Page 116 of Relentless Sinner

Earlier as I looked at her, I could see the wealth of love in her eyes for me, and I knew she’d finally given herself to me.

It’s another accomplishment, but I still feel like I’m left with the question of what next. Right now, I know I want to make things better for us.

I don’t want to look back and feel like the asshole when I think about how we came to be. I want to remember the parts where we fell hard for each other.

My life began when I rescued her—the princess in the tower—from her monsters. I don't want to be another monster in her life.

I lean forward and brush a soft kiss over her lips then rest my head back on the pillow. Just as I close my eyes, my phone rings.

I don't know who could be calling me now, but these types of phone calls at this hour of the night are always important.

I grab my phone from the nightstand before the buzzing noise wakes Gabriella. I look at the screen and see it's Éowyn, my father's nurse.

Instantly, my insides twist because I think something's happened to him. I answer the phone straight away and make my way out to the landing so I can talk to her properly. “What's happened, Éowyn?”

“I'm so sorry to call you at this hour, Jaxon. Your father is okay, but he's… he's acting irrational.”

That’s nothing new, but he must be more dramatic than normal. “What’s happening?”

“He thinks we're trying to kill him.” Her voice is a hushed whisper, suggesting my father could be nearby.

After hearing that, I understand the reason for the call. “Why does he think that?”

“He's been ranting about it for hours. He thinks that someone here is trying to poison him. He said there was poison in his dinner.”

Oh, fuck.The shitty thing is he could be right. My father is an expert in poisons. Before he became Pakhan, Father was one of the deadliest assassins who ever lived. His specialty was killing by poison.

His illness may have rendered him weak and paranoid over the last few months, but I can’t overlook his suspicions. Not when my uncle tried to bomb us.

“He’s asking for you. He won’t go to sleep unless you’re here. He thinks someone’s going to try and kill him in his sleep.”

“Jesus.” I never thought I’d live to see the day when my father would need me like this. Me of all the people. He finally trusts me. Now that he’s dying and can’t trust anyone else.

“I know it’s late, but he wants you here.Andhe’s asking to summon the Creed guards. As he's no longer the Pakhan, they need your authorization first.”

I raise a weary hand to my head and breathe out a ragged sigh. The Creed guards are only summoned in a high state of emergency. If he’s asking for them, it means he feels like he can’t trust his men either.

I swallow hard and think about what to do. I have the distinct memory of being ten years old and him locking me in a cage all night with wolves prowling around it because I was scared of the dark. We went to Russia to visit family, and I’d apparently embarrassed him in front of everyone when I confessed myfears. He said no son of his was going to grow up to be aslabak— a wimp, weakling,coward.

Now look what’s happened to him.

“Okay. Tell him I’m on my way.” My shoulders sag, and I lean against the wall. “So are the guards.”

Éowyn sighs with relief. “Bless your heart, Jaxon. He’ll really appreciate this.”

“I know.”

“See you when you get here.”

We hang up, and I look back to the bedroom door.

I just got home. Now I have to go out again. Hopefully, I can resolve this matter as quickly as possible. I’m eager to get back to Gabriella.

We have more to talk about in the morning.

I find my father in the study, sitting by the window. In his arms, he clutches a picture of my mother.

Lifting his head weakly, he looks at me when I walk in. From the moment I look into his eyes, see how red they are, and take in the tear stains lining his cheeks, I know he's been crying. No, it’s more like sobbing. He has the same worn-down look a person has when they’re broken and can’t find their way back.

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