Page 68 of A Pawn in the Game
Her gratitude cuts into my chest. A knock sounds at the door, and I let Ivan in, not daring to look back at her before leaving.
By some miracle, no mafia emergencies are currently happening. At least not ones that I’m involved in. So I enter the car and make my way home. A ray of sunshine shines right through my windshield, making me think of Sophie, who hasn’t seen the sun in a month.
“Fuck,” I grunt, shaking the steering wheel.
After everything she’s been through, I’m doing this to her. I step on the gas, wanting to get out of the sun. If she can’t enjoy its warm glow, neither should I.
My mood is a mess when I step into my place. Two sets of paws scrape the marble floors in a rush before Hades and Alan jump on me. Hades does his signature three jumps to get my attention while Alan focuses on sniffing me. Today, he whimpers as he sniffs me, letting out a few small barks.
He found her.
I scratch under his head, whispering, “She’s okay. Sophie’s okay. I’m going to make sure of that.”
This promise I made to a dog is not one I plan to break.
Because finding Landers doesn’t matter anymore. Getting revenge is irrelevant. What matters most is keeping her and my family safe.
Which is far more complicated than freeing her from the dungeon I’ve put her in. If I free her, I put my family in danger. I also put her in danger because I’m pretty sure the Russians would find her next, so they could control Landers.
No, I’ll need to be strategic about this.
I need to figure out how to set her free and keep her safe. Restless energy pumps through me, making relaxing uncomfortable, so I get up and head to my home gym. I used to spend hours here,but it was during a calmer time. When Father was still alive and shit in my life made sense.
I remove the protective sheet from the punching bag hanging in the middle of the room and on a sharp exhale, hit it with all my might. My knuckles scream with pain, but I repeat the same thing, not bothering to wrap them.
Rhythmic thuds of my fists connecting to the bag echo in the otherwise silent room. Visions of me turning Zvone’s head to goo invade my mind, spurring me on. Killing him was such a poor man’s comfort. I want to do it again. And again. And again.
A drop of blood falls to the floor and I realize my knuckles have split open. I huff a loud breath, deciding it’s enough exercise for today.
The dogs jump on me as soon as I exit the gym. I grab a quick shower to wash the blood and grime off me and take them for a walk.
I wish Sophie were here with us. I wish I could tell her exactly where Alan was. But I don’t want her thinking I’m a good man. Not while I’m hurting her. I don’t deserve it.
Still, my feet carry me into a store, desperate to give her every bit of comfort I can.
CHAPTER 35
Sophie
Luka comes back at 10:31 pm. I know that because he brings a watch with him. It’s a simple wristwatch, with a brown leather strap and a gold case. I brush my finger over the glass display, my breath catching when I notice the signature.
Cartier.
“What’s this?” I look up at him from the bed with a smile on my face.
“I just thought you’d want to know the time.” He shrugs, his gaze dropping to the side. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s nervous.
“Can you help me with it?”
He steps toward me, close enough that I can feel his scent. My left wrist snakes out, and he buckles the watch around it, his fingers brushing over my skin.
“Thank you,” I whisper, marveling at it. I’m not one for jewelry, not that I ever received it, but this… this feels special.
“It’s nothing.” He pulls back, as if being close to me is unbearable. I would be hurt if I didn’t understand it.
This connection between us. It’s overwhelming. It makes zero sense. And if you try to rationalize it, youwillcome up short.
I did my best. I’ve tried to remind myself of every bad thing he did to me, just to convince my heart not to beat faster when he’s around. But finding those things was difficult. All that came up were his small acts of service, small signs of a man that he is. A man that I started to feel too much for.
