Page 121 of Sin & Sapphire

I did the same, sliding my back down the wall and camping out on the carpeted floor of the hallway.

“Did you get shot?” I asked her. Fucking hell, this was the first time we’d spoken since the airport, and instead of telling her I missed her, that my life was empty without her, I was asking bullshit questions like this.

“Just a scrape on my arm,” she answered. “I’ve already bandaged it.”

“How bad?” I was sick to the stomach at the thought of Ana in danger. I should have been there. I should have told her how I felt and found a way to keep her here and keep her safe. I should have done anything other than let her walk out of my life and let that asshole Angelo Costa dictate the terms of our relationship.

“Valentin’s done worse.” I thought she muttered, and I sat up straight.

“What the fuck? Ana! Don’t sit there and tell me you’re okay if he’s hurting you.”

Ana’s low laugh hit me deep in the gut. “Mind your fucking business, Russo. You don’t have any right to me, my body, or my life.”

“I know you were engaged to Grégoire Tchérnov,” I said softly.

“I’m—”

I interrupted her before she could continue. “I know it wasn’t your choice, and I’m sorry I didn’t give you a reason to trust me with your secrets.”

We sat in silence for long moments.

“I don’t like the idea of you waiting at home alone, in danger.”

“Our families have been at war for a long time. I don’t think you have any right to be worried about my safety.”

“You were in a shootout,” I said quietly. “Yeah, I’m fucking worried about you. And I’ll fucking worry until Angelo Costa and Valentin Rochefort walk through this door and promise to guard your life with their own.”

“That’s what they did,” she said. “That’s how I got out. And I?—”

Her voice broke, and I wanted to take her in my arms and wipe the ache away more than anything else in the world.

“I need them to come home,” she admitted. “And I don’t know how I feel about that.”

“However you feel, I’m not going to judge you. I’m here, and I’ll wait with you.”

I thought I heard a sniffle followed by a sigh.

The bodyguards looked down at me like I was a damn fool. Maybe I was. But they didn’t ask me to leave.

It was past three in the morning before Angelo and Valentin stumbled out of the elevator, soaked in blood. Valentin’s arm draped over Angelo’s shoulder, Angelo supporting his weight.

“Baby, they’re here,” I murmured. “I’m going to stand up and help, all right?”

I sprang to my feet and shoved my shoulder under Valentin’s other arm. He grunted but didn’t say a word. Angelo glared at me but said nothing as Valentin stumbled between us.

Angelo swiped a card and opened the door to the apartment. Ana met my eyes, dressed like a fucking princess. I stepped toward her, unable to resist the siren call of touching her. Fuck, I’d missed this woman so goddamned much.

Angelo turned to me as Valentin staggered into the apartment. “Tomorrow. Ten. Your office at the port.” He slammed the door in my face.

Fuck!

I scrubbed my face, then stormed to the elevator.

Fine.

Tomorrow.

45

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