An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 23: Rebirth

WARREN HALE

"Yes, Faled. I will be home tomorrow." I assured Tariq, taking a sip from the espresso Sid, who I now knew was Corvina's little brother, had brought for me after my meal. "I am just wrapping things up here in New York." I added.

"Are you going somewhere?" I pulled the phone from my ear at Trish's voice. The man had sneaked up on me despite being his size. I was seated at the desk in the room, back flat against my chair because even breathing hurt like hell with my bruised ribs.

"I need to go. I will talk to you later." I murmured into the phone and hung up. Putting the landline down, I turned to face Trish, wincing slightly when my ribs screamed in protest.

"I'm going home. I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning." I answered, keeping my expression neutral.

"Oh, sweetheart. You aren't going anywhere." He took a seat on the edge of the bed, facing me, his elbows on his knees. He shook his head as if he pitied my innocence and naivety.

"I need to go to London tomorrow," I said, a pit opening in my stomach. I wasn't worried about Corvina being a problem for me until now. I couldn't miss Jace's proposal. I couldn't miss this milestone for my sister. "I would like to see you try to stop me." I added when Trish just stared at me with amusement and sympathy.

"She won't let you leave, not when your life is in danger. And she's not the one threatening it." He didn't say her name but his words inspired the memory of smokey eyes and a small scar. Lips curling into a snarl, her hand wrapped around my throat, threats dropped in the quiet of the spacious penthouse. She was Death itself and Trish's response reminded me how my life was in the palm of her hand, flickering like a candle flame in a storm. And she was the one saving it from being snuffed out.

"I have to go, Trish. I can't not go to London tomorrow." I ran a hand through my hair, hissing inwardly when the strands cut through the open callouses on my palm. The rope had chaffed at the skin and it was still tender.

"It's not your call to make, Hale. You're in the Grim Reaper's lair now. And she calls the shots here." He shrugged almost apologetically, dark eyes softening when they landed on me again. "Your soul is at her mercy. You should be grateful she is not damning it. You should be grateful she is letting you breathe. Don't disobey her." He stood up, his towering frame a warning, a reminder that they can snub out the quivering flame my life had become if I crossed them.

Trish walked out of the room on silent feet, moving so quielty a shudder ran down my spine. If he slipped into my room in the middle of the night and gutted me, I would be none the wiser. I swallowed. I needed to go to London. But how?

"I could talk to my sister." Seb walked into the room a few minutes after Trish left, startling me again. I didn't know what it was with these guys entering a room unannounced. I raised my head from where I had dropped it in my hands, regarding him curiously. Was he toying with me? Or was he serious?

"How?" I asked, the hopelessness in my voice as clear as a flock of birds in a cloudless sky. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't intimidating like the trio who had left to go God knew where. I hadn't seen Corvina in hours and it didn't sit right with me.

"I have a way with her." Seb responded, glancing at his feet before looking at me again. I was pleased by the way he was trying to be frightening and approachable at the same time. I offered him a grateful smile but shook my head.

"I don't want to put you in a difficult position. I know Corvina isn't exactly...friendly," I said, getting up from the chair and moving toward the bed. I needed to lay down, my head had started to throb again, perhaps from the injuries and lack of proper sleep. My short-term coma didn't count as rest apparently.