Accidental Surrogate

Accidental Surrogate Chapter 381-– Persistence

Sinclair

I wake up frowning, knowing immediately that something is…well, not wrong,

but certainly off. I reach out an arm, seeking Ella, but my hand passes over cold

sheets. My frown deepens as I sit up and realize that she’s not here. A glance at

Rafes bassinet makes it clear that he’s not here either.

Where the hell is my family?

I sigh, swinging my legs out of the bed, wondering how much time has passed.

As I scrub a hand down my face I consider that it can’t have been much –

there’s still no daylight peeking around the blinds. So, a few hours a most. But

why the hell hasn’t she come to bed?

I stand and head for the door, wondering what the hell trouble is getting up to

now. I smirk a little to consider it. Ella…well, it’s part of her appeal, isn’t it? She’s

always up to something. I’ll certainly never be bored by her side.

The hallway outside my room is empty but I head down it towards where I hear

a few murmuring voices. But when I turn into the room, I’m surprised because

the first person I see is my father, sitting quietly in his chair by the door, staring

into the room.

We don’t say anything to each other as I lean against the doorway by his side,

because we’re both aware that I didn’t come here seeking him. I give him a nod

and place a hand on his shoulder as my eyes turn to her – Ella, across the

room, my infant son sleeping pressed against her chest while she holds her

hands out over one of my wounded men, healing him.

“She’s going to wear herself out,” my father says quietly.

“How long has she been at it?”

“Hours,” he says, shaking his head. ” She’s been burning her candle at both

ends for days, Dominic. She’s…very dedicated, she wants to do good. But she

gives too much.”

I nod, understanding, agreeing silently. My kind mate with her big heart she

can’t stop giving, even if it means giving all of herself. But that’s where I come

take care of her, when she’d burn

if I

long moments with my father,

to interrupt her in the middle of her task. I’m

father surprises me with

Dominic,” he says, his voice thick

down

slowly, looking up at me with such

cost you – cost us everything. I played right into

He covers his face with

at me. “I failed you,

that,” I snap, tightening my hand on his

away and leave Cora and Ella unprotected –

seen it coming, that of course they would follow us back to

the sewer that

has nothing

growl, starting to get angry with him. “This was not your fault, dad

my

was our plan!” My voice comes out louder, harsher than I meant

me, more helpless than I’ve seen him…maybe

continue, working hard to

to a calmer register. ” Me, Roger, Ella, Cora – all of

We all fell for it, we were all…” I sigh, shutting

the moment I

house, that he was going after the girls and the baby. “We all

everything. You

to protest, to continue,

head,

hear Ella ask, and I look

eyes wide with worry as

fuzz

try to figure out what

“It’s nothing, Ella,” I respond, not wanting to

darkness under her eyes that she’s exhausted too.

incomplete explanation, and focuses her eyes on

this already?” she asks quietly.

looking

just waves his hands at us. “Let an old man have his

us a tired smile. ” It gives us something to dwell on to

two -” he shifts

have better things to worry about. You should get that child

bed.”

starting to unstrap the baby

wouldn’t have kept him out here so long

if he got

and she looks up at me with surprise. “You’re

with the baby. Come on.” I step forward and hold

says, shaking her head and backing up a step. “I have too much

there’s – there are more

I need to

distance between us and putting a hand on

voice so that just she

more than a rumble in my