Jared waved him away. “Nina’s exhausted and hungry. It’s clouding my thoughts. All I can think about is that damn book and returning it so Shax can’t get to it and we can concentrate on keeping Nina safe.”

“Wait, what?” I said, stunned.

“I have the Jerusalem trip on my mind. I can’t focus on anything else. It’s maddening.”

“He’s whispering,” I said.

Jared raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Father Francis nodded, and hobbled to where we stood. “She’s right.”

I gripped Jared’s shirt. “The Sepulchre. The only place they aren’t allowed to desecrate. The one place the book is safe from Hell’s hands.”

Jared’s eyes lit up like twin fires. “We can keep you safe there.”

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Due

Bex finished the last place setting, and then returned to the kitchen. Lillian sat happily at one end of my mother’s long, imported table, Cynthia not so happily at the other. I waited anxiously with them, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Almost to a beat, Cynthia would shoot me glances of disapproval. She hated it when I fidgeted, but now that I was married, she felt it impolite to mother me. Bex and Jared worked furiously in the kitchen, their laughter and conversation filtering to the formal dining room along with the delicious smells of savory herbs.

Bex appeared again with a basket of hot dinner rolls and a butter dish. His eyes darted to the empty doorway, and then back to the table. “It’s about time.”

The front door opened, and then I heard Claire grumbling under her breath. She and Ryan made their way to the table like summer and winter—Ryan was all smiles, and Claire sported her usual scowl.

Bex brought in a pot of steamed vegetables in one hand, and a bowl of rice in the other. Ryan pulled out Claire’s chair and then clapped his hands, rubbing them together.

“I can help,” he said.

Bex nodded once toward the kitchen. “Just pick something and bring it out to the table.” He pulled off his apron and took a seat next to his mother.

“I think you should leave it on,” Claire said. “Pink pinstripes look good on you.”

Bex stuck his tongue out at his sister and then placed his napkin in his lap. Lillian shot a look at Claire and then smiled at Bex. “It looks wonderful, as always, son.”

Ryan returned with a casserole dish of scalloped potatoes, and Jared brought in a huge ham. They were laughing about something, and I couldn’t help but attempt to sneak a peek at Claire’s reaction. She allowed a half smile, but it quickly vanished when Ryan took a seat next to her.