Page 148 of Relentless Sinner

She leaves us and Cora grabs a chocolate chip cookie. “I’ll head out as soon as Jaxon gets home.”

“Thanks for coming over.”

“Are you kidding? Of course, I was going to be here.” She gives me that look again. It’s a cross between concern and relief.

I understand the look. Nobody we know has been kidnapped as much as me. It’s starting to become a worry now.

Cora spent the day with me while Jaxon has been with his father.

Illya miraculously survived, but only just. He’s been in the hospital and isn’t doing well. We’ll be taking him to Russia as soon as he’s able to leave the hospital and manage the flight.

According to what I’ve been told, he shouldn’t even be planning to leave the hospital, let alone fly, but his wish to die in Russia is being honored.

“How are you doing?” Cora asks for the millionth time today. “I can’t believe so much happened to you and again, I didn’t know.”

“Maybe it’s best you didn’t. It was awful, Cora. All of it. And I was terrified.”

“I can just imagine.” She bites the inside of her lip and places her cookie on her plate. “We haven’t talked about your father yet. How are you feeling about him? You… watched him die.”

“I feel nothing. And that’s terrible. But how can I feel what a daughter should after losing her father? All of this happened because of him. And he didn’t care about me, Cora. He didn’t care about me or Natasha.”

“I understand. I just thought you might need to talk about it.”

“I think that’s all the talk left in me for him.” The only thing left to talk about is Jaxon and me.

We were inseparable yesterday, and he barely wanted to leave my side earlier when he left for the hospital. He needed medical attention, too, but he only saw the doctors briefly before he was off. He’s not the kind of man who’ll be resting when there are things to be done. Even if he’s been advised to by his doctors.

“As long as you’re okay.”

“I am,” I assure her.

We both hear the front door open, and Cora smiles at me.

That should be Jaxon.

“I think this is my cue to head out. I’ll be taking these.” She giggles while gathering a batch of cookies in a napkin.

We both laugh.

Jaxon appears at the door and looks at us, offering a kind smile. His face is still bruised, and he has a few stitches on his jaw and above his eye.

“Ladies,” he greets us.

“I was heading out. See you both in a few days.” Cora smiles back at him and leaves.

I stand when Jaxon comes closer and meet him halfway for a warm embrace. I get lost in his heartbeat and scent. Both feel like a dream I want to disappear in forever.

He pulls back a little and stares at me with that adoration in his eyes that always softens his face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How is your father?”

A touch of sadness invades his expression and he shakes his head. “Not so good, but I suppose he’s better than he was yesterday.”

“That’s hopeful.”

“Yeah, but they’re just basically getting him well enough to make the journey to Russia. He’s stubborn and won’t hear of staying. But I get it.”

“Me too. I understand why he wants to be there.” I reach up and touch his face, searching his eyes. “What about you? How are you feeling?”

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