Page 260 of Chandelier Sin
“I respect that, but your daughter needs you. She can’t stay there.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ve thought of that.”
“Eve?” I shook my head again. “I can’t take care of a child. I wouldn’t know the first thing about it. And I have to work.” I jabbed a finger at her. “I need to get back to Pendulum so that you can have some kind of peace.”
“I’m going to ask Cameron and Mia to watch over Eloise. It will only be a week or so.”
“You were just reunited.” I was trying to fathom how she could bear to be parted from her daughter again so soon.
“You know I must go back to the cottage. If not, it will appear suspicious. I don’t want them investigating me or you.”
I nudged my dessert plate away. “Is that what you really want?”
“I want you to be happy.”
“You think that would make me happy?”
“I believe that when all of this is over, we willbothbe happy.”
I frowned at her. “You’ve spent your entire life in a cage. Now is not the time for me to place you in another one.”
“Then respect my decision.”
I mulled it over, trying to see things from her perspective. “I don’t like it, but you know I’ll support you.”
Even if she broke my fucking heart.
She blinked, stunned. “Wait, what?”
“I can see this is important to you. I hate the idea, but you must do what you feel is right. Even if I advise you against it.”
“Loving you has been my salvation,” she said, her voice husky with emotion. “You made me dare to fall in love with someone. You’ve turned the mundane into a heaven on earth. I want you to know that…I love you.”
I stared at her. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Atticus Sinclair.”
I opened my mouth to say it back, but she held up her hand. “I need to prove myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Atticus, I stayed in that club surrounded by victims right under my nose and did nothing. I need to redeem myself.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I didn’t, but that’s not an excuse. Let me do this. I need to do this to feel whole.”
“Am I allowed to give you an indication of how I feel about you?”
“You’ve already shown me.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“And you already have.”
