Endurance (The Sin Trilogy 4)

“Torrie needs a diversion.”

“Agreed.” Mum’s growing more difficult to tolerate every day. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“A grandchild would do wonders for her.”

A grandchild? “You’d better be finding husbands for my sisters.”

“I wasn’t talking about them. It’s time you find your Mrs. Breckenridge and start working on a family.” Sin chuckles as he thumbs the screen of his phone and then brings it up to his ear. “Good mornin’, Ani. This is Sinclair Breckenridge.”

Fuck. I’m still trying to figure out how to get the girl I want. Without her, I’m not sure there will ever be a Mrs. Breckenridge or babies for me.

The next few minutes consist of listening to my leader work his magic with the real estate agent to secure an appointment, which she clearly didn’t have available when Sin initially phoned. I don’t think there’s a woman he can’t charm.

“Done. She’s working you in at eleven o’clock tomorrow.”

“Does your wife know how you use your wiles on other women?”

I hear a feminine giggle behind me before Bleu comes into the office. “His wife certainly does know. What poor woman has he charmed with his cunning craft this time?”

“Ani, our real estate agent. Dr. Breckenridge needs a place he can convert into an emergency room for treating the brothers. He has already tired of treating patients on a sofa.”

“A place to treat the injured after the siege.” Bleu sighs as she sits on the corner of Sin’s desk. “As much as I hate the thought, it’s a realistic and wise one. There’s going to be a need for such a place. It’s a clever suggestion. The Fellowship is lucky to have you anticipating these kinds of needs.”

I’m actually really happy Bleu came to the office when she did. My leader’s wife may be more help than she realizes. “I’m anticipating other needs as well. A converted and stocked ER will be worthless to me if I don’t have extra hands to help. I learned that all too well the last time we had a shootout with The Order.”

It was a damn mess. I was completely unprepared for the catastrophe of treating the injured in my flat with minimal supplies and equipment.

“It’s a good argument. Jamie’s only one person. No matter how skilled he is, he can’t be expected to do it alone. There will be multiple cases to treat at the same time so he’s going to need help.” Looks like I have the boss’s wife on my side. That can’t hurt.

“What about Lowry’s daughter? Dad granted her permission to go to nursing school last year as her contribution.”

She’s not the one I want. “Adaira volunteered to become a nurse so she could get close to me. It’s all about being claimed. The lass has zero interest in working.”

I’m a bastard for throwing Adaira under the bus, but Sin will ruin my plan if he chooses her to help me.

“Then I guess she’ll be no help.” The tightness in my chest relaxes.

“The Fellowship has a very capable nurse with an extensive background in emergency and trauma. She even has some OR skills. A much better option than an inexperienced nursing student.”

Thank you, Bleu Breckenridge. Sin’s incredibly clever wife is making this too damn easy for me.

Is she purposely helping me? She and her sister are close. I can’t imagine Ellison not telling her what happened between us the night I drove her home from the babies’ consecration.

“All true. Ellison has a lot of hands-on experience. More than me, actually. The lass knows her gunshot wounds and how to care for them. She practically stood over my shoulder and told me how to treat Leith. Her knowledge and experience would be a true asset to the brotherhood.”

“Helping Jamie at the infirmary could be Elli’s contribution,” Bleu suggests.

“Ellison’s help at the infirmary would be short-lived. I have no doubt her mate will want her to stop working once he makes his claim on her official.”

I’m so fucking tired of hearing—and thinking—about Ellison’s claiming.

“True. Her husband won’t like her working there, but she isn’t married yet. Until that time comes, my sister can put her skills to good use for the brotherhood. She misses nursing. I’m sure she’d love to get back in on some excitement and gore.”

“Working so closely with The Fellowship is going to put Ellison in danger. She won’t be flying under the radar anymore. She’ll need immediate protection if she agrees to do this.”

Sin isn’t talking about assigning a guard to watch over her. Fuck. Everything will be ruined if a brother claims her now.

“Ellison can move into the infirmary as well. She’ll be safe there with me. It makes sense for her to live there anyway since I’ll need her to be available at all times.”

Sin is my best mate and leader. He’s highly intelligent and has a sixth sense for sniffing out bullshit. Can he see I’m on edge? Detect my deceit? Smell my fear?

“Ellison living with you could make for a problem with someone coming forward to claim her.” Sin’s right.

As long as Ellison is unclaimed, she’ll remain under Sin’s protection—the safest place for her. And out of the bed of one of my brother’s. I can’t say I’m sorry about that.

“Ellison will be doing her job—the one her leader assigned her. No brother can hold that against her.”

I know the words are untrue as they come out of my mouth. The brothers respect Sin’s orders, but each of them will want a marriage-worthy woman untouched by another brother as his wife. Fact. It’s how we are.

“I don’t see anything wrong with this arrangement. It’s an honorable job to hold regardless of the living arrangements. Any nitwit can see that, and if he can’t, I don’t want him married to my sister.” I swear I think FBI-Bleu is onto me, and what I have planned. I think she’s helping me.

“My wife approves. Looks like you’re getting the house and the help you’ll need to make this happen. Anything else I can do for you?”

“I don’t think so. I appreciate everything.” Sin has no idea that this means everything to me.

Bleu’s brow lifts and she’s grinning in a way that suggests she knows about Ellison and me. “I for one think you and Ellison will make a great team.”

She and I will be great together, period. “I think so too.”

“Maybe Sin should call and tell her you’ll be coming by to discuss it tonight?”

Not a bad idea. My visit would likely be more welcome if announced as a professional call by her leader. “Aye.”

Talking Sin and Bleu into going along with my plan was half the battle. Getting Ellison to agree may not be so easy after our last encounter. She was so hurt when I told her I couldn’t claim her. She’ll never know how badly I wish I would make her mine forever.

I haven’t seen her in six weeks. I have no idea how she’ll react to being thrown together like this.

My plan may leave her feeling ambushed. Or she could be as desperate to see me as I am to see her.

Ambushed versus desperation? Neither are ideal.

But I swear—if she’ll let me—I’ll erase any trace of anger, unhappiness, and pain.

She will know she’s been loved.

“Dammit, Bleu. Now is not the time to miss my calls.” I’m dying to know what’s going on and why Jamie is on his way to see me.

Sin was so vague when he called. And he used his freaking Fellowship Godfather voice. It was weird to be on the receiving end of that tone. Frankly, it was a little unnerving. I can see why Fellowship members sit up and take notice when he speaks.

He only told me Jamie was coming over to discuss Fellowship business. What the hell does that mean?

I want to believe that Jamie has changed his mind about claiming me, but my gut says no. Our circumstances are no different than they were six weeks ago when he rejected me.

Okay. It wasn’t a true rejection. I realized that after I had a little time to think it over. It was more like an I love you enough to let you go because I can’t bear seeing you

harmed thing. Which would be really sweet if it didn’t suck so hard.

And he didn’t tell me he loved me.

I’m not saying no because I don’t want you.

You think it’s not going to kill me to see you with someone else? Agony, Ellison. It’s going to be agony.

I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.

I wouldn’t hurt you for anything in the world. I swear I’m doing this for your own good.

None of those words equate to an I love you. But it doesn’t matter if you label it love or not. The epilogue of our story is the same.

We. Are. Not. Together.

No happily ever after.

Only The End.

Bleu’s phone goes to voicemail after the fifth ring. Again. “You have to call me. Right now. I’m freaking out, and I’m positive you know why Jamie is coming over. Call. Me.”

Shit. I can’t believe she’s leaving me hanging like this. I’m going to put my foot in her ass next time I see her.