Relentless Sinner

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Gabriella

I wake to the scent of him. That scent of power, musk, and the woodlands. It wraps around me like a warm blanket and soothes my soul the way it did last night when Jaxon held me.

I open my eyes, searching for him, but he's not here. Radiant sunlight greets me instead through the opened curtains, and I can tell from the brightness that it’s late morning. Perhaps even later in the day.

I sit up and glance at the clock on the wall. My eyes widen when I see it's midday.

My gosh, I can't believe I slept in. I place a hand to my head and memories of last night rush back to me. All the good parts which eradicate the bad.

My partial hangover almost makes me feel as disorientated as the first night I slept here, but the warmth in my heart makes me feel like I’m floating.

I'm about to get up when my gaze lands on a large manila envelope next to me. My eyes nearly pop out of my head when I see the gold-embossed letters for New York State University on the left-hand corner, and my married name printed on the center of the envelope.

This is the same kind of letter I received when I first got accepted into college, but this one is from their medical school.

With my heart beating in my throat, I grab the envelope and open it. I pull out the letter inside, along with the admissions brochure and new student information.

My heart triple-beats when I scan over all of it and I feel like I’m in a dream. Maybe I’m still asleep.

No. My dreams are never this good. This is real. I look at the letter. It says:

Dear Gabriella,

I'm so pleased you decided to join us at NYU. It is a pleasure to have you in our intake for January next year.

Please find enclosed details for the new semester. As you are starting late, we do require that you make up the credits over the summer, but that can be discussed with your tutor and supervisor when you begin.

I can confirm that your tuition has been fully paid for the entire duration that you will be with us. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Until then, I look forward to seeing you for orientation in the New Year.

Best regards,

Lola Smith.

My hands are shaking by the time I get to the end of the letter and I keep rereading it because I can’t believe what I’m reading. And what it all means. I’m going to med school.

I’m actually going to med school. And it’s all been paid for.

Jaxon.

He did this. My God, he did this for me.

He said he would take care of it. I just didn't realize it would be so soon. I scan the letter again and take note of the date it was written. I gasp when I see it’s from the other day, meaning he would've had to take care of the application process and the funds weeks ago.

My heart swells with real hope for the first time in forever, and I don’t feel that angst twisting in my soul anymore.

Excitement fills me, and I get off the bed deciding to head downstairs,

I hope he's home.

When I reach downstairs, I hear movement in the kitchen, so I go there.

Eve is probably preparing lunch. When I reach the door, I smile when I see Jaxon standing behind the counter making sandwiches.

He smiles back at me, and before he can even say anything, I fly over to him, letter in my hand, and throw my arms around him. I hug him hard as tears of elation well in my eyes.

"Thank you so much,” I mutter against his chest.

“I told you I'd take care of it,” he whispers into my hair.

“I know, but I can't believe you did this for me.”

“Of course.”

I pull back and gaze up at him. “You would have had to sort it out weeks ago.”

“I did. I actually started the process after that night when we first spoke about you going to college."

“That long ago?” Months have passed since then.

He nods.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He lifts his shoulders into a shrug. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I was actually going to give that to you when we get to The Hamptons, but you seemed to need a pick-me-up after last night. I thought this would cheer you up.”

I smile back at him. “It's more than cheered me up. I didn't think I was ever going to get to go.”

“I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

If I’d left him, I wouldn’t have had this chance. “And you paid for it all. Jaxon, that’s a lot of money.”

He grins. “It’s nothing to me to see you happy. I told them you had a family emergency you had to deal with, and that’s why you couldn’t apply earlier. I hope that was okay and you want to be in New York.”

“I want to. Yes. More than anything.” I smile up at him.

“Good. Because I don’t know if I could stand to be away from you if you went to UCLA. Of course, if you want to go there?—”

“I want to stay here with you.” That is what I want.

“Okay. I like the sound of that. Also—" He rests his hands on my shoulder and stares into my eyes. "Natasha is safe. I found her with a tracker. I have my men watching and protecting her and Alessandro.”

My mouth almost hits the floor, and I place a hand to my heart, staring back at him in disbelief. “Jaxon… what are you saying to me?”

“If your father sends anyone for them, my men will deal with them before they can even reach your sister. I’ve made sure they have enough money and access to doctors so Natasha and the baby can have whatever they need. You don’t have to worry about them.”

"You’re serious? You're protecting my sister?"

He nods slowly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I guess that was the selfish part of me wanting to keep something as leverage.”

I shake my head. He has no need to apologize. “You’ve done more for me than anyone else. This is probably the safest we've been in years. Thank you so much."

He gives me a hopeful smile. "You’re welcome.” He touches my cheek. “I thought we could go to Europe on a proper honeymoon and visit Natasha and Alessandro in a few weeks. Hopefully, I can get a few things sorted out by then."

This time, I can’t stop the tears from falling. They practically pour out of my eyes at the thought of finally getting a chance to see Natasha. “I'll get to see my sister?”

“Yes. You'll get to see your sister,” he replies with another confident grin.

I hug him again, and he holds me to him, stroking the top of my head. “Everything’s going to be okay, Gabriella. I’ll make it be okay if you give me a chance.”

I look back at him. “You’ve already made everything better.” It’s like we’ve done a complete one-eighty from yesterday. I can hardly believe I’m the same girl who was worried her husband was cheating and that she’d be locked away forever, never achieving her dreams.

“I’m glad to hear that. How about for now, we have some lunch and head out to the Hamptons a few days early? That way, we’ll have two weeks together.”

I smile back at him. “Two whole weeks. That would be amazing, but can we really do that? You’re so busy.”

“We need to do this,” he says with conviction. "All we’ve ever known are the walls of this house. I can count the few times that we’ve been together outside of them. I’ve never even taken you on a real date.”

The idea of a date with him makes me feel giddy and excited all at the same time. “A date sounds so normal for us.”

“I know. It shouldn’t be that way. Normal should just be normal . Something we do all the time.”

“I’d really like that.”

“Then let’s go on this little break and enjoy ourselves. I’ve everything set up to run without me, but if I need to come back, then we’re not exactly that far away.”

“No, we’re not.”

He tilts his head. “Perfect plan, right?”

“Perfect.” I nod.

“Good. Let's eat and get out of here.”

When we set off, it feels like we’re going on an adventure. Jaxon drives, which is great because usually, we’re in the back seat with a driver.

The guards are following in a separate car. I was hoping we’d be by ourselves, but I’d agree to safety over comfort any day.

We arrive in the Hamptons just before three, and when we reach our dreamlike beach house, I feel like I’ve been pulled into an exotic paradise and can’t stop smiling.

Nestled against the dunes and the opulent backdrop of the Hamptons, the house is absolutely stunning and hardly any different from the manor in size and elegance.

Its sleek lines and towering windows reflect the shimmer of the ocean beyond, and the wraparound balconies overlook the private beach stretching endlessly before us in both directions.

“My God, this is beautiful,” I say to Jaxon when we get out of the car.

He smiles, seeming proud of himself and happy that I’m happy. “This house was the closest I could get to paradise at this time of year.”

I skip into his awaiting arms and kiss the edge of his chin. “I absolutely love it.”

“Then I accomplished my mission. Come on, let’s drop off our bags, look around, meet the staff, and hang out on the beach.”

I nod, smiling back at him and loving how much more relaxed he seems. It’s good to see him this way. Like a regular guy and not always in mafia boss mode.

I’m relaxed, too, more than I’ve been in as long as I can remember.

We grab our bags and walk onto the wide front porch lined with oversized loungers and soft, cream-colored cushions, summoning you to sit and bask in the sun. I can’t wait to do so.

We enter endless luxury when we step inside, where the marble floors, high ceilings, and plush, modern furnishings blend perfectly with the coastal vibe.

It’s been a while since I’ve felt this excited. The weather isn’t the best, but it’s fine for us. And the sea is still the sea, whether the weather is hot or cold.

We drop off our bags, meet the house staff, then we head out to the beach, where we walk hand in hand along the shoreline.

I look around, taking it all in, and savor the fresh air along with the gentle hum of the waves.

The sand beneath our feet is soft and golden, kissed by the waves that roll in and out like a gentle breath. It feels like the rest of the world has melted away from us and we’re the only two people left on this planet.

Jaxon slips his arms around me, pulling me closer and smiling down at me. “What are you thinking about, wife?”

“Everything and you, husband .” I giggle, and he catches my face. His thumb traces circles across my skin, sending sparks over my body.

“Good, because I plan to devour every inch of your fuckable body for the entire time we’re here.” That familiar smirk tugs at his lips and I feel it deep in my core.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“You don’t have to. Kazhdaya chast' tebya prinadlezhit mne.”

I chuckle. “What did you say?”

“Every part of you belongs to me.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head, then kisses his way down to my lips.

We stand on the beach kissing and I wish we could stay here forever. Even with all the big dreams I have, nothing feels better than this. This moment, this kiss, this man. My husband.

We frolic on the beach, and when night falls, he picks me up and carries me inside.

His lips are back on mine the moment we get through the door. Seconds later, we’re naked and he has me shoved up against the wall.

He flips me around to face it then buries his cock deep, deep, deep inside me. Then he fucks me against the wall like he’s been starving for me and hasn’t had me in decades.

We stay there until passion and pleasure claim us, then we head to the bedroom, where we lose ourselves in each other all over again.

The days fly by and we indulge even more. It’s like we’re addicted to each other, and he’s one addiction I never want to be cured of.

Saturday night sneaks up on us, and I realize we’ve only got two days left here.

We decide to do a barbeque on the beach. Well, it’s more like Jaxon cooks and I eat .

I’ve discovered that my husband is an excellent cook. Everything he’s made has been chef’s-kiss amazing.

Earlier, he prepared the most delicious steaks, and now he’s making chicken and vegetables on skewers.

I’m sitting on a blanket watching him and watching him cook. He’s got his hair down and it’s hanging in front of his face, making him look insanely sexy. I’ve come to the decision that Jason Momoa actually has nothing on Jaxon Bortsov. This man is in a class of his own.

The fire from the barbeque pit dances over his handsome but serious face, and I wonder what he’s thinking. I noticed that he concentrates a lot when he’s cooking. It’s like he’s trying to make sure everything he does is perfect. I just don’t know how much more perfect it could be.

I’ve gotten to know him a lot more, but I feel that there are still so many things left I don’t know about him.

He picks up a skewer, sets it on a little plate, and walks over to me. He hands me the plate, and I take it, eager to take a bite. It smelled amazing while he was cooking it.

I tuck in and am not surprised that it tastes like something fit for the gods.

“Hmmm. Oh my God, your cooking is divine.” I giggle.

“You can make that sound again when I’m eating you out later.” He playfully brushes my inner thigh and I laugh.

“Where’s your chicken?”

He pushes his hair away from his face and sits next to me. “I’ll grab some in a minute.”

“Everything you’ve cooked tastes amazing. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Thanks. Cooking is an art. You have to put emotion in it, so you create something wonderful.” Only he could describe it like that.

“Who taught you to cook so well? Was it… your mom?” I ask the question with caution because he never talks about his mother.

Jaxon gives me what could pass for a kind smile. “No. It was my brother. He was the cook in the family.”

“Your… brother? I didn’t know you…” I stop when I read the sad look in his eyes. At that moment, I realize I shouldn’t have asked. He just spoke about his brother in the past tense, as in he’s not here anymore.

“My brother, Jacob, died eight years ago. It was a car accident.” He releases a sad breath. “And I never knew my mother. She died giving birth to me.”

A stab of grief ripples across my heart, compressing my insides. I instantly feel bad. I really shouldn’t have brought up this topic.

Weeks ago when I asked about his mother and he told me about her art I never thought for one moment that he never had her in his life.

“I’m so sorry,” I mutter. “I didn’t know.” Eve never told me, but I understand why now. She wanted him to do it.

“I should have told you by now. It’s just hard to talk about.”

“Of course. I know… death.” I say that like I’m actually talking about someone I know.

“I know.”

At least I knew my mother. I had her in my world for fourteen years. He never knew his. Birthdays were a big deal to my mother. But his birthday will always be a sad day.

I reach out and take his hand. He holds mine, and we stare at each other for a moment in silence. Almost like we’re taking those few seconds to honor our lost loved ones.

“Jacob was the favorite.” Jaxon breaks the silence yet still maintains a reflective, reverent tone. “He was older than me by twelve years. He was supposed to be the Pakhan when my father retired. Things changed after he died. My father always adored him but hated me.”

“ Hate ?” He’s made it no secret that he and his father had a strained relationship. But hate is such a strong word. I can’t imagine having a child and hating them.

“He blamed me for my mother’s death.”

“What?” I narrow my eyes and shake my head at the absurdity. “He blames you? How ?”

“I was the boy who should never have been born. My mother knew she could die having me, but she wanted me so badly she had me anyway. My father hated me because I was the thing that killed his soul mate. Growing up with him was horrendous. Honestly, I don’t know how I survived his constant abuse. Now that he’s sick and dying, I’ve finally begun to understand him , but I will never understand his cruelty.”

It’s hard to imagine Jaxon allowing anyone to be cruel to him or hurt him. But he was a child. I know more than most that when you’re in a situation like that, you’re powerless.

“There is never an excuse for that kind of cruelty.”

“No. I’ve spent my life trying to find ways for my father to love me, I suppose. Eventually, it didn’t matter. Eventually, I just didn’t care anymore.”

Months ago when I listened to him speak about all his accomplishments, I felt he’d done it all for a something—or someone —more than himself. I was right.

I also don’t believe his father’s love doesn’t matter to him. I think that’s what he tells himself to make it make sense to him. I do the same with my father.

“I’m so sorry. For everything.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry for you, too. For your mother.” He brings my hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. “I’m sorry your father was an asshole. At least I had Eric, who is more like a father to me than my own. He filled in for both my mother and father.”

“I know Eric means a lot to you.”

“He does. He’s probably the only person I trust, apart from my friends. And Eve.”

A thumping sound cuts into his next words. We both look back at the house. There are guards here, so we aren’t alone. But that sound was weird. Like someone falling to the ground.

I can tell from the way Jaxon looks that he thinks it’s weird, too.

“Stay here. I’m gonna check that out.” He touches my cheek. “It’s probably the guys messing around.”

“Okay.” I hope it is. The one thing I haven’t missed on this trip is the constant paranoia.

Jaxon gets up and makes his way into the house. I nibble on the chicken deciding to eat until he returns.

Jaxon heads inside, and moments later, I polish off the skewer. My hands are a little dirty from touching the food, so I get up to search for a napkin. Movement to my left catches my attention and I find myself standing face to face with a creepy-looking man I’ve never seen before.

He’s got a buzz cut and is tall, and built like a wrestler. A tattered biker jacket shows off his muscular arms while the scars on his face and skeletal neck tattoo enhance his creepo vibe.

At first, I think he must just be a passerby walking on the beach, but then I remember this is our private beach. There wouldn’t be and hasn’t been anyone around but us for the entire time we’ve been here. We haven’t even seen our closest neighbors, who are about a mile away. So, this guy, who’s just standing there looking at me?

He must be a threat. The sort of threat we’ve been worrying about for the last few months.

His menacing smile and sharp stare confirm my thoughts, but I’m frozen in fear so I can’t even call for Jaxon.

“Wow, your father said you were pretty,” the man says, providing further validation of the threat he is. And now I know he was sent by my father. “Me and the boys will definitely enjoy fucking you.”

Oh God, no. Not this again.

Terror snaps me out of my stupor, and I try to run. But I’m not faster than him. I didn’t even see him move. Suddenly, his arms are around me, squeezing me so tightly I fear I may explode.

I scream and I scream and I scream, kicking and thrashing, trying to get out of his grasp.

“Shut the fuck up!” he yells in my ear, the sound of his voice so harsh and abrasive it’s deafening.

He hoists me off the ground and carries me away. Then I hear gunshots coming from inside the house, then the sound is all around me. My mind goes right back to that nightmarish night in Italy years ago when my mother was killed.

This was how it sounded. Bullets ringing through the air and shouting and screaming. The sounds of death.

Panic assails me, but I’m determined not to die.

As I’m carried past the barbeque pit, I grab one of the chicken skewers and stab it into the side of the man’s neck.

He howls in pain and drops me. I take the chance to run.

“Jaxon!” I scream his name as loud as I can.

The man comes back after me and grabs me again, but a bullet lodges right in the middle of his head.

He drops to the ground and I whip around to find Jaxon and Andrieu rushing out the door.

There are still guns firing off in the house.

With his gun in hand, Jaxon rushes toward me, takes me in his arms, and holds me.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, looking me over.

“No, I’m okay.”

Jaxon looks at Andrieu, who has a nasty gash on his forehead. “Take her.”

“Yes, Pakhan.”

“Get her to safety and send backup.”

I’m shaking my head before he can finish. “No, I’m not leaving you.”

“Gabriella, I need to get you somewhere safe. Your father sent these bastards to take you.”

“I can’t leave you.” I grip on to his arm.

“You have to go.”

“But—”

“I love you.”

His words seize the air in my lungs, grip my heart, and reach down deep into my soul.

That’s the first time he’s ever said those three words to me, yet I’ve felt his love a million times over. He never needed to tell me for me to know. But hearing him say it does something different to me. Something magical I never want to forget.

“I love you, too.”

In this state of chaos, his eyes brighten for a moment, and he quickly plants a kiss on my forehead. Then he switches his gaze back to Andrieu. “Take her. Do not let anything happen to her.”

The warning in his tone is evident with a hidden threat Andrieu heeds instantly.

“I won’t,” Andrieu promises, then he takes my arm and is ushering me away from Jaxon.

This is exactly what Mom did for me, too. Tell me she loved me then got me away from danger. I pray tonight won’t end the same way. In death.

And again, it would be my father’s fault.