Within seconds he’s out. His features relax in his sleep, so peaceful and serene. Even his body remains still—not thrashing or jerky like so many nights recently.
While he rests, I make arrangements to have our house cleaned, everything laundered or dry cleaned, and consider having the local priest do an exorcism on the place. Would that be going too far? I doubt it. So I do in fact schedule for the church to do a ritual cleansing of our home.
Cian sleeps all through the rest of the day and night. He’s still asleep the next morning, so I let him be. He’s breathing, so he’s still alive. Obviously, he needs the rest.
When he wakes up, I’ll tell him my theory about our mystery person’s malicious intent to plague him with the ghosts of his past. As farfetched as that seems, what else could possibly be going on?
CHAPTER 47
Cian
Waking up, I’m more clear headed than I’ve been in ages. I lie still, attempting to clearly recall everything that’s led up to this moment. My mind replays everything, but backwards.
The nightmares in London, Fiona’s pendant around Ravenna’s neck, me punishing Ravenna for my own demons. The photos, our fights, vanilla and ylang-ylang, my apologies, her cold shoulder…
Guilt slams into me.
She’s right. We can’t go on like this, and the problem is me. I’m ready to admit that now.
“You’re awake.” Ravenna’s soft tone coats me like salve. “Do you feel better?”
Sitting up, I nod.
“That’s good. I didn’t know when you’d be awake, but I ordered dinner for you anyway. It’s fresh and warm if you’re hungry.”
I clear my throat. “Thank you.” Glancing around, I vaguely remember how we arrived here, but not the reason behind booking a hotel room. Even though I’m the one who made our reservation.
Getting out of bed, I join Ravenna at the table, where we silently eat dinner.
“Why aren’t we at home?” I ask between bites of filet mignon. “My memory’s a little foggy.”
She pats her lips with the napkin. “I’m having the place cleaned, aired out, and exorcized.”
“Exorcized?” Does she believe we’re being haunted?
“Yes. While I don’t believe in ghosts, I figure it can’t hurt.” She sips her wine. “When we arrived home, the place reeked of that perfume. I couldn’t stomach staying there. Not until it’s cleaned. And… I have a theory.”
“Oh?”
Setting down her wineglass, she pins that beautiful blue-grey gaze on me. “Someone in our household is trying to drive you crazy, and they’ve succeeded. They’re using reminders of Fiona to haunt you. Whoever they are, they must have known her quite well. Who else would have access to her perfume and her jewelry?”
“You think someone’s doing this on purpose?” I take a minute to wrap my head around that idea.
“Absolutely. These things aren’t coincidental. Someone wants to put you in a vulnerable, off-center state of mind. I think they’re also trying to drive us apart. Though I’m not sure about their end game.”
“I agree that those two things are too much of a coincidence. But the only person around me who knew Fiona that well…”
“Is Wolfe,” she states in such a way that I believe she’s given this a lot of thought.
“Yeah.” I chew on another bite of meat. “Except he wouldn’t do this to me.”
She frowns. “How can you be so sure?”
“I just…” Fuck, I hate sounding naïve, but Wolfe? We’ve been through so much together. “I just know. It isn’t him. Wolfe savedme from Fiona and Shawn. He’s not about to torment me with my ex all these years later.”
Ravenna releases a long sigh. “Then I’m out of suspects.”
“I’ll look over the security footage with Brendan. I don’t think it’s someone from the inside. If someone is planting things around our house, then they must be breaking in. Or in the case of that pendant, leaving it on our front walkway.”
