Page 137 of Relentless Sinner

Intel found a possible lead that suggests Salvatore is in L. A.

Cillian, Micah, and I are heading down there to check it out. I’m taking them because I need people I can trust.

It would be just like that rat to go into hiding across the country.

At least I have a lead to go on now. It’s something to keep me moving. Something to keep me distracted.

Last night was the first in a long time that I've been without my wife. Since she’s been in my life, the only times I haven’t slept next to her were when I’ve been working late.

I don't even know how I managed to sleep. If ever there was a night that I stayed up and entertained the demons, it would have been last night. But I think I conked out because I was so tired from having been awake for the last two days straight.

Now that I’ve set this new path of mine in motion, I don’t know how I’m supposed to start forgetting Gabriella. How do I go back to life before her? I’m not so sure I can. Or if it’s even possible.

Yesterday was hard.

The first day of anything is usually the hardest, but yesterday was painful for me. Watching her drive away from me not knowing when I was going to see her again sliced open my heart.

I checked in as often as I felt reasonable with the staff at my father's house, and it seemed that I spoke to everybody except her.

It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to her. It was just toohard.

I'm hoping the next time we see each other, I’ll be able to tell her some good news about her father. I’d like to be able to assure her that neither she nor her sister has to worry about him ever again.

I don't know if I'll kill him yet. With the trouble he’s caused, death feels too good for him, but I'll make the decision when the time comes and let my heart tell me what to do. If it’s still working.

These days, I'm not sure I can rely on my heart. The conflict that’s been living there has made me do things I would never normally do.

Like fall in love.

Me, fall in love. It feels so weird to even think those words. But I fell for Gabriella hard and fast.

I was so sure I wouldn’t fall for her that I didn’t even worry about it. But love snuck up on me like the devil, then obsession did the rest.

A knock sounds at the door. I open it to find Eve standing in the hallway.

She’s aware of the situation and is not happy about it, but so far, she’s been understanding—probably because she knows I’m right.

“Morning,” she says, bringing her hands together.

“Hey there.” I step aside so she can come in.

“I’m heading to the market, but I wanted to check if you were seeing Gabriella off at the airport later.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m flying to L.A. In any event, I don't think it’s best we see each other.”

She frowns. “Jaxon, she’s going to Russia, and you don’t know when you’ll see her again. Don’t you think you should see her off?”

“I can’t.”

“I'm going to be there.”

“I want you to go. She'd like that.”

“She’s still your wife, Jaxon.”

“Eve, please don't make this harder for me. It's already hard enough as it is. I can’t go. Watching her drive away in a car was bad enough. I can’t watch a plane fly her away from me.”

Her chest caves and sympathy fills her eyes. She walks up to me and rests a hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

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