Page 22 of Never Die for a Sinner
Soft light filters through the windows, casting her in shadows. My chest clenches watching her. Soft dark hair creates a chaotic halo around her face. Pouty lips parted over her slow, even breathing.
She looks like a goddamned angel, and I’m the devil who stole her away to keep her locked in my cage.
I ignore the nagging thoughts in the back of my head and close the door.
One thing I’ve learned about angels in the past twenty-seven years?
They lie, and sooner or later, the truth always comes out.
AVA
Well, bless my stars, is thatmygranddaughter standing before me?”
“Hi, Nana.” I grin through the sting her words leave behind and lean down to wrap her in a gentle hug.
“Oh, you can hug me better than that. I’m sick, not made of porcelain.”
I can’t help but chuckle when she hugs me tighter, and her familiar comforting scent envelops me.
It’s been a few days since I’ve been able to make it out, and the guilt weighs heavily on me. I sink down in the chair besideher while she mutes the TV. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by to visit more often.”
“Nonsense,” she waves a hand, settling back against the over-fluffed pillows behind her head. She looks different. She’s paler, like she’s not seen the sun in days. Her eyes betray how tired she is, though I can see she’s putting up a brave face for me. “I know how busy you are.”
Guilt washes through me, and it’s hard to swallow down past the lump in my throat. Nana notices, because she reaches out and takes my hand.
I try not to notice how small her fingers are compared to mine. If I think about it too much, I’ll cry, and I make it a point to never cry while I’m here. I’ll save that for the twenty-minute drive back to Cross Estate while I’m alone with nothing to do but think about my life decisions because my car doesn’t have a radio.
“Don’t be sad for me, Ava Lynn. I know you have a life to live. I don’t expect you to be here every day.”
The backs of my eyes sting, but I push the emotions down, intertwining my fingers gently with hers.
Her gaze sweeps over me, taking in my messy braid and the stain on my old hoodie. I’m sure I look like I just climbed out of a sewer, but she only smiles softly.
“Tell me about your life, sweetheart. Meet anyone special recently?” she prods. “A man, perhaps?”
I know where she’s going with this, but I don’t have the desire, nor the words, to tell her that, apart from a few spicy dreams involving the very hot, very psychotic man that sleeps across the hall from me, I have no desire to mingle with anyone. Opposite sex. Same sex. Nothing.
“I have a couple friends. Mila and Alex. I’ve told you about Mila, but Alex works at the lodge with me.”
Nana gives me a knowing look.
“A friend?”
“Justa friend.”
“Well, what about this Mila girl? Anything special there?”
I chuckle and roll my eyes. I’ve only ever been into guys, but Nana’s all-inclusive. It wouldn’t matter who I brought home; she’d love them all the same if it meant she could have great-grandchildren.
“No, Nana. Mila’s married.”
“Well, you can’t blame me for asking.”
“How’s the medicine working?” I ask, brushing past the topic of my love life.
She smirks, seeing right through me, but she moves on.
“The same as always. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it.”
