She shook her head. “I’ve already told you. I can take care of myself.”
He brushed away a stray curl from her face. His heart aching as he looked down at her. “The strongest man I knew died in my arms after he’d been shot. He was better than me in every way except the one instance where I moved and he didn’t.” Exile’s chest ached. “If only I had pushed him or yelled a warning, or…” He squeezed her tighter.
Diana slid her arms about his neck. “You didn’t know.”
He shook his head. “I’ll tell ye the whole story and then ye can judge. But I knew. And I assumed he did too.”
Bad and Vice came by him, leading Sin back into the gate.
“Please,” Sin said again. “Do whatever you want to me, but please help my daughter.”
“Damn it,” Exile swore under his breath. Because Diana was right. The man was desperate and their only hope of finding Abernath. “Ye and I are going to have a little chat,” he growled out.
Sin gave a nod as he looked to Diana. “Help me save her.”
Diana squeezed Exile tighter about the neck. “Of course we will.”
“We?” he asked, looking down at her.
“We,” she answered, notching her chin.
Over his dead body. There was no way he’d allow her to be at risk again. Now that he’d had her back, he wouldn’t lose her.
Diana watched his jaw tighten. She lifted her own higher in response. She had a plan and it definitely required her own participation. Callum was going to have to deal wit
h her too.
He let out a growl of dissatisfaction as he loosened one arm from around her waist so that he could propel her toward the garden gate. “Ye’re not getting any more involved in this than ye’ve already been. It’s too dangerous.”
“I have every intention of protecting my sister and cousin. I’d like to see this all end and so I will do whatever I have to do.”
He stopped. “Diana.” Her name came out as a plea. “Try to understand. I lost the most important person in my life. I…” He drew in a breath, then exhaled it slowly. “I got into a fight with a man outside a tavern when he tried to steal my horse. I refused to back down and my cousin, Ewan, the rightful Earl of Exmouth, backed me up. I should have known a horse thief would fight until the bitter end, it’s a hanging offense. But I wanted what was mine. When the bugger swiped at me with his blade, I ducked out of the way, but Ewan…he dinnae..”
Diana shook her head. She could hear the pain tightening his voice. “That’s awful.”
“I should never have started that fight. And I should have protected him. I—”
She held a finger to his lips. “You can’t blame yourself.”
He furrowed his brow. “Ye heard my story.”
She nodded, then raised up to place a light kiss on his lips. “I did. You are not responsible for that man’s actions.”
He frowned. “Tell that to my aunt. She’ll never forgive me for his death.”
Diana shook her head. “That’s her grief talking.”
“What if something happened to Ada or Grace and ye could have prevented it?” he asked.
Diana’s chest constricted. “You’re right. I’d never forgive myself.”
Somehow, that made him relax. “So you see why I blame myself for Ewan’s death.”
She gave a nod. She did understand.
“And why I can’t let you get any more involved.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you, Diana. I cannae let anything happen to ye.”
“You…you love me?” Her insides turned to warm puddles of wax. “Truly?”