“Fuckin’ hell,” I growl, glaring at it. “They can wait.”
ButJaysus,God, it’s Leith’s ringtone.
She nods toward the phone. “It’s alright, Mac. I know you have to take it.”
“Won't be long," I tell her, even though I have no idea if that's true or not.
"Hello?"
“Got a situation, brother, need you at the main house immediately.”
I sit straight up.
“What is it?”
“We’ve caught a spy.”
“Have you? Who is it?”
“Aitkens Clan.”
“Bloody hell!”
I look sharply to the sofa, and Bryn’s eyes go wide. “Everything alright?” she mouths. I shake my head and hold up a finger for her to wait.
“I’ll be right there.”
“You’ve got Bryn with you?” Leith asks.
“Aye.”
“Do not bring her. She stays at your place. I’ve sent a man to keep her safe, lock her in tight. I don’t want her knowing what’s going on.”
I don’t reply at first. I was afraid something like this would happen. I have to do what my loyalty to my family requires, but I fucking hate leaving her. I want to take her with me. I hate the idea of somebody coming to watch over her.
The days with her have given me false promise, a false high. I know the expectation of normalcy between us can’t ever happen.
But even if she were mine, irrevocably, I couldn’t take her on a job like this. I know exactly what I'm going to be asked to do. And she couldn't come with me even if she did belong to me.
A knock comes at the door as I hang up the phone.
“Mac?” she asks, pulling the blanket up around her, her beautiful eyes wide in surprise. “Everything alright?”
I shake my head. “It will be. And I have to go.” I lean over, cup her jaw, and kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back soon. Will you wait for me?”
She nods. “Of course. Can you tell me what's going on?"
I shake my head. "I'm sorry, baby. I can't. You'll have to trust me. Leith has sent a guard down to watch over you. We’ll lock every door and window, and I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can.”
Her eyes darken as she looks to the door, frowning. She doesn’t like this plan any more than I do.
“I can’t come?”
“No, Bryn. You stay here. Now go quickly, lass, get changed.”
I point to her bag with all her clothes. She nods, sighs, and quickly goes to get changed as I yell to the door, “Just a minute!”
A few minutes later, I open the door to let Clyde in. He looks sheepishly from me to Bryn. “Sorry, boss,” he says, shaking his head. “Cap’n made me come.”
