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“I just told you I don’t know who it is or what they want.”

“And I think you’re lying.”

My vacant stare prompts her to drop her fork.

“If it’s not you then I want someone like Victor watching the apartment.”

“I don’t take demands from you, Delilah. I’m not wasting my resources on someone who isn’t my responsibility.”

“Am I your responsibility?”

There’s no hesitation. “Yes.”

“Then it’s not a waste if it means someone I love is safe.”

Silence crowds the space between us.

“I don’t want anything to happen to her because of me.” That confession hitches on a note of vulnerability and I know I’m about to waste my resources on a woman who means everything to Delilah but nothing to me.

The quiet lapses into her staring at me with newfound interest. “How do you know Silas?”

Every time she utters another man’s name with even the slightest hint of reverence, I lose a year off my life.

My hard gaze clashes with her innocent one, only for a split second before she darts her eyes away. “We went to boarding school together.”

“He’s nice.” Her knife scrapes across the porcelain plate. “Nicer than you.”

A dry huff escapes me, but I don’t give her more than that.

“He’s not a part of The Society?”

“I didn’t say that.” I pierce my New York strip, bringing it to my lips.

“So, heis?” Delilah lifts both of her brows instead of one and the somersault happening in my chest is a vile thing. “When did you join?”

Telling her I was born into it makes her brows slash downward.

“I thought you had to sacrifice something.”

Chiara and our pending wedding flits across my mind, and I deflect because this woman makes me a coward.

“You’re full of questions tonight.”

“You wanted me here.” Those slender shoulders lift before she picks up a steak fry.

“What did Silas say about your headaches?”

“He didn’t tell you already?”

“Why would he?”

“I…don’t know. I thought...” She falters, looking at me with confusion.

“Your headaches, Ms. Rose. What did he say about them?”

Her right cheek twitches and she corrects me in a patient whisper. “Delilah.”

“You don’t like being referred to as a Rose?”