Fall of a Kingdom (SINS Series Book 8) by Emma Slate

Author:Emma Slate [Slate, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tabula Rasa Publishing
Published: 2022-02-15T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 31

SASHA

The door opened and Barrett appeared with Piper.

“Sasha,” she said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

She didn’t move and I half-expected her to slam the door in my face, but finally, she stepped back and allowed me to enter. A look of weary caution spread across her features.

“The house is quiet,” I commented.

“The boys are still at school. Mrs. Aducci just left, and Flynn is in London.”

“I know Flynn is in London.” I nodded. “So, we have complete privacy.”

She blanched. “I guess we do.”

Piper let out a milky burp, stealing Barrett’s attention from me. She smiled and gently patted Piper’s back.

“We need to talk,” I announced.

She reluctantly looked at me. “Why?”

“Why? What do you mean why? I can’t get it out of my mind, Barrett. I’ve been going over and over it, and nothing is adding up. Every time we’re surrounded by friends and family, you purposely avoid me. You’ve been ignoring my calls. I want an answer.”

“Is this why you stopped by unannounced?”

“Da,” I said without a hint of remorse.

“It doesn’t concern you,” she said quietly.

“Like hell it doesn’t. You’re battling. I know what you look like when something is weighing on you. Even now, you look thin and haggard, and the sparkle has left your eyes. Tell me what’s going on. Let me help you.”

She swayed ever so slightly on her feet. “Sasha?”

“Da?”

“Take Piper. Now.”

She all but thrust her daughter at me. No sooner had I brought Piper to my chest than Barrett collapsed onto the Persian rug of the foyer.

I watched in horror as she began to twitch and gasp as foam appeared at the corners of her mouth. I rushed into the den so I could set Piper down in her bassinet, but it wasn’t in its usual place, so I placed her gently on the rug in front of the unlit fireplace and rushed back to Barrett’s side.

She was no longer seizing when I returned, but I rolled her onto her side and cradled her head in my lap. My heart thundered in my ears.

Color returned to her cheeks and a moment later, she opened her eyes and blinked a few times. She caught her breath and then asked, “What happened?”

“I think you had a seizure,” I said, panic slicing through me.

“A seizure,” she repeated. “Where’s Piper?”

“She’s on the rug in the den. I’m calling an ambulance,” I commanded.

“Don’t. I’m fine.”

“Fine? You just had a seizure. What if you’d been alone? What if you’d been alone holding Piper?”

“I don’t want an ambulance here,” she said quietly. “I don’t want anyone to know. I’m scared, Sasha. I’m so fucking scared.”

I cradled her in my arms like she cradled Piper. And then I rocked her back and forth, crooning words of comfort in Russian.

“No one can know about this,” she said. “Not Flynn, not Quinn. No one. Not until I find out what is happening to me. Promise me, Sasha. Promise me you’ll be my confidante.”

“Barrett—”

“Promise me,” she insisted, her voice filled with terror.

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