When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2239

"This blood belongs to Nicholas," Nathaniel said slowly.

"What?" Cecilia's voice cracked in disbelief.

"I've had him locked away," Nathaniel went on. "I went to see him tonight and roughed him up again."

The single word echoed inside Cecilia's head: again.

Until this moment, she had only linked Nicholas's disappearance to Nathaniel; she had never imagined her husband was also using his fists on his younger brother.

"His health has always been fragile," she said, the worry slipping through. "What if something goes wrong because of you?"

Nathaniel let out a short, icy laugh. "If something happens to him, I'd call that good fortune on his part."

Silence collected between them; Cecilia had no idea how to answer.

"All right, you know everything now. Don't stay angry. Let's sleep. If I hold you, the nightmares won't come back."

She lay down beside him, yet the mattress seemed to push her awake; she rolled one way, then the other, sleep nowhere in reach.

Nathaniel drew her into his chest. "What's the matter?"

"I can't fall asleep," Cecilia admitted.

He pressed a kiss to the center of her brow. "Don't feel guilty. Nicholas earned every bruise he's wearing."

A quiet sigh escaped her.

"It's not guilt over him," she murmured. "I just hate putting you in a bind."

Nathaniel's arms cinched tighter. "I failed to shield you. And you still worry about me. I'm sorry."

"Enough," she said with a small smile. "I told you I'm fine. No more apologies."

Then she added, "You've punished Nicholas more than once; let it end. Release him. I doubt he'll ever dare cross us again."

Nathaniel's brows slashed together.

How could there be a next time for something like that?

He drew a steady breath. "Leave it to me. I'll handle every angle."

The certainty in his tone told her he still had no intention of setting Nicholas free.

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