Page 29 of Romancing His Heart

“I’m not sure, Sylvie. I can’t remember, but I know something or someone is coming.”

“So you’ll leave again?” she asks sadly.

Glancing up, her tears gut me. “I don’t know. My agency has appointed someone to my position, and nothing is making sense. I don’t have any resources out here on my own.”

Laying her hand over mine, she squeezes. “How quickly my pups forget. Loki, look at me.”

It takes every ounce of courage I have, but I meet her gaze.

“You’ve always been a part of this pack. Even if you lose your way, they’ll help guide you home.” As if on cue, a howl erupts from the family room. “Sounds like the rest of the Westbrooks just arrived.” She smiles. “You’ve never been alone, Loki. You’ve always had your pack. Perhaps it’s time you found your way back and let them protect you for the rest of this journey I know you never asked for.”

“But I’ve trained—”

“Yes, I know,” she cuts me off. “You’ve trained for this. But did you ever ask yourself why? Or what you’re going to do when this threat you’ve lived with your entire life no longer exists? This life wasn’t your dream, Loki. This life became a mission you felt an obligation to fulfill. I was here the day Seth got word that you had handed over the last of your cocksuckers.”

She said it with such a straight face I almost missed it. The hint of a smile forms and lets me know I heard her correctly.

“Here’s the thing, Loki. Clint and I never had any secrets from each other. If you hadn’t been just a child when all this happened, I would have called them cocksuckers, too.”

“Ah, okay. Can you not say that word again? I’m not sure how to handle it,” I admit. Part of me wants to bust open with laughter, but a bigger piece that still sees this woman as my adopted mother has me flushing a deeper shade of red than even Sloane. The thought of Sloane has me shifting uncomfortably in my chair.

“Oh dear, if you’re spending time with Sloane, you’ll have to get used to much dirtier words than that.” She smirks.

What the fuck is that girl writing?

“Can I ask you a question?” Her voice is soothing.

“Of course.” I’m not sure what she wants to ask, but I owe this woman my life.

“You went home. Why now?”

I had gone to my childhood home for the first time since my parents died when I left clues for Seth, but I don’t remember much about being there.

“I’m not sure,” I admit.

“It’s been years, Loki. Why hadn’t you gone back?”

“It doesn’t belong to me,” I blurt, causing Sylvie to gasp.

“Of course it does. Who do you think it belongs to?” she asks quietly.

“I know it belongs to me legally, but I’m sure that was an oversight.”

“Your parents left everything to you. I’m sure Clint and I went over all that with you before you left for college.” Sylvie’s voice is full of concern, and I can see her second-guessing herself.

“You did,” I assure her. “You both did. What I mean is, they left me money because they had to. They didn’t have any other children.”

“I’m confused, Loki. Your parents left everything to you because they loved you.”

“But they didn’t trust me,” I yell, and immediately have to rein myself in. I’ve never told anyone my biggest fear. The reason I joined SIA, the reason I’ve stepped away from those I love.

From the corner of my eye, I see Ashton standing in the doorway, but Sylvie waves him off.

With the gentleness of a mother speaking to a scared child, she asks, “Why do you say that, Loki?”

Do I really want to get into this right now?

Standing, Sylvie crosses the room and shuts the door.