Page 60 of Healing the Highland Sinner
“I already ken that.”
“Love, if she in fact loves ye back, may nae be enough tae overcome that sense of betrayal she’s goin’ tae feel when ye tell her what ye’ve been daein’.”
Ellair sighed and drained the last of his ale, letting Gunn’s words rattle around in his brain. It was nothing Ellair hadn’t already thought of—nothing he didn’t already know—he still clung to that spark of hope that Rosalind’s feelings would overpower the bitter sense of betrayal she was going to feel. He had been lying to her, thus anger and hurt were going to be inevitable. But he knew she felt for him the way he felt for her and he had to hope it would be enough.
“Dae what ye need tae dae, lad,” Gunn said. “Just be aware there may be unforeseen consequences. Things may nae go as ye want.”
“I’m aware.”
“All right then,” he said. “So, what are we tae dae about Sinclair?”
“Right now, we need fer him tae make the next move. After our trouble last night, we’re nae yet sure what he’s goin’ tae dae,” he replied. “I’ve just spoken tae another contact of mine and it seems like he may be willin’ tae continue tae work with Rosalind.”
“If she gives him yer head.”
“’Tis a possibility,” Ellair admitted. “But we’ll ken more soon, I reckon.”
“All right. Keep me in the loop,” he said. “Now that we ken what we’re up against, the time fer us tae make a move is comin’. And if yer Widow is as unwillin’ a partner as ye claim she is, she may be able tae help us take Sinclair down once and fer all.”
“She’ll dae whatever it takes—so long as we can get her braither back alive.”
Gunn nodded. “Aye. Then be in touch and let me ken what the disposition of her relationship with Sinclair is.”
“I’ll dae that.”
Ellair got to his feet and walked out of the tavern, his mind spinning with the threads of all the plots tangling in his mind. He turned a corner and was several streets away from the tavern when he became aware of the presence behind him. Whoever was shadowing him had the skill to move quietly. They were no doubt looking to sneak up on him and take his head before he had a chance to react, then cash in on Sinclair’s bounty.
He turned a corner, then quickly drew his dagger and pressed himself against the side of the building. The soft scuff of a boot on the cobblestones of the street told him his pursuer was close—just about to turn the corner. His body tauter than a bowstring, Ellair jumped at the first flicker of movement and had his blade to the throat of his pursuer then paused.
“Bleedin’ hell,” he said.
Ciar stared down at him, his eyes cold and hard. The fact that he looked at him that way without saying a word told Ellair the big man had been shadowing him for some time and had very likely seen him meeting with Gunn.
“Aye,” Ciar said. “I ken who ye were meetin’ with.”
Ellair slipped the dagger into the sheath on his belt and frowned. He’d been careless. He’d been so focused on Rosalind, his feelings for her, and the desperate need to tell her who he really was, he somehow hadn’t spotted Ciar following him. He licked his lips and nodded.
“Have ye been playin’ her this whole time? Tryin’ tae get close tae kill her?” Ciar asked.
Ellair shook his head. “Nay. Quite the opposite in fact.”
“She needs tae ken who ye are and what ye’re about,” he said. “She deserves the truth.”
He had fully expected that Ciar would not believe him. The fact that he was being civil about catching him in his deception thoroughly surprised Ellair. There was no accusation or anger in Ciar’s voice. He was simply speaking the truth.
“Aye,” he said. “She daes deserve it.”
“She put her trust in ye. Findin’ out ye’ve been lyin’ tae her this whole time is goin’ tae break her heart. Ye ken that, dinnae ye?”
“I’m hopin’ nae.”
Ciar studied him for a long moment, his lips curled downward in a frown. “Ye need tae tell her, Ellair. Ye need tae tell her or I will.”
And with that, the big man turned and strode away, leaving Ellair standing there cloaked in his guilt and his fear that once he told Rosalind the truth, he would lose her forever. The thought cut sharper than any blade. But the big man was right. And he knew what he had to do.
She deserved the truth.
CHAPTER 27
