Page 66 of The Sins That Bleed
We stand and wait for my private elevator to arrive on our floor, the one coming down that Nico mentioned next to it dings, announcing its arrival and whoever is inside. One of my nail techs from the nail salon I own on a floor in this building steps out. He looks over to us and smiles.
“Hey, ma’am, it’s good to see you before I head home for the day. I’ve been wanting to thank you for this opportunity you’ve given me. I’ve been having the best time working at Manacled, everyone is so lovely there. Have a great weekend, all.”
He’s already walking away with a wave over his shoulder. I can’t help but smile at him as he talked about his time here so far. Seeing people thrive after everything they’ve been through has always filled a little bit of the void within me.
“Wasn’t he one of the people we found in the container?” Nico asks.
I nod, not trusting my voice right now, and I see the respect for me ripple over their features. I can’t stand it; I’m doing the bare fucking minimum.
Our elevator arrives and we step inside. Nico and Rai haven’t said anything else, but Rai is still holding my hand, so I think that counts for something. He moves into one of the corners, pulling me with him. I expect him to pull me next him but he doesn’t. He lets go of my hand and wraps his arms around me, crushing me to his chest in a hug.
At first, I do nothing, in shock at such an affectionate gesture from a man who hated me not long ago, and should still hate me now. Maybe he does and this is the only way to ease the pain he’s feeling from our tie together. I’ll take it, even if that’s all this is between us.
I wrap my arms around him and let him hold me. I close my eyes and breathe him in, committing this moment to memory in case it’s all I’ll ever have. I listen to the steady thrum of his heart as I lean against his chest, the rhythm something I could easily fall asleep listening to.
All too soon, we reach the penthouse and Rai unfolds himself from around me, connecting our hands back together as we walk through the top floor. I let him lead me to wherever they’re heading, enjoying this time with him.
We stop outside Nico’s suite. He unlocks it and motions us in, closing the door behind us. I come to a complete halt next to Rai as we walk into the kitchen.
Sunny sits at the breakfast bar, pointing at us with my silver dagger.
CHAPTER 29
Revelations
RAI
I’d been so caught up with keeping Valeska close to me that it takes me a moment to register what is happening.
I drop her hand and step in front of her and Nico, not knowing which of us she wishes to hurl the dagger at but not wanting to risk it being either of them. Sunny smiles at me and I can’t tell if it’s genuine or one that she uses before tearing someone to pieces.
My eyes flick to the dagger and I watch her take in my protective stance and then glance at the dagger that has me nervous. Her gaze swings back to mine, shock rippling over her features as she stares at me.
For a brief moment I swear Sunnys eyes turn bright blue and there’s a familiarity in her face that grows stronger with the eye change. I’ve felt it since I first time met her and Valeska, that I know her from somewhere.
“Oh,oh, my bad.” She places the dagger on the worktop and holds her hands up to show she’s unarmed. “I was planning to hide it here in your apartment Nico, and then I felt guilty for coming in when you weren’t here so I planned to wait and confess to you. Then I heard you coming and I panicked and thought I’d sit here and pretend everything was normal.”
She laughs nervously, her fingers twisting in her lap, but the real tell is the way she is speaking a million miles a minute and giving us a full replay of events. She’s a terrible secret keeper.
“Mon rayon de soleil, you know you don’t need to ask to come in here.” Nico moves around me with a pat on the back and I relax.
While he goes to Sunny, I move back and my hand seeks out Valeska’s, but I don’t find it. I turn, desperate to see her and touch her, like an itch I can’t scratch. Once I can see her, I try again with my hand but she gives me a small shake of her head.
I clench my fist hard to overpower the sting of her rejection. I’m being erratic, but I don’t know how to stop it. I’ll respect her boundaries but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to put a fist through the wall to make me think of something other than my hands not being on hers.
I look at her, skimming over her hair, face and body, noticing the tension humming through her and the way she won’t look at anyone. I ping pong between her and Sunny, noticing they are both emitting the same nervous energy.
Something is up between them, and now that I think about it, I’ve not seen them together since that night in Valeska’s room. Their sister-like bond is now in ruins and I wonder what happened between them, but mostly I want to know so I can fix it. It feelswrong.
“So! Who’s up for hot chocolate and cinnamon pastries? It’s colder than a witch’s tit out there today.”
I laugh at Nico’s attempt to break the tension, because of course he’s noticed it and wants to make it right. I still think Valeska is a flight risk right now and it torments me to see this version of her, the one that is unsure if she should even be here when it’s her building, her home. It’s like the confidence bled out of her that day on her bathroom floor.
“Well, you already know I’d love some,” I say since the other two haven’t responded. Do they even eat or drink anything other than blood?
“Count me in. I’ll help you, Nico.” Sunny hops off the barstool and rounds the worktop to help him prep the pastries, and the sappy smile Nico flashes her is straight out of a hallmark movie.
“Why don’t you two take a seat on the couch and we’ll bring it over? Lady V, I’m counting you in because there’s no way a woman with your taste wouldn’t enjoy hot chocolate and a pastry.”
