Page 137 of Sinful Lord

I’m not the same innocent girl who ran away from home.

What would uncle Maks think of who I’ve become? Would he even be able to tell?

I’m not sure I’m willing to take that risk.

Still, I barely get a chance to refuse Tytus’ offer. In the blink of an eye, the phone call ends.

Tytus grumbles.

“I’m sure he’ll call back.”

“No,” I whisper turning from him. “Don’t answer.”

I can feel those powerful silver-blue eyes on me as I sink into my inner conflict. It’s so heavy I could fall through the floor.

Then, the phone starts buzzing again.

“Are you sure?” Tytus asks. “I’m not playing games. If you want to talk to your uncle, you can. No consequences.”

“There are always consequence…”

I can’t even look at the ringing phone. Each vibration seems to get louder. I shut my eyes.

This is all too much.

When the phone stops ringing again, I sigh in relief. But that relief only lasts a short moment. Another call quickly comes in.

Tytus must see me flinch at the sound, because I can hear his frustration as he tries to end this.

I hold my breath as he answers.

“I’m busy,” he growls into the receiver. Then he hangs up.

It’s hard to tell if Tytus turns his phone off after that, or if my uncle just takes the hint, but a long silence follows.

I don’t open my eyes. Not until I feel Tytus approach.

My initial reaction is to flinch away, but when my eyes flutter back open, I see that he’s stopped at a respectful distance.

Sympathy twists his expression. My heart rattles back and forth, unable to settle on any one side.

“Why is my uncle calling you?” I finally find the strength to ask.

“He’s helping me with something,” Tytus answers vaguely before catching himself. He knows that there’s no way forward unless he tells me everything. “The shadow that’s been chasing you… The devil of Berlin… Maksim wants to find him just as badly as I do.”

I’m not sure how to feel about that.

Shouldn’t Uncle Maks be looking for me?

“Why?” I ask.

Tytus sighs.

“He thinks that’s who’s holding you captive.”

It’s so obvious I almost laugh.

“So you’re playing my uncle too?”