Page 23 of Passion & Betrayal

“How did your father get through the gate or fence, and what men is he using to do his dirty work?” I asked.

I felt Cian stiffen beside me as he parked the truck. “Let’s get you inside first. I have a lot of questions I need answers to.”

“Will it be hard to tell who is loyal to you?” I asked.

Cian shook his head. “No. I’ll sense it. I’ve known these people my whole life. I can read them all pretty well.”

Sypher got out and lifted her into his arms before they followed Cian into the house. I was surprised the place had been cleaned up and a new heavy-duty door had been installed. There were still two windows I could see that were boarded up. I didn’t catch sight of a lot of people, and I wonder how many of his men died. I didn’t want to ask. Cian was tense enough.

They took me to another bedroom, but this one I’d never seen before. It had plain walls, a wood floor that needed refinishing, and a huge bed, but not much else. I did see the bars on one window.

I turned to face the men. “Is our being here endangering Aryanna?”

The men looked at each other.

“No. She’ll be taken care of. I need to talk to Draven,” Cian said. “Why don’t you get her bathed and into bed?”

Sypher nodded. “Have someone bring food up. None of us have eaten today.”

“I’ll do that. Lock the door behind me.”

Sypher snorted but locked the sturdy door. “Okay, Dad.”

I smile for the first time in hours.

Sypher grabbed my hand and started pulling me into the bathroom. I stand still as he strips me and then himself before he turns on the water.

“Let’s get you clean. You look wiped out, so I want you in bed.”

I nod. I wasn’t going to argue with him. I felt like the walking dead. The whole day had been stressful and seemed to last forever. There was a part of me that still made relaxing hard, so I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep or not.

Sypher started washing my hair, and it was something I’d want them to do often. I couldn’t remember my mother. She died when I was a baby. My father took very good care of me, and I know he loves me, but he doesn’t know what a girl needs as she grows up. Fortunately, I had Aryanna, and we both liked to brush each other’s hair and braid it or just make it look pretty.

I hang onto Sypher’s waist to steady myself as he puts conditioner in it. When it was slathered all over, he worked on my body.

“Fuck, Babe. You are gorgeous. I could spend my life in your body and be happy.”

I snickered. “I think you might get bored after a while.”

He grinned. “I doubt it.”

He turned off the water and started drying me. I helped him wrap a towel around my head when he fumbled with it a few times.

“Let’s get your hair dry. The food should be here soon.”

I wasn’t hungry, but knew I had to eat something.

Sypher was pulling a t-shirt over my head when I heard a commotion outside by the gate. “What do you think is happening?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not leaving you to find out,” Sypher said.

I stiffened when there was a knock at the door. Sypher grabbed his gun and carefully opened the door. I relaxed when I heard a woman’s voice.

“Thank you so much,” I said to the girl over Sypher’s shoulder.

“You’re welcome.”

I could tell she was upset. “Why are you sad?”

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