Those long hours waiting while Theo was in surgery were interrupted by a phone call to Jared I barely remembered making. I’d tried to calm him, but I was pretty certain he was on his way to London. Then DCI English and DI Hatlock returned. They needed a statement about what happened at the Lute. Sebastian, this stranger related to Theo, stayed with me while I relayed the story like a robot. I felt like I was outside of my body, watching down as I told the harrowing story of fighting off a serial killer and having the man I love stabbed by the bastard.
“You fought bravely,”Hatlock said, squeezing my arm.“You gave us time to get there. Be proud, Sarah.”
Proud? I didn’t feel pride. I felt like I was sitting on the lid of a box inside me, wrestling to keep it sealed. To keep a panicked rage monster inside from bursting out and taking me over.
“I never told him I loved him,”I’d confessed dazedly to his brother as we sat on the hard chairs in the waiting room.“He said it so many times and I was afraid to say it back and then I wasn’t. And now it’s too late.”
“It’s not too late,”this stranger who looked a little like Theo but more like Stephen had insisted.
“Why are you here?”
“I have a friend in the police department who alerted me to what happened. And because he’s my brother.”
The relief was almost excruciating when the surgeon appeared to update us. Theo was alive. Only recovery would reveal if there was any long-term damage.
I didn’t care.
I knew Theo would care.
But I was with him. I wasn’t going anywhere, no matter what.
Sebastian forced me to drink water and eat a snack, and then he was with me when they let us in to see Theo. He’d rubbeda soothing hand on my back as I cried with relief over Theo’s sleeping body.
He would take a while to wake up from anesthesia.
Finally, Sebastian spoke again. “I need to go home and update my wife. And change. Would you like me to bring anything with me when I return?”
I looked up from staring at Theo’s handsome face and blinked, trying to process his words. “I’m okay.”
Sebastian nodded and moved toward the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Wait.” I turned to meet his questioning gaze. “Thank you for being here.”
He appeared uncomfortable. “Of course.”
“But you were wrong. When you came to see Theo before Christmas. You were wrong. I’m not some innocent waif he was using. I’m a grown woman with a successful career … and he loves me. I think he loves me more than he’s ever loved anyone. At least that’s how he makes me feel.” A tear slipped down my cheek. “It was the last thing he said after he saved my life last night.”
Remorse tightened Sebastian’s features. “I know I was wrong, Sarah. It isn’t easy for me to apologize. I’m afraid it’s rather a flaw in the Cavendish genes. However, I shall apologize to my brother as soon as he’s awake.”
“He wants nothing to do with your father.”
“I heard.”
“You won’t badger him to change his mind.” I lifted my chin stubbornly. “I won’t allow it.”
A slight smile curled the corner of his mouth. “I’ve made peace with the fact that the relationship between my father and Theo is beyond repair. But it gave me hope to hear that he’d forgiven Father. Perhaps he … perhaps he can forgive me for not being a better brother.”
“I know he can.”
His jaw tightened as if fighting off emotion. Then with an abrupt nod, he slipped from the room.
I didn’t know how much time passed as I sat there, waiting for Theo to wake up. His nurse, a warm, middle-aged man named Fred, came in to check on us.
My eyelids grew heavy, and I rested my head on the bed. It was uncomfortable and I knew my neck would pay for it in the morning, but I’d just add it to the aches and pains I was beginning to feel after the fight in the alley. My cheek was scratched and bruised from being smashed against the wall. Muscles burned and felt heavy from overuse. But I was alive, and so was Theo.
And I just had to wait for him to wake up so I could tell him I loved him.
I was runningbut going nowhere. Screaming but no sound came out. I didn’t know what I was running from or screaming about, but I knew it was evil. I knew I was terrified.
