Page 124 of A Vicious Love

She stepped back.

That stopped him.

“I love you,” Her tears came harder. “I do. But sometimes you all look at these mergers like women walk into Crow houses with nothing behind them. Like we were empty until you decided where to put us.”

Nobody answered.

What the fuck could we say?

“I’m going upstairs.” Emmie wiped at her cheeks.

Marcel moved instinctively.

She shook her head. “Give me a minute.”

Every part of him wanted to follow. Touch her collar. Pull her onto his lap. Fix it. Marcel fixed everything for Emmie. This could not be fixed with a contractor or a rose-gold clasp.

Emmie walked out. Her footsteps disappeared toward the stairs. Marcel stood in the middle of the living room staring after her.

Lost.

Actually lost.

I had never seen him look that way. Harrison looked toward the bar. Then the terrace. Anywhere but Marcel.

“Get out.” Marcel’s voice came rough.

Harrison nodded once.

No argument from me. I wanted to leave half an hour ago.

I stood.

Marcel looked toward the staircase again. His hand curled at his side, missing the collar it always found when Emmie sat within reach.

“I’ll speak to Damius,” Marcel said.

I stopped near the door.

“About what?”

“Sienna. She deserves to know before the weekend.”

“Tell her family.”

“Her family is arranging it.”

That was dynasty. Women smiling at tables while men moved them between seats.

“You going this weekend?” Harrison picked up his jacket. “To the harbour luncheon,” he clarified. “Since you’re so relieved.”

I opened the door, left the house, without giving him an answer. Of course I fucking cared. But my mouth had a way of saying the wrong thing, every time I opened it near her.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SIENNA

The lid was embossed with the Crow crest in gold. A member of staff carried it into my bedroom while I was trying to decide whether my ankle could survive another evening in heels.