“I know. I sometimes hear you cry when you’re alone for your soaks in the tub.”
He’s given me those moments to myself. I appreciate him granting me the distance I need. He is my husband but those private times remain very important. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.”
We dance but I’m preoccupied by one of the toasts a brother made. I’m hesitant to bring it up. I don’t want to put a damper on the good time we’re having but I can’t help myself. “Todd Cockburn’s toast was interesting.”
“How so?”
“He called me your Bleubird.”
“Purely coincidental.”
“It’s weird since that’s what my mother called me.”
“You crossed him off the list. He didn’t pan out.”
“I know.”
Sin stops moving. I immediately worry I’ve angered him by bringing up the investigation during our wedding celebration.
“May I have this dance with my new niece?” Every hair stands on the back of my neck.
I don’t have to see him to know it’s Abram.
“It’s fine,” I say to Sin. He doesn’t look convinced so I nod.
Abram can’t hurt me for two reasons. First, I’m Fellowship, just as he is. I’m the wife of his future leader. Secondly, we’re in front of the entire brotherhood. But I’m no fool. I’m quite aware the latter is the only thing assuring my safety for the time being.
I don’t trust this man.
Abram takes my hand and leads me in a basic box step. Moving with him on the dance floor feels like dancing with the devil. “What do you want?”
“Nothing in particular. I just want to dance with my niece.”
“Bullshit.”
“Such a lady.”
“And you’re always such a gentlemen.”
“Westlyn tells me you’ve been doing a lot of socializing with the women since your return.”
“I don’t know them. I need to remedy that if I’m to be any kind of leader.”
“Stay away from my daughters.”
His voice oozes acid. Good. I think it could be a sign he actually cares for his girls.
I barely know Evanna but Westlyn is becoming a dear friend. I’ve never had that before so I don’t intend on giving up our friendship so easily. “Despite what you may believe about me, I’m not the enemy. I’m committed to The Fellowship and its well-being.”
“You’ll never convince me of that.”
I’m suddenly shoved from behind, sending my body crashing into the psychopath. He breaks my fall and reaches out to grab the arm of the culprit—a small girl playing chase with three other children. “Whoa. Slow it down there, toots. You wouldn’t want to knock your future leader’s wife onto her bum in her pretty dress.”
Toots. Toots? Toots! That’s what my mother’s killer called me before placing a pillow over my face.
It could be nothing. Or it could be something. Either way, I think I may be adding a new color of sticky note to my wall of suspects. One representing Abram Breckenridge.
Chapter Fourteen
Sinclair Breckenridge
I watch every move Abram makes with my wife. Every step. Every turn. I don’t trust him with Bleu and I don’t expect to any time soon. How can I when he had men hunting her as our enemy only a few short weeks ago?
I’m alarmed when I see her shoved against him—even if it’s an accident by a small lass not looking where she’s going. I instantly go into defense mode. I bolt across the temporary dance floor.
“Are you all right?”
“I was bumped by a little girl. I’m fine.”
“I can see your husband is ready to have his wife returned to him.”
Abram takes Bleu’s hand and kisses the top. “Congratulations again on your nuptials. May you deliver many healthy sons and daughters as heirs to The Fellowship.”
That son of a bitch.
Bleu yanks her hand from his. Her face pales. “Come dance with me.”
She doesn’t move so I encourage her with a tighter grasp. “Now, Bonny.”
She comes but not happily. I pull her into a close embrace. She’s stiff, not returning my affectionate hold. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have allowed him near you.”
It’s my job to protect her, and that includes from Abram.
“He knows about my fertility problems.”
She need not even think I’ve confided in him—or anyone else—about what’s going on. “I haven’t told anyone. I swear.”
She relaxes.
“He had people investigating me. It wouldn’t be difficult to put the pieces together if he saw my payments to the medical facility where I bank my eggs from the retrieval I did a couple of years ago.”
“It doesn’t matter what or how he knows.” Unless he had us followed to the clinic in London. I’d better not find out that’s the case. “Our fertility issues are our business. Not The Fellowship’s and damn sure not his.”
Bleu pulls away and her eyes connect with mine. “I’m adding him to my list of suspects.”
She’s not thinking clearly. “What motive would Abram have for killing your mother?”
“I don’t know but I want to talk to Thane.”
That can’t happen. “That isn’t a good idea.”
“Why not?”
She has no idea what kind of shit she’ll be stirring. A war waging between two leaders of The Fellowship will only weaken the brotherhood. That makes us vulnerable to attack.
“You can’t go to my father and name his brother as a suspect for murdering the woman he loved. You need proof before you accuse a brother—especially a leader—of something like that.”
“I know it isn’t much to go on but that little girl who bumped into me … Abram called her toots. That’s the same name my mother’s killer called me.”
That’s no kind of proof. Bleu’s a former agent. I shouldn’t have to tell her this. “Toots is a common name to call a child. It doesn’t prove he’s a killer.”
“But a bite from a dog on his leg will. All I need is to see he doesn’t have a scar and he’ll be excluded. It’s easy as that.”
Abram is capable of a lot but in no way do I believe he’s guilty of Amanda Lawrence’s murder. Fingering him as her killer is a waste of time. And possibly detrimental to The Fellowship. There are huge problems brewing with The Order. We can’t afford a breakdown in leadership right now.