Eric shook his head. This was utter nonsense. Sorrel wasn’t like him. But . . . she was different . . . no . . . She’d had an unusual upbringing was all. She was an eccentric heiress. It didn’t mean she possessed supernatural abilities and . . . the other book. “She makes wedding cakes and lemonade. She’s harmless.”
A vicious grin spread across Vincent’s face. “Use your power and find out if she has the book. If you don’t, the family and I will, as soon as we finish up our business in Paraguay. Your mother,” he hissed, “has gotten herself into some legal trouble, and we need to sort it out before we can leave the country.”
“You’re insane. There is no Tellus family. You’ve wasted your life on a fool’s mission.”
“Do it!” his father demanded. “And don’t think about lying about it because I’ll know. I always know. I would hate to hurt your girlfriend for no reason, so find out the truth.” A shudder went through Eric. “For all you know, she knows who you are and she’s trying to find our book. Use whatever means necessary. If she’s the one, we need to find her book and destroy it before she figures out how to get ours.” He slapped his hand so hard against the table it made Eric jump. “Time is of the essence. Things are changing, I can feel it. And with the book not telling you who to bind yourself to, we need to be more aggressive than ever in our search to end this bloody curse once and for all. Don’t disappoint me. Again.”
Eric hated himself for feeling as if he had to obey his father, but after years of being subject to his abuse and control it had exhausted him. So he gave in to his father’s will rather than uselessly fighting back. But he hated himself and the damn book even more for playing its evil games and endangering Sorrel. Once again, he was going to have to protect her, but this time he wasn’t sure if he could. Once his father got an idea, he would see it through, even if that meant killing someone. “I’ll do it.”
“That’s a good son. I’ll be checking back.” He vanished.
Eric woke up, drenched in sweat. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” He pounded his fist against the couch before covering his face with his hands. “What have I done?” he cried out.
He knew in his heart Sorrel had no idea who he was. There was no way she was from the Tellus family. Or . . . no. How could she be? If so, they would be sworn enemies. And Sorrel wasn’t his foe. In fact, she’d given him a reason to have hope in this world. Still, what if his father was right? What if she was using her powers to deceive him? He was sounding as insane as his father.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d felt the goodness in Sorrel, and he chose to believe in it—in her. But to protect her, he knew he was going to have to make her tell him all her secrets. He already hated himself for it.Chapter FifteenLeann peeked her head into the kitchen. “Sorrel,” she sang loudly over the music. “There’s someone here to see you.”
I set down the piping bag bursting with lemon frosting and turned down my phone that was blaring what I’d secretly deemed my breakup playlist. Which was ridiculous, I know, because I’d never broken up with anyone. I’d never even dated. Yet I imagined this is what it felt like to be tossed to the side by someone you cared about romantically.
“Who is it?”
“It’s that reporter, Eric Knight.” She wagged her brows.
Before I could react, Mateo looked up to the steel-beamed ceiling. “Thank you, God. If I have to listen to “Endless Love” one more time, I might stick my head in the oven and turn it on high.” He grabbed my arms and shook me gently. “Please go out there and do whatever you need to do with him. Just stop it with the sad, cheesy love songs.”
I ripped off my latex gloves, my heart about ready to beat out of my chest. “My selection of music has nothing to do with him.”
Mateo rolled his gorgeous brown eyes. “Oh, honey, you’re such a bad liar. Now go out there and get your man.”
“He’s not my man.” Though that had a nice ring to it.
Mateo gave me a good once-over. “Here’s a news flash, bonita. You could have any man you want. You know, except me, because you’re my boss and I would feel like less of a man. However, if you want to fire me and then have your way with me, I wouldn’t say no,” he teased. At least I thought he was teasing.