“Thank you.” When she still doesn’t speak, I quietly hang up and groan. Moira doesn’t call back.
“Very mature,” comes Cassian’s gentle voice as he walks out of the kitchen with a wrapped sandwich in hand.
“Thanks.” I smile up at him.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. I’ll be better once Ruslan is out of the medical wing, I think. It’s giving me anxiety after what happened with my mom.”
Cassian nods slowly. “Understandable. I know it’s not a priority right now, but when things are settled, I have a lot of connections in the city. If there’s a job you’d like, then I’m more than happy to set that up for you.”
“Really?” My eyes widen. “I… wow, I hadn’t even thought of anything normal like that.”
“I know. And I’m not saying it as a means to rush you into any decision, but I wanted to offer before I fly out to San Francisco tonight.”
“Ooh, what’s out there?”
“Just work.” Cassian chuckles. “Rumors of a couple of idiots loyal to Alexei. Gotta nip that in the bud.”
“Wow. It’s crazy how one regular affair could almost topple so much and cause so many ripples even now.” I lift my hand and drag my fingers through my hair. “It still sort of feels like a dream.”
“That’s good. The last thing you want is for it to feel normal.”
I hum my agreement and we pass each other, but just before he walks away, I turn and catch his arm. “Actually, what time do you fly out? I kind of want to visit my parents’ graves.”
“I’m taking the red eye, so any time before then is good,” Cassian replies with a smile. “Just let me know.”
“Thank you. I will.”
I continue down to the medical wing and walk right in, not caring whether the doctor is in with Ruslan or not. He told me to leave two hours ago and that was two hours too long.
Inside, Ruslan is propped up against some pillows, and his bruised face grows into a smile as he spots me. “I was about to call you.”
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” I tease softly as I rest gently on the edge of his bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Terrible.”
“What did the doctor say?”
“That I’m lucky to be alive,” Ruslan groans softly. “But I’m going to be okay. I promise.”
“You really promise?” My hand slips over the top of his. “When they told me your rib pierced your lung, I was so scared.”
“I’m sorry.” Ruslan’s hand turns under mine until we’re palm to palm, and then he threads his fingers through mine. “Not only for scaring you with this, but for everything. Everything you’ve been through and suffered… I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent any of that sooner.”
“Are you serious?” Our eyes meet. “Ruslan… I would have been dead three times over without your help. Without your being there to protect me and to help me. No one would even know about me or my family. If you hadn’t taken a chance on me, I’d just be another footnote in an article if anyone even found my body.”
“You wouldn’t,” Ruslan replies, his eyes darting back and forth as he gazes into mine.
“I would be. You made me important when you made the decision to listen to me.Thatsaved my life. You saved my life. Even on that roof… I was so prepared to throw myself off because I knew you would get him. Somehow, I knew.”
Ruslan’s expression hardens. “Never again. Never speak about your life so casually again, you hear me?”
“Why?” I ask as a smile creeps across my lips.
“Because I love you.” Escaping my hand, he lifts his arm and caresses the side of my face. “I love you. And I’m never, ever going to let you forget just how precious your life is, understand?”
For the first time in what feels like forever, a bud of warmth blooms beneath my ribs and it spreads through me as I lean forward and lightly kiss Ruslan on the lips.
