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

world if I

few long moments with my

to interrupt her in the middle of

but my father surprises me

he says, his voice thick with

look down at

looking up at me with

you – cost us everything. I played

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

“I failed you, Dominic

tightening my hand

to send you away and leave Cora and Ella unprotected –

seen it coming, that of course they would follow

first attack in the sewer that

Xander has nothing

angry with him. “This was not

my

comes out louder,

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

to this, dad,” I continue, working hard

” Me, Roger, Ella, Cora – all

all fell for it, we were all…” I

moment I realized

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

almost cost ourselves everything.

his mouth to protest, to continue, but his voice

his head, breaking

I hear Ella ask, and I look up

with worry as she absently drifts

soft black fuzz

as I try to figure out what to say, but then I

I respond, not wanting to

under her eyes that she’s exhausted too. “Just

accepting my incomplete explanation, and focuses her

we been through this

looking down at my father for a

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

” It

But you two -” he

“You have better things to worry about. You

bed.”

guilty, starting to unstrap the

wouldn’t have kept him out here

got up in

she looks up at me with

the baby. Come on.” I step

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

– there are more

I need to

the distance between us and putting a hand on

lower my voice so that just she can

than a rumble in my chest. “You need to rest,