“Then take all of it.”

“Boundaries.”

He considered her for several seconds.

Claire took half the stack.

It felt heavier than it should have.

Before she placed it in her bag, she said, “This pays for treatment. Nothing else.”

“I don’t purchase loyalty in ten-thousand-dollar increments.”

“How much does loyalty cost?”

“More than money.”

The answer sounded personal.

Claire zipped her bag.

Sebastian pressed a button on the chair.

The door opened almost immediately, and Gabriel entered.

His eyes moved from Sebastian to Claire, then to the examination table.

“What happened?”

“Ms. Bennett will return tomorrow,” Sebastian said.

Gabriel’s expression revealed nothing.

“That wasn’t my question.”

Sebastian looked at him.

“My foot moved.”

Gabriel became completely still.

Claire watched disbelief cross his face, followed by something stranger.

He recovered quickly, but not quickly enough.

Sebastian noticed too.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

Claire almost laughed at the word.

Sebastian did not.

“Leave us, Claire.”

The use of her first name surprised her.

So did the fact that Gabriel had gone pale.

“I’ll need copies of all surgical records,” she said. “Especially 2011.”

Gabriel looked at her sharply.

Sebastian’s gaze moved between them.

“Why especially 2011?”

Claire answered carefully.

“The scar pattern doesn’t match the procedure you described.”

Gabriel turned away.

It was a small movement.

A man looking toward the fire.

But Claire saw his right hand close into a fist.

Sebastian saw it too.

“Gabriel.”

“I’ll arrange the records.”

“Look at me.”

Gabriel did.

The loyalty was still there, but now it was tangled with something old și greu.

Sebastian spoke quiet.

“Ce nu-mi spui?”

“Nu în seara asta.”

Cuvintele abia ieșiseră înainte ca camera să se schimbe.

Oamenii din afară nu au intrat, dar Claire i-a simțit dincolo de ușă. Conacul însuși părea să devină alert.

Fața lui Sebastian a devenit rece.

“Ai grijă.”

Gabriel a luat o respirație lentă.

“Ai cerut să te țin în viață. Timp de douăzeci de ani, asta am făcut.”

“Și acum?”

“Acum te rog să aștepți până când știu ce înseamnă asta.”

Degetele lui Sebastian s-au odihnit ușor pe brațul scaunului său.

“Deja știi ce înseamnă.”