Page 85 of The Sins That Bleed
“I’ll see you in a little while, oh and, V?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.” And with that, she leaves me alone to rot in my own filth as the monster within devours me whole.
CHAPTER 39
Family Reunion
RAI
Iyawn and stretch. Sleep is something I once knew, now by the time I fall into bed I need to get right back out of it.
Things have been crazy since we took Alaric’s remaining human men in and started dismantling his empire—the one built on the bones and lives of people he stole. We’re still getting the numbers of how many people were trafficked under his umbrella but, so far, it’s staggering. All those lives changed and lost, and the lasting damage for those who survived.
A knock on my office door pulls me out of my thoughts. Nico comes in with more folders for me to sign. My hand threatens to cramp at the thought of it. I’ve signed so many this week that if I never have to use my signature again, it’ll be too soon.
Things are strained between us; even though he explained everything to me, I can’t help how much it hurts. I hate myself for understanding why he did it, and that I can’t do the same for Valeska.
I’m a fucking hypocrite, a complete mess. So naturally, I ignore it.
“Sorry, princess, but I promise these are the last ones for today.”
He drops them on my desk at the same time as he sinks into the chair opposite me. I drag the stack toward me and get started, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. I can sense Nico watching me the whole time, his face telling me what he is waiting to talk to me about—I don’t need to be psychic to predict that.
So I slow down on purpose, making sure I properly scan the documents in front of me even though Nico was the one who drafted them, so a quick scan would be good enough. I fight the tiredness as I read. I need to sleep, and not a normal eight hours either because I’m tired down to my bones.
“Quit stalling, you know damn well those reports are good, and we need to talk about her. I spoke with your sister and she’s not?—”
“Stop, Nico, I don’t want to talk about her. Not here. Let me get these signed and then we can go home and order a pizza. I can’t promise I’ll talk about her even then, because it hurts so fucking much. She betrayed me; she knew my sister was alive all along and still chose to use me like a puppet on a string.” I sigh.
“I betrayed you too, yet here I am,” he snipes.
I glare at him.
This is why I don’t want to talk about her right now, or about what he did. I hate her for what she has done to me, but I miss her with every fibre of my being. It makes me hate myself more, but I can’t bring myself to regret falling in love with her. Like a puppet on a string she’s tied too tight and it’s inevitable that she’ll drag me back to her.
He holds his hands up in a ‘don’t shoot’ gesture and I feel like a dick. He’s only trying to help me since I’ve been miserable without her. Work keeps me busy, and I’ve been working all hours to shut out the thoughts of her, but they still slip past my defences. Especially when Nico gives me updates that I don’t ask for, but secretly hope he doesn’t stop telling me.
I had to practically handcuff myself to my desk when he’d told me she’d woken up and was okay. I’d stayed with her after that night but once the shock and adrenaline wore off, the dark inky hands of betrayal slithered around me until I couldn’t breathe and I had to get out of there.
“Sorry, I know I’m being a dick, so the pizza is on me tonight.” I smile at him. It doesn’t reach my eyes but it’s the best I can do for now.
“It’s okay, princess, I know things are weird right now and there’s a lot to work through, but I’m here for you, always. If you’ll let me. You probably don’t want to hear this or think you don’t, but Azara said Valeska has been disappearing for days at a time. She’s left the running of her business to her and doesn’t want anything to do with it. I’m worried about her. You and your sister need to talk, and then we need to figure out the rest. Don’t respond to that, just finish signing the reports.”
I force my hand to move over the paper and sign it, my brain processing everything Nico told me. She’s not my problem anymore so I shouldn’t care. I rejected the bond that night, I felt myself splinter and fracture into a million pieces, and that should make me happy, I should relish the empty pit of despair that welcomes me with open arms.
If only my heart felt the same way.
I unlock our apartment door.Nico and I have been sharing it since I decided I couldn’t stay at Valeska’s anymore. He would have stayed there, he and Azara have been closer since thiswhole incident went down, but he showed solidarity by coming with me even though I told him he didn’t need to.
I hate that so much has come between them, but he needs to seriously think about this—she’s a vampire and he’s not. She will live for who knows how long, and he will age, meaning heartbreak is inevitable for both of them.
She also needs to forgive him for what he did.
I flick the light on and stop short at the sight before me. The largest bouquet of red roses sits on the worktop and next to it stands my sister. I’m still not used to her being here in the flesh, and the anger I feel at Valeska for turning her and keeping my sister to herself flares each time I see Azara.
“Before you say anything, nobody knew I was coming here tonight. I’ve got some things I’d like to say to you, Rai, and then you can tell me what you want to do.” She’s nervous, speaking quickly in case I decide to cut her off.
