Page 187 of Sinful Games

Sixty-Two

“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were.”

?Kahlil Gibran

Alexsei

I straightened my tie one last time, giving the room a quick once-over to make sure everything was set before heading into the living room. The place was quiet, except for the low hum of jazz coming from the stereo, and the soft light filtering through the windows, casting a warm glow across the space.

With my pulse racing, I crossed the room, moving toward Caia

Wrapping my arms around her, I was careful not to hold her too tightly—just enough to feel her warmth against me. Inthat moment, everything clicked, like the final piece of a puzzle falling into place.

"You ready,moya solnyshka?" I whispered, my lips brushing against the curve of her neck.

She gave a slow nod, her hands tracing softly along my arms.

Caia had been in the hospital for two weeks. Her shoulder wasn’t broken, but it was bruised and sore from the desperate struggle to free herself when she was trapped.

Thank God it wasn’t worse.

The memory of that night still haunted me—the endless search through every inch of Angelo’s building, fear and anger hammering through my chest. When I finally heard her cries echo from below, I ran without even noticing the alarm had stopped.

I found her behind a heavy metal door, its handles barricaded with wood from the outside. I ripped the barrier apart and pushed the door open. She was sprawled on the cold floor, her dress torn to shreds, streaks of blood marking her legs and arms, her face a mask of exhaustion and pain. My heart nearly stopped at the sight.

Without a second thought, I scooped her up, her body limp and unresponsive, and sprinted toward the waiting ambulance. Firefighters were still fighting the flames, the red lights flashing outside as they rushed her to the hospital.

She stayed unconscious for three fucking agonizing days. When she finally opened her eyes, she looked so drained, so completely broken, I nearly lost my damn mind. I would’ve sold my soul to the devil himself if it meant sparing her even a second of that pain.

We brought her home a few days ago, and I can see the slow signs of improvement. The color's back in her cheeks, and she even asked if she could stay with me a bit longer. She hasno idea how that simple request filled me with pure, overwhelming happiness.

If only she knew where we were headed... if only she fucking knew.

"Need anything else?" I asked, releasing her as I grabbed my car keys and headed toward the door to put on my shoes.

"No, I’m all set," she said with a smile, slipping into her kitten heels and smoothing her hair in the mirror. “We’re running late, and I don’t want Sofiya and Volk waiting too long. We should hurry.”

We stepped out and headed down the hallway to the elevator. The soft chime announced its arrival, and as the doors slid open, we stepped inside. The quiet hum of the elevator carried us down to the parking lot floor, where my black Range Rover waited in its spot.

We climbed in, and I started the engine, the deep rumble blending with the city sounds as we pulled out of the garage. The streets were packed, the golden glow of the setting sun casting long shadows over the pavement.

The past few weeks had been hell—watching the woman I love so shattered, in so much pain, and not being able to do a damn thing. So, for me, there was no more fucking waiting for tomorrow, no more patience left.

That’s why I had to lie, telling her Volk and Sofiya wanted to have dinner, just so she wouldn’t question why we had to dress up and head out instead of cooking dinner or watching a movie like the past few nights.

With my hand on the wheel, her fingers laced through mine on her thigh, I stole a glance at her. She was softly humming, eyes drifting across the passing cityscape. Her sleek ponytail framed her face, showing off those glossy lips and rosy cheeks. A bit of makeup made her emerald eyes stand out even more.

She caught me staring and gave me a sweet smile.

I turned my attention back to the road, raising her hand to my lips for a quick kiss.

After thirty minutes of silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts, I made a left and entered an underground parking lot. I pulled to a stop, unbuckling my seatbelt as Caia did the same. Her brows furrowed as she scanned the dimly lit space with a look of cautious curiosity.

"Where are we?" she asked.

I let out a sigh. "Caia, I haven’t been honest with you. We're not meeting Volk and Sofiya tonight."

Confusion clouded her eyes as she searched my face.

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