24. Tate
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TATE
I breathe deeply before I open my eyes. My arm is around Sian's shoulders, and she's snuggled up against my chest. Her hand rests on my stomach, and I watch her for a moment. She must sense I'm watching because she starts to stir. I stroke her back softly, hoping to lull her back to sleep. She blinks her eyes open and looks up at me. She smiles then blushes. It's so adorable that I chuckle.
She rests her head back on my chest, and we lie like that for a moment, me stroking her arm while she breathes easily. I wonder if this is the first time she’s felt like she could breathe since Daniel attacked her.
She lets out a sigh, and I pause. "Morning."
“Good morning. Do we have to break the bubble?" she says quietly.
"The bubble?" I ask.
"Yes. This bubble around us, as though it's only the two of us in the entire world and nothing else matters," she says, looking up at me.
I smirk. "Then don't break it."
"I need to know, though."
"Need to know what?" I ask, and she sits up, pulling the sheets around her. I sit up too and lean against the headboard, watching her intently.
"I need to know what you're going to do about Daniel," she says quietly. "I want to help."
"No, Sian. Not a fucking chance. The less you know, the better."
"He hurt me, Tate," she says. "He hurt me in ways I never thought I would recover from until last night. He also hurt you. I want to help so he doesn't hurt anyone ever again."
I bite my lip and sigh, looking out of the window. I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and sit for a moment. I'm not sure what to do. I feel torn. I get why Sian wants to help, but I don't want to put her in any danger. The truth is, I suspect Sian is the only one that Daniel feels anything for, whether it's possessive or not. She's prime bait to lure him in. I don't know if I can do it, though. I don't know if I can bring myself to use her like that. She's innocent. If he gets his hands on her after being with me, he'll do unthinkable things to her, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if that happened.
Sian touches my shoulder softly. "Talk to me," she says. "Tell me what you're thinking."
I look at her. "I don't want to put you in harm’s way," I tell her. "I don't want you anywhere near Daniel, or where he can get to you. It’s part of the reason why you're here, safely tucked away. More so now I know who your attacker is.”
"You can't keep me here forever," she says gently, stroking my shoulder. Her fingers linger on a scar that Daniel gave me. "You're in danger too. If he finds out about us, he might come looking, stir up more trouble. Even attack your estate."
I sigh softly because I know he's going to flip when he finds out about us. There are no limits to Daniel’s depravity. I don't even want to imagine what he would do to Sian if he got his hands on her. The torture he would put her through. I shiver slightly, and Sian withdraws her hand.
"Are you okay?" she asks, shifting on the bed and kissing my shoulder.
She's so innocent. She's so soft. Jodi had a roughness to her; she proved she belonged in my world. Sian doesn't, and I feel bad for drawing her in as much as I have. But none of that matters now, as I’ve selfishly claimed her as mine. It would be nothing for me to arrange a new identity for her, a new life, but I don't want to do that. I’ll figure out a way. I’ll get what I want. And I always get what I want.
"I'm okay," I say quietly. "I want you to stay here for now.”
"Okay," she says softly. "But I want to help."
"I know you do, but I need to sort through things first. Make sure everything is set in motion before we pull you into this even further." I turn around and kiss her softly. "I need to go to the office. I have to check in with Rick."
"You should shower first. You smell like sex," she murmurs.
"I bet you love that," I tease. "But point taken. You get some rest. I'll check in on you later."
I get up and slide back into my clothes from last night. I lean over and kiss the top of her head. She curls up in bed with a sigh.
I leave the room and go to my own, passing a rather smug-looking Mary on my way down the hall. I ignore her and go into my room; a fresh suit is laying out on the bed for me. I get undressed and head into the shower. I flick it on and stand under the hot water, thinking about Sian. Thinking about the intense sex we had last night.
I reluctantly wash her scent off my body and dry off. Once I’m dressed, I shoot a message to Rick and tell him to meet me at the office. I pause and go to the library, knock, and enter slowly.
"Tate. Did you sort out your little problem?" my father asks.
"So to speak," I say, crossing the room to where he's sitting on the sofa. "At least one of them. Daniel is a bigger problem."
"I know," he says, setting his book down. "What are you going to do about him?"
"I don't know, but Sian wants to help," I say.
"Do you want her to? Are you thinking with your head?" He looks at me curiously.
"Yes." I sigh. "I'm going to hash it out with Rick and get his advice."
"Rick has always given it to you straight." My father nods. "He's a good source of advice. He always has been. May I just make one thing clear, though. If you do involve Sian, there is a strong chance that she could get hurt or worse.”
"So, you don't think I should involve her?" I ask quietly.
"I'm not going to tell you what to do, Tate. I'm just going to caution you to be careful. I know you’re more than capable of running the empire. You've proved that. Don't let your heart get the better of your head now."
I nod. "Noted. I'm going to go meet Rick."
"Let me know what you decide." My father picks up his book again and opens it. "Take the folder on the table so you have photos of Daniel to show your men."
I pick up the folder and leave, pausing briefly in the hallway near Sian's room. I want to go see her, to kiss her again. What I feel for her is otherworldly. I've never felt a connection to a woman as strongly as I do with Sian.
Taking the stairs, I straighten my suit jacket, leave the house, and shut the door behind me. My guards nod to me as I walk past them to my new Range Rover. I get in and start the car, glance up at Sian's window, and I see her standing there. She throws me a small wave and a smile.