And it really was raining now. A downpour that had soaked my clothes to my skin in seconds. My hair was flattened to my scalp with the force of it.
“Here you are cold.” A thick coat was wrapped around my shoulders. “Are you OK now?”
I continued to stare at him. “I know you,” I mumbled softly. “You’re Nikolai’s grandson.”
His lips tilted upwards. “Yes, Alexei. Or Alex if you prefer. Tell me what happened in there.”
“Why are you here?”
“I stopped by your house to discuss our deal, as you left so suddenly at our last meeting, and found your door off the hinges. I had a quick talk with your neighbors, and they told me you were here.”
“OK.” Clutching his coat around me with trembling fingers, I glanced back inside, and his gaze followed mine. Everything in there looked so calm and sterile. It was strange considering the chaos going on inside my own head. “OK. That answers that question. I guess the next one is why are you here?”
“I want to help you.”
Tearing my eyes away, I stared up at him. “Why would you do that? You don’t know me.”
He shrugged, the movement making his sopping wet shirt stick to his muscles.
“It’s what my grandfather would want me to do. It’s what he does want me to do. You saved his life, so I owe you.” Almost gently, he gripped me by the shoulders. “Let me help you.”
“There is nothing you can do.”
And there it was, the truth. There was nothing anyone could do.
“Amy,” he snapped and drew my attention back to his handsome face. “Your sister is sick. So, tell me what you need. What she needs.”
“There’s nothing you or anyone can do.” Raggedly, I sucked in a wet breath and tore myself out of his arms. I didn’t deserve the comfort when I had failed her. She had given up her whole life for me, all of her hopes and dreams, and when she needed me the most, I had failed her.
My knees buckled, and Alex caught me before I could drop to the ground. Holding me against his chest, he rubbed a hand up and down my back.
“She’s dying,” I sobbed against his chest. “She’s dying, and I can’t—” I broke down into uncontrollable sobbing. The sound was wet and full of heartbreak.
“Tell me how my family can help?” he asked again.
“There is no help. You’re not getting it. I can’t afford her care, and even if I could, without a heart, she won’t survive anyway. My sister is going to die, and it’s all my fault.”
“None of this is your fault, Amy.” Firm fingers tilted my chin up. “I will cover her medical bills. I’ll get the best doctors in to take over her care. You don’t need to worry about any of that.”
“It won’t be enough.”
“And I’ll find her the heart she needs.”
I blinked the rainwater out of my face in surprise. “What?” I whispered. Surely, I hadn’t heard him right?
“I’ll find her a heart. I’ll pay for everything.”
“Why would you do that? I can’t afford—”
He cut me off. “It’s not a loan, Amy. You won’t ever have to pay me back.”
“Then why?”
“My grandfather likes you, and he thinks you are the perfect match for me.” His lips twisted together in a look of almost disgust that he hid almost instantly. “I owe my grandfather everything, Amy, and like you, I’ll do whatever I can to make sure he is happy.”
“But that doesn’t answer my question?”
He sighed, his breath coming out like white smoke. “I’ll help your sister. I’ll look after you both if you agree to be my wife.”
