’ve broken through a barrier and now everything’s falling into place. “And she loves me.”

“That’s exactly what you’d think if she were playing you.”

“Adler,” I say, my tone warning.

But my brother doesn’t care. “From my perspective, she stole important, incriminating documents from a prominent member of my organization, seduced him, and convinced him that she was on his side. You can understand why I’d be wary of her.”

“Don’t talk about my wife like that.”

“I’m being practical here. She freely admits she never wanted to marry you. Why is it so hard to believe that she might not have your best interests at heart?”

“You’re not there with us. You’re not in the room.”

“You’re right, I’m not.” His tone softens. “But I have responsibilities, brother, to more than just you. I have to take care of the entire family, not to mention my wife and my children. If Fallon is a traitor?—”

“She’s not,” I snarl, rage flowing through me. I’m barely keeping myself under control.

“But if she is, she’s dangerous.”

I take two deep breaths before squaring my shoulders at him. My brother gazes back, looking almost impassive like this conversation doesn’t matter to him.

“Fallon isn’t a traitor. She made a mistake. When she came here, she was desperate, angry, and mourning the loss of her father, and we can both understand how that feels.”

“I wouldn’t call what I didmourningour late, dear father, but I get your point.”

“Then I can understand it at least. I’m still mourning Jackson and all the men I lost in the fight. She lashed out and made a mistake, and now she’s paying for it, but I will not have you talking about my wife the way you just did. She didn’t seduce. She isn’t a danger. She’s mine.”

The moment thickens between us. Adler stares at me, and I stare back. There’s a knife’s edge, and I can tell he’s not sure which way he wants to topple.

“I could send her back,” he says softly. “Just to be safe. You’d hate me, but I’d be sure the family was safe.”

“You can send her, but I’d go too.”

He nods, not surprised. “Casey thinks I’m being too hard on her.”

“If Fallon had tried to use those documents against us, I’d be right there with you. If she hadn’t tried to get rid of them, I’d understand how you feel. But she’s done nothing but apologize and try to prove that she’s not who you think she is.”

“And you believe her.”

“More than that. I love her.”

He runs a hand through his hair and flips over a coaster. It rattles, and he flips it again, thinking. “I need time. I want to speak with her brother, too.”

“What will that accomplish?”

“I can’t say, but for now, she’s your responsibility.”

“You want me to babysit my wife.”

---