Page 29 of The Sins of Saint (The Sins of Saint 3)

I wiped tears from my cheek and stepped back, out of his embrace. “I need to—”

“Oh, dear Lord. What has my nephew done now?”

Saint and I looked up, Aunt Elena standing in the archway from the foyer with her crutches.

I didn’t know how it happened, but the second I saw her, tears just started streaming down my face. I cried so hard, it hurt. I wanted to fall down on my knees and cry into the plush white carpet beneath my feet. It felt like the entire world’s pain and sorrow had all tumbled down on me at once.

“Mila,” Elena said lovingly, “come here.” She rested her elbows on the crutches and held her arms out at me. Without thinking twice, I rushed toward the comfort she so freely offered. I wrapped my arms around her, the relief instant as she hugged me. “I’m gone for a week, and I return to you being a sobbing, crying mess. Shame on you, Marcello.”

I knew she was merely teasing, and it somehow managed to cut through the tension which had thickened between Saint and me during the last twenty-four hours.

“I’m so glad you’re okay, Elena.”

“I’ve survived a lot of trauma in life. I can handle a little bullet wound to the leg.” She let go, and I took a step back as she cupped my cheek. “It might sound like a silly question right now, but how are you? You know, after Raphael?”

“I’m okay. It sucks, but it’s not like I lost a brother. You can’t lose something you never had.”

Elena smiled warmly. “A silver lining, indeed.” Her brown-eyed gaze dropped to my belly, and I instinctively flattened my palm against it.

“You know.” It wasn’t a question.

She nodded with a half-smile. “I do.”

“You saw it in the cards, while we were on The Empress.”

Elena reached out and placed her hand over mine. “The cards never lie.”

“Okay, okay. Enough with the card mumbo-jumbo.” Saint intercepted and hugged his aunt.

“It’s not mumbo-jumbo, and you know it.”

Saint stepped in for a hug. “Welcome to our new home here in New York, Aunt Elena.”

Her gaze swept across the open space. “It’s definitely a change going from vintage to modern. But it’s a good change. Talking about change…” She glanced over her shoulder at a man dressed in a suit standing by the elevator. “I was quite surprised to find this little one waiting for me by the airport. Where is James?”

“James had to go on a business trip for me.” Saint straightened his shirt. “He should be back in a few days.”

“Ah, my favorite bodyguard out doing you bidding,” she teased some more.

“Now, now, Aunt Elena. Your favorite bodyguard will be back soon enough. Come, let’s get you settled in.” Saint took one of her crutches and allowed her to hook her arm in his as he led her down the passage. With his hand lovingly placed over hers, he took short, slow strides so she could easily keep up. They chatted some more, and their laughter resonated around the apartment. It amazed me how Saint could go from cold-hearted killer, a man with no conscience, to a loving and attentive gentleman. There were so many layers to him, and with every layer I managed to peel away, an obstacle was revealed that forced us to take two steps back.

But I had to admit that seeing Elena again, and knowing she was here, gave me some sense of security. Since day one, she had always known what to say and when to say it. If there was ever anyone who would get me through this pregnancy and help me navigate down this road with Saint, it was her.

“She needs to rest after her long flight.” Saint leaned against one of the large white pillars. “But she wants to see you.”

“Okay.”

I tucked my curls behind my ear and attempted to brush past him when he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer without him moving while leisurely leaning against the pillar. “My offer still stands.”

I looked at where his fingers wrapped around my elbow, his touching burning my flesh. Then I glanced up at him without uttering a single word.

Sapphire eyes radiated with resolve. “You are free to leave whenever you want. Then half of everything that’s mine is yours. That offer, Mila, will never expire. I give you my word.”

I licked my dry lips, my pulse racing as the air around us once again thickened. There were no words to say. Or maybe I didn’t know what to say. By offering me my freedom, and half of everything he had worked for, Saint changed the dynamic between us. He had made it clear that I was no longer his captive. No longer his prisoner or his pawn. If I stayed with him, it would be because I wanted to.

“I appreciate that,” I whispered, and it felt like the longest time, but it was mere seconds that we stood there just staring into each other’s eyes—our voices silent, yet our silence speaking volumes.

With a slight nod, he let go of my arm, but I didn’t leave him standing there. Instead, I pushed myself up on my toes, gently cupped his cheek while placing a tender kiss on the other. One didn’t need words to say what needed to be said. Sometimes all it took was a single glance, a simple touch, a powerful moment.

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