Page 7 of Unbound

Sybil slowly nods, that hint of what’s probably fear still pooling in the depths of her wide eyes. “I understand.”

I don’t want to believe anything that comes out of her mouth right now, so I have to assume she’s just giving me lip service. Telling me what she thinks I want to hear by acknowledging the thinly veiled threat I just laid down between us.

“Good.” I meet Toby’s eyes across the room. “I’m taking her with me. We’ll meet you all here tomorrow.”

Toby is currently the only one of my cousins without kids to wrangle, so I figure he’s the one most likely to have enough brain capacity to remember what I’ve said. I know he was scared shitless today learning his wife had almost been taken from him a second time, so I still won’t be surprised if I get a million texts asking where Sybil is, and what time we’re going to meet to figure this shit out.

“Come on. Let’s go.” I rest one hand on Sybil’s back, pressing between her shoulder blades as I urge her toward the door. I feel a little like a warden walking a prisoner back to their cell, but I’m pretty sure any prisoner would be thrilled to end up in a cell like the one she’ll be sleeping in tonight, so I try not to give myself too much shit over it.

Plus, I don’t have a choice here, and that’s her doing. I’m not responsible for this. She is.

I still feel a little like a piece of shit as I practically push her out the door and down the steps of Trevor and Maren’s home.

Going straight to where my side-by-side is parked, I load her into the passenger seat, buckling her up before getting behind the wheel. The drive to my house is silent. She’s probably too terrified to talk, and I don’t have anything to say to her.

Well...

There’s actually plenty I’d like to say to her right now, but I don’t know that a single word of it would help anyone’s cause. Definitely not mine.

And probably not hers.

I pull into my driveway, using the opener to lift the garage door so I can pull inside. Parking my UTV in its designated spot, I climb out, rounding the side to find Sybil is still where I put her.

She gives me a small smile, lifting both hands away from the belt still strapped across her waist and chest. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me touching your stuff.”

I lean in, releasing the buckle. “I’m surprised you’re worried about what I want.”

Sybil’s smile slips. “I’m so sorry, Walker. I didn’t mean to⁠—”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” I step back. “Come on.”

Sybil maneuvers her way out of the seat, dutifully following me up the handful of stairs leading inside. I hang the UTV keys on the hook beside the door on my way toward the kitchen, flipping on lights as I go.

Heading for the fridge, I grab a couple bottles of water, passing one off to her before tipping my head in the direction of the stairs. “Come on. Bedrooms are on the second floor.”

Clutching the beverage against her chest, Sybil’s eyes wander as we make our way to the room she’ll be staying in until I figure out what’s going on.

I pass my room, taking her to the one next door. Opening the door, I step in, flipping the switch that turns on the lamps centered on each nightstand. I let my eyes drag over the space for a split second before turning away. “You can sleep in here.”

Sybil edges into the room, taking it in. “This is really nice.”

Grunting in acknowledgment, I stride to the attached bathroom, pushing the door open wide. “You can shower in here. Feel free to use anything you find.” I motion to the linen closet. “Towels are in there.” Taking in the sorry state of her outfit, I point to the door just beside the en suite. “Laundry chute is there. “You can throw your clothes down. I’ll make sure they get washed.”

I turn to leave, almost making it to the door before Sybil’s voice stops me.

“Walker?”

I take a deep breath, worried she’s going to try to ask me questions or plead her case, and I can’t right now.

I crane my neck, peering at her over one shoulder as I wait for her to continue with whatever it is she’s about to say.

But Sybil doesn’t ask me anything. She doesn’t try to explain anything either.

She points out a fact that’s going to haunt my dreams.

Expression pinched, she toys with the hem of her shirt. “I appreciate your offer to wash these.” Her head barely shakes. “But I don’t have anything to change into.”

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