Page 24 of City of the Lost
I clapped my hands together. “Well, now that’s all sorted, you can all get the fuck out of my house.”
Mack snorted. “Ever the hostess.”
“I’m knackered.”
“What about the hound?” Noir asked.
“He stays. I’m not just dumping him.”
“No,” Noir said. “But we can’t just trust that he won’t hurt you. We know nothing about this creature.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Aside from the fact it saved my life four times now. He stays.”
Noir sighed. “I could put some warding on the lounge to trap it in there.”
“No. You’ll just piss it off,” Tay said. “If he saved Wila’s life repeatedly, I doubt he’ll end it now, but I’d like to stay, just in case.”
Was it a good idea to be almost alone with Tay with our emotions so raw and the attraction still burning? Probably not. But turning him down would be like taking the first step toward the possibility that we couldn’t be just friends. And that wasn’t something either of us wanted.
I squeezed his hand. “Thanks, Tay. You can take the spare room on my floor.”
Tay’s shoulders relaxed. Had he been worrying about the same stuff? Had he thought I’d turn him down?
“In that case, I’ll see you tomorrow night,” Noir said. He looked from Tay to me with a tight smile.
“Me too,” Mack said. He fist-bumped Tay and then headed out of the kitchen. Noir made to follow, but I snagged his elbow.
“Hey, can I get a quick word.” I shot Tay an apologetic smile. “I’ll be with you in a second.”
“I’ll check on your newest house guest.” Tay exited the kitchen, leaving me alone with the semi-clothed Noir.
Noir stood with his arms loosely at his sides. His toned torso was more athletic than bulky and his PJ bottoms hung low on his hips, exposing the tantalizing V leading down to his man goods. Eyes up, Wila. His sharp, inquisitive features seemed softer in the buttery overhead lights of the kitchen, giving him an unguarded look.
God, why did I have to be the bearer of crappy news?
“I met your daughter today.” Okay, blunt, but heck, what was the point in beating around the bush?
He tensed. “You did?”
“Yes, and I’m pretty certain she knows you’re her dad.”
He slow-blinked. “Explain.”
I filled him in on the bullying, my smack down on it, and then Amber’s parting words and the conspiratorial look in her eyes.
He puffed out his cheeks and blew out a breath. “I didn’t realize I was causing her distress. And you think she knows. Dammit. What do I do?”
“If there really is no way for you to claim her, then you need to cut ties. You’re putting her in danger. If she tells anyone who she is, then she’s as good as dead.”
He nodded. “If I stop going to see her, she’ll believe that she was mistaken.”
“Possibly. It’s your only option.”
His mouth turned down, and he ran a hand roughly over his face. “I wanted to know her. I needed to just be there.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat.
Okay, so I had plenty of other stuff on my overflowing plate, but … “Look, I can check in on her once in a while, if you’d like. Drop you a report?”
He looked up in surprise. “You’d do that for me?”
