I place her down on the bed and cover her nakedness with a sheet. The doctor will be in shortly to oversee and dress her, and I take the time to simply study her.
Her innocence, her confidence, her kindness, her.
Then I straighten my shoulders and head toward the door with one purpose in mind.
Revenge may be sweet, but justice can be sweeter.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Hevan
“Hmm,” I mumble, untangling my legs from the sheets. “Jesus, my head hurts.” I rub at it.
“That’ll be the sedative.” I snap my eyes open at the unfamiliar gruff voice. “It was pretty strong,” he tacks on.
He’s huge, with muscles and tattoos creeping up his neck. His head is shaved, and he sits with his legs wide on a chair in the corner of the room, watching me.
I tug the sheet higher, and he chuckles. The deep rumbling sound is lighthearted, and something about him instantly has me relaxing.
“Where is he?” I croak, and his face softens.
Oh God, no.A surge of desperation rushes up from inside me.Please no.
“H-he’s gone, isn’t he?” A tear slips down my face.
“Yeah, darlin’, he is.” There’s remorse in his voice, but I barely recognize it.
He left me.
A sob catches in my throat, and I hate that he’s done this to us.
I glance down at the sheets, and something catches my eye, a familiar gold and black ring on my wedding finger. Azrael’s nonna’s ring. My heart squeezes. He’s gone.
A dull ache in my finger has me slipping the ring up, only to unveil a tattoo—AC, Azrael Carrera. He’s branded me as his again, on my wedding finger, no less.
“Take me to him!” I snap, throwing the sheet from my body, then I remember I’m naked, but as I glance down, I realize I’m not. I’m dressed. In clothes. Actual clothes. Jeans and a sweater. He’s given me clothes.
I don’t want them! I don’t fucking want them; I want him.
Oh God. I swipe the tears from my eyes. What has he done?
My legs shake, and I grip the dresser to stabilize myself.
He’s done with me.
“I want to see him right now!” I demand. But the man shakes his head. “I know where he lives!” I lie, but my words are full of conviction. I might not know where he lives exactly, but I can figure it out.
“Listen to me.” He stands, and I take a step back. “Azrael is risking everything to protect you. Every. Fucking. Thing.” I swallow at the meaning behind his words. I know Azrael has a brother and a sister; will their lives be at risk too? “Do you really want to risk him being found out? For his father to discover you’re alive and well, living freely? Do you know what will happen to him for lying?” Bile rises in my throat, and I grimace, swallowing it back.
“Hevan, he created you a new life, darlin’.” He taps a file on the table closest to him. “He gave you asecond chance at living. Do you need me to tell you how many women leave the auction house and get a chance like this? You need to fucking embrace what he’s done for you.”
“I love him,” I whisper brokenly.
“And I’m pretty fucking sure he loves you too.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Azrael
