Page 47 of Forged in Peril

They were so inadequate it was almost laughable.

He hated that Bristol had been betrayed so deeply, and that she now carried shame over something that wasn’t even her fault.

“I’m sorry I took so long to tell you,” she said, hugging her knees to her chest as she shifted her weight. “I actually told Grace already, a little while ago–she’s the one who dug up the info on the suicide. I don’t know why I’ve insisted on carrying this darkness around with me for so long when there are good people in my life who have always been willing to listen. Thank you for being one of them, and thank you for believing me.”

“I’m sure it took a lot for you to trust me, but I’m glad you did. Not only because you shouldn’t need to bear this secret by yourself, but because we now have a partial motive for why someone could be going after you now. It will give us a place to start, at least. And we’re going to put an end to all of this. I promise.”

He let out a breath. He hated to bring up the current peril that surrounded her, but he couldn’t ignore it, either.

Warrington’s death complicated things, but still, he had to believe that the crimes were connected somehow. And he was determined to put the pieces of the puzzle together until they fit.

They were both quiet for a long time, staring across the room and out the window, both lost in their own thoughts as the night drew on.

“I think you should get some rest,” he said at last, lifting his arm from her shoulder. Though he was sad to no longer be holding her, his muscles were beginning to ache, and he was thankful for a chance to stretch. He glanced down at the glowing face of his smartwatch. “It’s getting late.”

“I’m totally wiped out,” she admitted, pulling herself to her feet and stretching her own arms high over her head. “And I think I’ll sleep better now.”

She didn’t need to explain what she meant. He could see the relief painted clearly on her face. There was still a long way to go toward healing from her assault, he knew, but there was power in taking even a single step forward.

He stood as well, glancing down at the makeshift sleeping area he’d put together on the floor, wishing that he’d had something more comfortable to offer her, but it would have to do for now. “I’m going to sleep in my office tonight. I’ll be just down the hall if you need me, and unlike at D&P, our security guys will be patrolling all night. If anything is amiss, I’ll be by your side in two minutes.”

“That’ll help,” she said, nodding. “Thank you. Though I hope you’ll get a proper rest on an actual bed tomorrow night.”

He said nothing, gesturing toward the bag that held the few belongings they’d had a chance to grab.

He had no plans to go back to Silver Grove. Not until she was in a safehouse, at the very least.

“You might want to change into something comfortable,” he said. “There’s a bathroom two doors over. I’ll wait outside for you, if you want.”

She agreed, and several minutes later, they returned to the empty office once more. Bristol was dressed in a matching purple pajama set dotted with white teacups, and her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

He refrained from commenting on how adorable she looked as she climbed into her sleeping bag, resting the side of her cheek against the too-thin pillow he’d found in the storage room.

“Everything good?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe. “I’ll keep my phone on. Call me if you need anything at all, even if it’s just a glass of water.”

She smiled up at him, closing her eyes and letting out a contented sigh. “Strangely enough, I think I’m about to get a better sleep than I’ve had in ages. I feel safe here.”

“Good. And you are,” he said firmly, resisting the urge to glance over his shoulder and give the empty hallway yet another spot check. He’d do that once he was out of her sight.

He doubted he’d sleep much, but at least he’d have the energizing power of coffee to lean on come morning.

He flicked the light switch off, bathing the room in shadows, save for the light from the city streets that filtered in through the window. “This okay?”

“Perfect.”

It was time to leave, but he found himself stuck where he was, his feet unwilling to carry him away from her. Despite his confidence in her safety while she was sequestered at FBS, she looked so vulnerable now, laying there in the dark. It made his heart ache to leave her.

“Well, goodnight,” he said after a moment.

There was a long moment of silence.

No one moved.

“Cam?”

“Yeah?”

He heard her draw a breath, but could no longer see her face amid the shadows.

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