Page 210 of A Vicious Love

“I’m fine,” she said.

“That appears to be a family motto no medical professional endorses,” Reeves replied.

Sienna looked at me. “Do I have to?”

I could have said yes.

Easily. One word. Command. Husband-shaped even before the vows. Instead, I forced my hand open at my side.

“I want you checked,” I said. “You can refuse. I’ll hate it, complain, and become unpleasant to everyone in a six-mile radius, but you can refuse.”

Sienna stared at me as though the concussion accusation had returned with supporting evidence.

“What?” I asked. “I’m capable of growth under extreme circumstances.”

“No, really. Did you hit your head?”

“I can examine him after you.” Reeves said.

“Don’t encourage her.”

“Fine,” she said. “Reeves can check me if he checks you too.”

“No.”

Her smile disappeared. “Then no.”

I stared at her.

Reeves suddenly found the towels fascinating.

Unfucking believable.

“Fine.” I ran my fingers through my hair and felt I was surrendering to a lot more.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

JAMISON

Dinner was canceled by God or lightning. I preferred to believe both had finally taken an interest in my survival.

The storm broke over the Bellemere estate just before six, cutting across the lake in white flashes. Thunder rolled hard enough to make the glass walls of House Alder hum.

Across the estate, the main house lost terrace access, and, most importantly, ruined, the first official Bellemere family dinner.

I stood in the lounge with a cigarette between my fingers, watching lightning tear open the sky, and felt a peace so deep it bordered on religious.

“Find out who owns the grid,” I said.

Reeves stood near the kitchen island, reviewing dinner instructions from the estate staff because apparently a canceled dinner still required twelve different kinds of logistics.

“The weather grid?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“The regional atmospheric stabilization grid?”

“That would be the one controlling the weather currently saving me from soup with Sienna’s father.”