Before either of us could respond, Sable’s phone buzzed.
“I need to take this.” She pressed the phone to her ear, stepping slightly away. “Dr. Crawford… Yes, I understand… How severe?… I’ll be there immediately,”
She turned back to us. “Emergency surgery. I have to go now.”
11l drive you
“Caelan Rodrigo stopped me “We need to talk.”
Sable glanced between us, uncertainty flickering across her features. Her hand found my arm, fingers gripping just tight enough to convey her worry
I moved closer to her, my hand cupping her face My thumb traced along ber cheekbone as I looked into her eyes.
“Go,” I said quietly. “Save lives.
She understood. The unspoken message passed between us – I can bundle your father think worry about me.
Tll see you later, Dad. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, but I caught the concerned glance she threw over her shoulder.
The moment Sable disappeared through the restaurant’s entrance, Rodrigos entire demeanor shifted. The polite mask fell away.
“Please sit down.” He gestured to the chairs.
I remained standing. “What’s on your mind, Rodrigo?”
“Now we can speak honestly.” He settled into his chair. “I don’t approve of this relationship.”
“I assumed as much.” I kept my voice level. “What specifically concerns you?”
“The incidents.” His fingers drummed once against the table, then stilled. “Every dangerous situation Sable has faced since returning to Blackwood territory traces back to you.”
“I’m working to identify who’s behind-
“Working to identify.” He cut me off, his voice rising just enough to carry steel. “Sable has survived two attempts on her life.”
“I’ve increased security around Sable. I have my best investigators-
“Can you guarantee her safety twenty-four hours a day?” His question hit like a physical blow. “Can you promise me that tomorrow, next week, next month, someone else won’t target her simply because she’s yours?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he pressed on relentlessly.
“If Sable has to live every moment wondering who might try to hurt her next, if she needs constant protection just to exist… is that love, Caelan? Is that the life you want to give her?”
“I’ll protect her.”
The words felt hollow even as I said them.
“Like you protected her at the stable?” His voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Like you protected her the night Blair jumped?”
Silence stretched between us. Every defense I might have offered crumbled under the weight of his accusations.
“I’m giving you two weeks,” Rodrigo said finally.
“Two weeks for what?”
“Prove that Sable is safe with you. Prove that being in your world won’t destroy her.” He stood up. “Otherwise, I’m removing her from Blackwood territory permanently.”
Heat flared through my chest. “You can’t-“
“I’m her father.” Each word carried absolute finality. “I have every right to protect my daughter from threats. Even if that threat is the man she loves.”
The casual way he said it the complete certainty in his voice made my blood run cold. He would do it. He would take her away from me without hesitation if he believed it was necessary.
“There’s something else you need to consider. Rodrigo’s tone shifted, becoming almost conversational. “Blair,”
“What about Blair?”
“She tried to frame Sable for that riding accident. Made you believe Sable had deliberately injured the horse.” His eyes never left mine. “At your engagement party, her suicide threat nearly resulted in Sable’s death. Notice the pattern?”
I frowned, not following his logic.
“I assumed as much.” I kept my voice level. “What specifically concerns you?”
“The incidents.” His fingers drummed once against the table, then stilled. “Every dangerous situation Sable has faced since returning to Blackwood territory traces back to you.”
I’m working to identify who’s behind-
“Working to identify.” He cut me off, his voice rising just enough to carry steel. “Sable has survived two attempts on her life.”
“I’ve increased security around Sable. I have my best investigators-
“Can you guarantee her safety twenty-four hours a day?” His question hit like a physical blow. “Can you promise me that tomorrow, next week, next month, someone else won’t target her simply because she’s yours?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he pressed on relentlessly.
“If Sable has to live every moment wondering who might try to hurt her next, if she needs constant protection just to exist… is that love, Caelan? Is that the life you want to give her?”
“I’ll protect her.”
The words felt hollow even as I said them.
“Like you protected her at the stable?” His voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Like you protected her the night Blair jumped?”
Silence stretched between us. Every defense I might have offered crumbled under the weight of his accusations.
I’m giving you two weeks,” Rodrigo said finally.
“Two weeks for what?”
“Prove that Sable is safe with you. Prove that being in your world won’t destroy her.” He stood up. “Otherwise, I’m removing her from Blackwood territory permanently.”
Heat flared through my chest. “You can’t-“
“I’m her father.” Each word carried absolute finality. “I have every right to protect my daughter from threats. Even if that threat is the man she loves.”
The casual way he said it the complete certainty in his voice made my blood run cold. He would do it. He would take her away from me without hesitation if he believed it was necessary.
“There’s something else you need to consider.” Rodrigo’s tone shifted, becoming almost conversational. “Blair.”
“What about Blair?
“She tried to frame Sable for that riding accident. Made you believe Sable had deliberately injured the horse. His eyes never left mine. “At your engagement party, her suicide threat nearly resulted in Sable’s death. Notice the pattern?”
I frowned, not following his logic.
“Both incidents positioned Blair as the victim and Sable as either the perpetrator or the cause of Blair’s suffering. Rodrigo circled the table slowly, like a prosecutor building his case. “Very convenient for someone seeking your sympathy and protection.”
“Blair confessed to lying about the accident. She was confused, in pain-
“Was she? Rodrigo stopped directly in front of me. Or did she simply adjust her story when she realized you wouldn’t be manipulated as easily as she hoped?”
‘She’s admitted her mistakes,” I said, but doubt was already creeping into my voice.
“Has she? Or has she simply found more subtle ways to attack your fianc?e? Rodrigo straightened his jacket with sharp, efficient movements. “When someone shows you who they are repeatedly, believe them the first time.”
He headed toward the door, then paused without turning around.
“Two weeks, Caelan. Prove Sable is safe, or lose her forever.”
I sat alone at the table after he left and tried to process what had just happened.
Had I been blind to Blair’s manipulations? Had I let my protective instincts toward her cloud my judgment about the real threat?
Back in my car, I pulled out my phone and dialed Edward’s number.
“Your Majesty?”
–
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