Shiloh and Benoitwaited for the doctor, their hearts sinking. “Hey,” he said softly, “if it’s bad news, we can try again.”
A nurse poked her head in the door. “The doctor is running behind. I’m so sorry, but he’ll be another couple of hours.”
Shiloh nodded, but Benoit let out a long breath, obviously irritated. Shiloh smoothed his hair.
“You look exhausted.” She looked around him. “Seth, help me out here, get him to get some sleep.”
Seth had been their rock over the last few days. The doctors had operated on Shiloh, trying to save the baby, but it was a long shot, they told her. Not wanting to invade their privacy, Seth moved out of the gloom of the corner. “She’s right, Benoit. You’ve been awake for three days straight.”
Benoit looked mutinous for a moment … then relented. “Okay, look, I’ll grab an hour in the room next door. They had a cot set up in there for us. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
She put her hands on his face and pulled it to her.
“I’ll be fine, baby. Go sleep.” She kissed his eyelids. “Sleep.”
Benoit kissed her, then stood. “You wake me if anything,anything, happens.” He said this to Seth, who nodded.
“Go, Benoit. I’ll be here. With Shiloh.” Seth smiled at her. Benoit hesitated, then moved to the door. With one last look back at her, he disappeared into the next room, leaving the door ajar. Shiloh saw this and rolled her eyes at Seth. He stifled a laugh.
“Can I get you anything, Shiloh?”
“Some hot tea would be lovely, if it’s not too much trouble. Thank you, Seth.”
The doctor came eventually. “It’s good news,” he smiled at them. Shiloh burst into tears, and Benoit looked vastly relieved. “I want to keep Shiloh in for a couple of days, but then you should be good to go.”
“Mon Dieu, mon Dieu.”Benoit rubbed his face then hugged Shiloh tightly. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Seth chuckled. “I’m intruding on your family time; I’ll give you some space.”
As he left, Benoit hugged him. “Thank you for being here.”
“Anytime.”
Benoit and Shiloh sat and talked about their future, their child, for a time, then Shiloh met his gaze. “Someone tried to kill us.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. Seth and I have already set things in motion. Seth talked to Maceo, to Lisander and Alex. We’re mobilizing. This ends now, if it takes every penny we have, every resource available. We’re going to make damn sure we’re safe.Allof us.”
Ori had beenon edge since Jason had picked her up, and now she felt sick. He wasn’t driving her to their usual work-out spot; she realized this as they passed the turning. “Where are we going?”
Jason smiled at her, and she couldn’t detect any menace behind it. “A surprise. Somewhere I think you might enjoy.”
From what Ori could make out, they were going deeper into the forest. As Jason pulled the car over, he started talking. “This is my favorite place to run and walk. It’s gorgeous. I guarantee you’ll love it.”
There was no one else around, and the forest was quiet. Ori felt her muscles tense as they walked along a path, then, as they started to run, she wondered if it had been a good idea after yesterday’s debacle.
An hour later, they were deep inside the forest when Jason stopped, offering a bottle of water. “I wanted to talk to you, Ori, without anyone around.”
Oh God, no. She had been right; this was a plan. Jason studied her. “You have nothing to be afraid of with me, Ori, I swear to God. It’s Alex I wanted to talk about.”
Ori was astonished. “Alex? Why on earth would you need to talk about Alex?”
“I’ve known Alex a lot longer than you have,” Jason said gently, “and I knew him with Viola. I knew Viola pretty well … Ori, you and she could be sisters.”
“So people have kept telling me,” Ori couldn’t help but be a little irritated at being reminded of her resemblance to a dead woman over and over. “This is not news.”
“Is Alex being in love with you news?”
Ori rolled her eyes. “Alex is not in love with me, Jason. He might have a little crush, but love? I don’t think so.”
