Slow Agony (Assassins, #2)(60)

“Yeah,” I said.

“Maybe it was only me,” he said. “Maybe I gave up too soon.” He kissed me. “I’m sorry, doll. I’m so sorry.”

“Griffin, it’s not all your fault.”

He closed his eyes.

“And it doesn’t matter,” I said. “We’re together now. That’s what’s important.”

He tightened his arms around me. “I have to leave you again.”

I pulled away. “What are you talking about?”

“Marcel,” he said. “He’s going to keep at this until I give in. He wants me to come to him willingly. I think I will.”

“No,” I said. “You can’t go to him.”

“You said we couldn’t wait around for him when we were in the basement. You said I had to do something. This is what I have to do.”

“Not this,” I said. “Who knows what he could do to you. He might kill you.”

“If it means that everyone I love is safe, then that’s a risk I’ll take.”

I got up off the couch. “That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard. I won’t let you... sacrifice yourself.”

“I have to, doll. If not, he could kill my mother, my sister, you, our baby. I have too many people that I have to protect. And if it all stops when I go to him, then I will.”

“Let’s call Silas and ask him if he thinks this is a good idea,” I said. “Because I bet he won’t.”

“Keep your voice down, doll. You’ll wake up Christa.”

I got my phone out of my pocket and stalked into the hallway.

“Doll, wait.” Griffin was coming after me.

I was already dialing. “I’m not letting you go to Marcel, Griffin. Just forget it.”

He sighed.

The phone was ringing.

“Leigh, don’t call them,” he said.

“Too late,” I said.

“Hello,” said Silas.

“Silas, it’s Leigh. Griffin wants to turn himself over to Marcel, and I can’t talk him out of it.”

“Whoa,” said Silas. “Marcel is in Texas? With you guys?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Griffin’s mother got shot yesterday.”

“Really?” said Silas. “That’s bad. Is Griffin there? Can I talk to him?”

“Sure,” I said. I handed the phone over to Griffin, who was glowering at me. “Talk to Silas,” I told him. “Maybe he can pound some sense into you.”

Griffin took the phone. “Hi, Silas.” He listened, pacing outside the waiting room. “I didn’t want to involve you guys anymore... If anything happened, I’d never forgive myself...” He sighed heavily. “We’re in San Antonio.... Really? That quickly, huh?... But I don’t want you to come.... Yes, I think I can handle him myself.... You really don’t understand.”

“Tell him to convince you to keep yourself safe,” I said.

Griffin sighed again. “Yes, all right, you’re making sense.... I promise I won’t do anything until you guys get here.... I swear....” He rolled his eyes. “Yes, okay, I swear on the life of my mother, you dick.” He hung up the phone and slapped it back in my hand.

“Well?” I said.

“Well,” he said, “Silas says we should try a tactical approach, with him and Sloane covering me if I try to give myself up to Marcel. You heard me promise I’d wait for them, didn’t you?”

I took a deep breath, relaxing. “So, you’re not going to do anything crazy?”

“I’ll wait for Silas and Sloane.”

I threw my arms around him. “Good. If I lost you, I think I’d lose my mind. I can’t let you go, and I can’t let anything happen to you. You understand me?”

He nodded.

“When will Sloane and Silas get here?” I said.

“Probably late night tomorrow. He said they’re going to drive straight through.” He rubbed the top of his head. “We should get some rest, doll. We’ve got busy times ahead of us.”

We curled up together on one of the couches. This time, with Griffin’s arms around me, I realized I was exhausted, and I fell asleep almost immediately.

My dreams were filled with strange men chasing me. I was hugely pregnant and trying to run, but I was too large, and I couldn’t go very fast, so they were gaining on me.

When Griffin moved out from beneath me, I almost woke up, mumbling my annoyance at the absence of his warmth.

But he whispered something soothing to me, and I shifted, getting comfortable without him.

For several minutes, I thought I’d be able to go back to sleep, but I then I realized that I really had to go to the bathroom. I tried rolling onto my back, hoping that would relieve the pressure enough that it wouldn’t bother me.

It was no use.

I sat up on the couch. Griffin wasn’t in the waiting room anymore. I wondered if he’d gone to see his mother again.

I’d worry about it when I got back from the bathroom.

I made my way down there and relieved myself. Then I came back to the waiting room. Still no Griffin, but I noticed that there was a folded piece of paper lying on the table next to the couch where I’d been sleeping.