Page 24 of Hide Little Traitor

She’s between us now, Ronan’s arm wrapped around her waist as she clutches my hand like she’s afraid I’ll pull away, and on any other day her fears would be realized.

But I don’t have the strength today.

Not while I watch the casket lower into the ground.

Not when my father stoically throws a rose onto the top.

And not even when we each follow his lead.

No. I hold on to Chloe’s hand like it’s a lifeline.

Because just for today I allow it to be just that.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RYKER

NOW

The first three properties we hit are a bust, but I expected that.

Kingston Beaumont can be accused of being a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them.

There’s a reason he was able to dodge the Lombardis for so many years, and it’s because he’s always three steps ahead.

Usually I admire him for it, but today it’s annoying as hell.

Perhaps if the motherfucker would just let me speak to Chloe to make sure she’s okay, I wouldn’t be climbing out of my skin with the need to find her, but he won’t, and therefore I am.

It doesn’t help that I’m stuck with a lost puppy.

Ronan hasn’t stopped moping since she was taken, and I’m starting to remember why I’ve spent much of my adult life alone.

Because human emotions are annoying as hell, and I’ll take the company of my victims any day.

Apart from my siren.

Not for one second did I find her company irritating.

If anything, I craved it.

While playing the role of her bodyguard, I would use any excuse to be close to her, and those days that I couldn’t find one were long and boring.

How did I ever think I’d be able to stay away from her when the pull between us was so strong from day one?

I should have walked out the door the second I saw her and felt something for the first time in my life.

Ronan curses from the other side of the aisle. The jet has certainly come in handy this past week. I would hate to think how quickly I would have killed my traveling companion if we’d been stuck in cars for eight-plus hours a day, especially considering how long it’s been since I satisfied the demon inside me.

He’s desperate for a kill, desperate to end the life of an oxygen thief.

But it can wait until we find Chloe.

Right now she’s all that matters.

“What’s wrong with you?”

His green eyes lift to mine, annoyance staring back at me. “I haven’t heard from Damon for a few days, and he’s not answering my calls.”