Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down by Lisa Olsen Read Free Book Online Page A

gotten off relatively easily.  I felt bad for Felix and Bridget, but at least I would get to keep some privacy.
    Jakob gave a broad smile.  “Perhaps you will soon remember what it was about my company you found desirable to begin with.”
    I didn’t know what to say about that.  “Goodnight, Jakob.  I’ll see you later.”
    “Good night, petal.”  He leaned down to kiss my cheek before releasing me for the night.  “Rob… I will have words with you now.”
    Uh oh.   I tried not to read anything into that request, and I gave Rob a hopefully supportive smile, but he barely nodded to me as I passed him by.  Briefly, I considered standing outside the door to listen in, but Gunnar and Tucker both waited there to escort me up to the room.  Besides, I was fairly sure Rob could handle Jakob on his own.

Chapter Five
     
    Bishop waited outside the meeting hall, hoping for an opportunity to talk to Anja alone.  He’d been cursing himself for the past half hour for allowing her to slip through his fingers without telling her what was in his heart and begging for another chance.  In the end, the timing hadn’t been right, not with Rob hovering nearby. 
    Rob was always nearby. 
    But as she emerged alone, Bishop began to think he had his shot, and he trotted up to her side.  Only she looked so tired, he let her go when she blew him off.  Not that he blamed her, she’d been through plenty in the past couple of days and deserved a rest.  After everything between them, most of it being his fault, he was too afraid to push her.  He’d have to tread carefully in order to get back into her good graces again, but that was okay.  Bishop was patient, and he knew there was a part of her that still loved him.  He just had to help her learn to trust him again.
    Which meant he needed to ensure he wasn’t included in Jakob’s edict to banish the Order from Vetis lands. 
    Bishop let himself into the meeting hall, grateful when Jakob barely glanced in his direction instead of ordering him out of his sight.  Jakob was much too fixated on giving Rob a dressing down to pay much attention to him. 
    “You have failed me utterly,” Jakob spat out, his face a mask of disgust.
    Rob bore the accusation stoically, staring straight ahead.  “I did.”
    “I gave you one task – to see to her safety – and she was brutalized right under your nose.”
    “I had to slip away to get word to you.”  It came out as more of a statement than the ring of an excuse.  “I made a choice, and Anja was forced to pay for it.  I take full responsibility for any punishment you deem fit.”
    “I’ve killed men for less,” Jakob said, his voice low, but no less deadly for it.
    Rob wasn’t Bishop’s favorite person, but something needed saying.  “You’re the reason she was tortured, if you want someone to blame.”  Jakob’s head snapped in his direction, but Bishop held his ground.  “You denied her the place in society she was due.  She was forced to scramble to survive, it was only a matter of time before someone caught onto the web of lies.  You know the laws, you condemned her to death for abandoning her in the first place.”
    Jakob’s mouth turned down in a heavy scowl.  “Don’t speak of things you don’t understand, Ulrik.”
    “That’s right, I don’t understand.  I’ll never understand how you could leave her in the first place.  But don’t take your anger out on Rob, he couldn’t have known how far Volkov would take it in such a short time.”  It had surprised even him, and he’d known the man for centuries.  “Rob came back to break Anja free.  They would’ve gotten away too if she hadn’t insisted on taking me with.”
    “I should be angry with you then?” Jakob posed with a shake of the head.
    “Why don’t you try being angry with yourself for putting her in that position to begin with?”
    “Do you think I haven’t had these thoughts?  Don’t presume to know my mind,