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

to take care of her, when she’d burn herself out

if I let

long moments with my father, watching

any good to interrupt her in the middle of her

surprises

Dominic,” he says, his voice thick with

look down at him.

head slowly, looking up

cost you – cost us everything. I played right into the enemy’s

your child -” He covers his face with his hand,

at me. “I failed you,

snap, tightening my hand

to send you away and leave Cora and Ella unprotected

that of course they would follow us back

the sewer that of course they were

– Xander has nothing but

I growl, starting to get angry with him. “This

my plan –

voice comes out louder,

just looks up at me, more helpless than I’ve seen him…maybe

continue, working hard to

Ella, Cora – all of our men, the

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

me the moment I realized that Xander was working to

going after the

everything. You

opens his mouth to protest, to continue, but his voice

his head,

I hear Ella ask, and I look up from my father to see

worry as

black fuzz of

for a beat as I try to figure out what to say, but then I just shake

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

that

nods, accepting my incomplete explanation, and focuses her eyes

“Haven’t we been through this

you.” I nod, agreeing with her, looking down at my father

waves his hands at us. “Let an old man have his guilt,”

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

long days. But you two -” he shifts his eyes to Rafe

to worry

bed.”

starting to unstrap the

him out here so long – I

if he got up in

stern, and she looks up at me with

the baby. Come on.” I step forward and

and backing up a step. “I have

there’s – there are more

men who I need to

closing the distance between

done enough.” I lower my voice so that just she can

than a rumble in