Page 150 of Captive Ruin

I let him. What does it matter?

I should feel something, but I don’t. Am I broken? Is it me, or is it him?

After a moment, he pulls back. He’s not lifting my chin anymore, and my eyes drop back to the gap at the top of his shirt.

“Amelia?”

My name, not his pet name. “Yes?”

“Are you… all right?”

These days, I get asked that a lot. “I’m fine.”

I know he’s gazing at me, but it’s more effort than it’s worth to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry I was gone so long.”

“It’s fine,” I say. “I know you’re busy.” I should probably ask him how it went, how much of a threat still remains, to me, to my sister. But he won’t answer, so the question seems pointless.

“Yes, I was… busy. I’m sorry.”

“I said it’s fine.” I don’t know why he’s apologizing.

“It’s not fine. I’ve left you too long.”

It’s fine. “I’m used to it. I’ve been alone in this empty house for months now.”

“It’s not just the house that’s been empty,” he murmurs, softly enough that I almost miss it. “I’ve been empty, Amelia.” Those steel-grey eyes glistening with emotion. “I’ve been dead inside for so long now. For years. And you… you breathed life into me. I’ll never leave you for so long again.”

I almost laugh, until I remember that this man’s word is his bond. “What about your work?”

“When this is done, I’m quitting.”

So it’s not done yet. He’ll leave again.

And why would he quit? His work’s obviously more important to him than I’ll ever be, otherwise he wouldn’t have left me all alone for months, after he insisted on marrying.

“You should get some sleep,” I say. “You must be tired.”

Van Wyk pauses. Shoves his hands in his pockets. Stares down at his feet and then looks back up at me. “Are you going to bed?”

“I wasn’t planning to.” I don’t sleep much of late. “I can, if you want.” It’ll save him dragging me there.

“That would be nice,” he says cautiously.

He gestures to the door for me to precede him, and I walk down the hallway with him a step behind. I don’t know where Linda’s gone, or Tony, and it’s like we’re alone in the house.

I head up to my room, and he stops me as I open the door.

“I’m back, Little Stray. You don’t need to sleep in here any longer.”

I don’t want to sleep in there, where his ex-wife took a blade to her throat. “I like this room.”

His eyebrows rise. “You do?”

“You can sleep in there,” I say. “I don’t mind.” I’d prefer it.

“I’ll sleep in here tonight.” He pushes open the door and enters ahead of me. “We can talk about it in the morning… when you’re rested.”