Chapter Sterling

“Sterling, please...”

It was the last thing I heard my mother say as I stepped from my office, leaving her alone, and made my way to conference room four. My mind spun in a hundred different directions. As I reached for the handle, my phone in my pocket buzzed with PATRICK on the screen.

“I HAVE THEM BOTH. WE’RE HEADED TO SINFUL THREADS.”

Thank God.

My fingers itched to text Araneae, to warn her what was coming the next time we were alone. Clenching my jaw, my cyclone of thoughts whirled with theories and concerns of what Winnie and Araneae discussed while they’d been alone in that hotel room.

“Do not leave Patrick’s sight,” was what I’d told her more than once.

Was it too fucking hard for her to just once follow my instructions?

And then my gaze moved to the window. Judge Landers must have seen me outside the doorway. Her steps had stilled, and her eyes were opened wide as she waited for me to enter.