Page 47 of Enthrall Secrets
“You can’t stay out here.” He could see I was shivering in the unrelenting downpour.
I backed away from him in protest.
My hair was plastered to my head. I brushed a clump of locks away from my face. “How could you?”
“Think, Scarlet. That’s what I’ve taught you to do. Put all the pieces together.”
“You’re using it for your headaches? That’s ridiculous.”
“Sweet butterfly, come here.” He looked worn down, his face even paler.
“Morphine for headaches?” I snapped.
“The cause of the headaches.”
My throat felt dry with grief.
He caressed his temple. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you. You were just so happy. So many times I started to say it and…”
“What?”
He stared at me, his expression strained with pain.
I froze with fear. “What’s wrong with you?”
“If only I could find a way to make it go away.”
Words refused to form in my mouth.
He gave a shrug. “I have a brain tumor.”
No.This wasn’t happening. I’d just found him.
“I don’t believe it. Tell me the truth.”
“Oh, Scarlet. I’m so sorry.”
“How long have you known?”
He swept back strands of his dripping wet hair. “A year.”
“You should have told me.”
“I meant to. I was terrified it would ruin what we had, taint our days and nights that have been so perfect, that have helped me forget.”
All the pieces came together like a puzzle solidifying in my mind. “Hillenbrand?”
“It was meant to be my final visit there. A little indulgence before I had to give the lifestyle up. Then I saw you, realized you had no idea about the other doms. I couldn’t leave you there. They would have devoured you. Cameron sent you to me knowing full well I’d get you the fuck out of there and probably take you home with me.”
“He didn’t want you to be alone here?”
He looked away, devastated. “It was selfish to make you mine.”
“Cameron and De Sade knew all along?”
“I’d told them both months ago that I was planning on coming home to die…alone. Told them I just wanted to go quietly with no fuss.” He let out a deep sigh. “They asked me for one final favor, to meet you at the airport. See their new submissive safely to the house. I could play a little with you for a few hours, they told me. Fuck a little…if you wanted that.”
I shook my head trying to comprehend their scheming.
