Amber deserved to hear the news of her father’s passing in person, and Bastion agreed that she would want to hear it directly from an eyewitness.
I hated that it had to be me, and the temptation was there to let Bastion spill the beans instead. I pushed that thought down. It was my job to do, and I’d do it. Even if it was my least favourite part of my job.
I hated that I was about to destroy a perfectly normal day. Estranged or not, there was no good way to tellsomeone that the man who had helped make them was gone.
I drew in a slow breath and stared out at the blur of road ahead. Robbie was driving, so I had my hands free to call Amber. No excuses left.
‘Just going to call DeLea,’ I told him before dialling.
He nodded and turned the radio off while I rang her. The sudden silence felt too loud, filled only by the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic sweep of the wipers. Liverpool slid past the windows in streaks of grey and amber streetlight. The city was going to bed, bar the revellers who hadn’t been put off by the rain.
Robbie’s hand found my thigh for a brief, steadying squeeze. He didn’t look at me, eyes fixed on the road, but the touch said everything I needed.
I hit call.
‘Do you know what time it is, Wise?’ Amber answered on a yawn.
‘I do. I’m sorry. Can you come to my flat?’
‘Is Bastion okay?’ she asked, alarm spiking in her tone. ‘Our bond is muted.’
He was trying to keep the bad news to himself until I could tell her in person, I supposed. ‘He’s fine,’ I promised. ‘Can you come to mine?’
‘Now?’
‘Now. It’simportant.’
‘It better be. I’ll be there in forty-five. I’m in my jammies.’
‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘Come in your pyjamas if you want.’
She snorted. ‘Absolutely not. Don’t be absurd. Someone could see me. See you shortly, Inspector.’ She hung up.
Passing the death message always sucked, but it was ten times worse when you had to pass it to someone you knew. I was not looking forward to the coming conversation. And there was another one I needed to have too, but I couldn’t think of it, even for a moment. I had to notify Amber first. That was the right thing to do.
‘Are you all right?’ Robbie asked.
‘She fine!’ Loki answered for me, little chest puffing out in pride. ‘She tough.’
I smiled at the bird. ‘I am, but …’ I shook my head. ‘This has been one hell of a day. That’s for sure. Facing Broadlake like that …’
Robbie took my hand with his spare one.
‘I … I expected it to break me,’ I admitted. ‘Expected to fall apart. To need to wail and gnash my teeth after seeing him. Instead … I feel sorry for him. I believe him. Believe it wasn’t him wielding his own hands. Seeing him didn’t break me. If anything, I feel stronger. My kidnapping … it no longer defines me.’
‘It never did,’ Robbie murmured. He lifted our joined hands and kissed the back of mine gently.
‘Maybe it didn’t,’ I admitted. ‘But it felt like it did. For so damned long, it felt like it did. I honestly feel … lighter. Lighter than I have in years.’
‘I’m glad, kærasta. My fierce hersmóðir.’
He pressed another kiss to my knuckles, and he didn’t let my hand go for the rest of the journey.
Above us, crows flew.
Bastion had arrived before us and, predictably, let himself into my flat.
Robbie didn’t love that, his mercury eyes going hard. ‘It’s rude to let yourself into a home uninvited,’ he said, a shade away from a growl.
