Relentless Sinner

Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

Gabriella

It’s time to leave.

My soul weeps as I’m ushered away again, and there’s a desolate feeling inside me that’s so dark I don’t think I’ll ever experience light again.

Two guards lead me down the hallway. When we reach outside, they escort me over to Eric and Dad, who are both standing by a black Porche parked on the driveway.

As the two are dressed in black, the oncoming night makes them look like demons who’ve surfaced from hell. The description is fitting.

“Wonderful. Ready to go?” Dad smiles as he looks from me to Eric.

“Yes, we’re ready.” Eric nods but then focuses on Dad and tilts his head. “However, I’m afraid you won’t be going much further, Salvatore.”

The smile slides off Dad’s face like wet snow. “What do you mean? We agreed I’d go to Russia with you.”

“No. That was you. You agreed you were going to Russia. But thanks so much for doing all the paperwork.”

“What the hell?” Before Dad can say another word, Eric pulls out his gun and shoots him in his chest. Dad gets another bullet to his head when he drops to the ground.

I shriek at the sight of him gasping for breath and then the life leaving his body. I always wondered how I’d feel if Dad were killed. I wondered if I’d feel anything.

I can honestly say that I do, but more for the horror of seeing it happen and knowing he was my father. The distress I should feel over losing him isn’t there.

“Take him away,” Eric orders the guards.

Quickly, they clear Dad away as if he were nothing more than a pile of leaves.

Eric opens the car door to the back and waves me forward. “After you, my love.”

His words twist my stomach, making me feel like I’m gonna be sick.

The guard shoves me forward, and I crawl into the backseat of the car. Eric gets in beside me. The guards file in next, and one starts up the car.

We drive out the massive wrought-iron gates, then we’re on the road driving away from the house, my father’s remains and Jaxon.

“Thought you’d be happier,” Eric remarks, reaching out to touch my thigh.

I pull back, not wanting him to touch me. “Why the hell would I be happy?”

“Your father was one hell of a bastard. Now he’s been dealt with.”

“Do not expect any gratitude from me. You’re the same kind of bastard.”

He smirks. “I guess we’re not that different.”

“Actually, you’re worse. At least my father didn’t hide who he was. You did. Jaxon looked up to you.”

“I know. He is my only regret. But we’d never be able to go back to how we were after I told him I killed his brother.”

My stomach twists again. I was with him when he was speaking to Jaxon earlier, so I got the shocking truths at the same time as Jaxon.

“You are evil. This isn’t retribution. It’s pure evil.”

“That is your opinion. Retribution is whatever the wronged person feels will alleviate his loss. This is what I want, so you better get used to it. Wife .”

I’m going to be physically sick. I turn away from him and stare out the window.

“I will not be ignored.” He grabs my arm and yanks me back toward him.

Just then, a fleet of cars suddenly appears ahead of us. They stop and spread out across the road, blocking it.

Eric releases my arm and stares ahead. “What the fuck is this?”

“I don’t know, boss,” the guard driving the car replies, slowing down.

“Turn back and go the other way.”

The guard flips the car into a U-turn then drives back where we came from only to be met with another fleet of cars.

Hope fills my heart. Although I have nothing to base it on. This could be something else entirely.

Jaxon was chained up in a cage, so who would rescue us?

“It’s the Creed. Drive through them!” Eric shouts.

The Creed.

“Boss, we can’t do that.”

“Do it.”

The guard speeds up the car but then has to slow it right down when a large military truck pulls out in front and at least fifty armed men jump out. They look like something from a war movie.

They’re already surrounding the car before the guard stops it. One of them practically rips off the door and yanks the guard out. He starts to protest but gets a bullet to the head.

The door beside Eric opens. He tries to point his gun at the man but is pulled out of the car with a growl. I slide over to get a better look.

It’s Jaxon!

Oh my God. It’s really him.

How did he get free?

How?

I don’t care. He’s free now, and that’s all that matters.

One of the men pulls out the guard sitting in the passenger seat. I get out of the car but stumble, almost falling on my face, but someone catches me. It’s Micah.

I’ve never been so happy to see him.

“You’re okay. I got you,” he says, steadying me as I hold on to his arm.

We both look back at Jaxon as he shoves Eric into the side of the car.

“Jaxon, surely, we can come to some agreement,” Eric says, no longer sounding as menacing and confident as he did minutes ago.

“ Agreement ?” Jaxon raises a gun and shoots Eric in his stomach. “No, there will be no agreement. You double-crossing bastard. You killed my brother, and you kidnapped my wife.”

“All those memories we shared,” Eric stutters.

“Mean nothing to me now. Goodbye, Eric.” Three more shots rip through the air, and even when Eric crumples to the ground, Jaxon doesn’t stop shooting until he empties the bullets in his gun.

His face and chest are stained with Eric’s blood, but when he looks over at me, I can’t help myself. I run toward him, falling into his awaiting arms.

He holds me tight, like he’ll never let me go, and I pray he doesn’t because I’m not leaving him.

The war is over now.

No more danger. No more threats.

“Do you girls want some more hot cocoa?” Eve asks, looking at Cora and me on the sofa as she sets down another plate of cookies on the coffee table.

Eve has been fussing over me since I got home last night and has hardly left my side.

“No, we’re okay. If I have any more hot cocoa, I’ll burst.” I chuckle.

“Me too,” Cora agrees. “I will enjoy these cookies, though.”

“Perfect. Just let me know if you need any more.”

“We will. Thanks, Eve.” I give her a grateful smile and she returns it. It’s so great to be home with the people I love.

She leaves us and Cora grabs a chocolate chip cookie. “I’ll head out as soon as Jaxon gets home.”

“Thanks for coming over.”

“Are you kidding? Of course, I was going to be here.” She gives me that look again. It’s a cross between concern and relief.

I understand the look. Nobody we know has been kidnapped as much as me. It’s starting to become a worry now.

Cora spent the day with me while Jaxon has been with his father.

Illya miraculously survived, but only just. He’s been in the hospital and isn’t doing well. We’ll be taking him to Russia as soon as he’s able to leave the hospital and manage the flight.

According to what I’ve been told, he shouldn’t even be planning to leave the hospital, let alone fly, but his wish to die in Russia is being honored.

“How are you doing?” Cora asks for the millionth time today. “I can’t believe so much happened to you and again, I didn’t know.”

“Maybe it’s best you didn’t. It was awful, Cora. All of it. And I was terrified.”

“I can just imagine.” She bites the inside of her lip and places her cookie on her plate. “We haven’t talked about your father yet. How are you feeling about him? You… watched him die.”

“I feel nothing. And that’s terrible. But how can I feel what a daughter should after losing her father? All of this happened because of him. And he didn’t care about me, Cora. He didn’t care about me or Natasha.”

“I understand. I just thought you might need to talk about it.”

“I think that’s all the talk left in me for him.” The only thing left to talk about is Jaxon and me.

We were inseparable yesterday, and he barely wanted to leave my side earlier when he left for the hospital. He needed medical attention, too, but he only saw the doctors briefly before he was off. He’s not the kind of man who’ll be resting when there are things to be done. Even if he’s been advised to by his doctors.

“As long as you’re okay.”

“I am,” I assure her.

We both hear the front door open, and Cora smiles at me.

That should be Jaxon.

“I think this is my cue to head out. I’ll be taking these.” She giggles while gathering a batch of cookies in a napkin.

We both laugh.

Jaxon appears at the door and looks at us, offering a kind smile. His face is still bruised, and he has a few stitches on his jaw and above his eye.

“Ladies,” he greets us.

“I was heading out. See you both in a few days.” Cora smiles back at him and leaves.

I stand when Jaxon comes closer and meet him halfway for a warm embrace. I get lost in his heartbeat and scent. Both feel like a dream I want to disappear in forever.

He pulls back a little and stares at me with that adoration in his eyes that always softens his face. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How is your father?”

A touch of sadness invades his expression and he shakes his head. “Not so good, but I suppose he’s better than he was yesterday.”

“That’s hopeful.”

“Yeah, but they’re just basically getting him well enough to make the journey to Russia. He’s stubborn and won’t hear of staying. But I get it.”

“Me too. I understand why he wants to be there.” I reach up and touch his face, searching his eyes. “What about you? How are you feeling?”

“I’m not sure. Everything that’s happened comes down to his wicked ways.”

“Does he know about Eric?”

“Yeah. I felt he should know.”

I’m glad. “I think you made the right decision.”

“Yeah. I think so, too.” He cups my face, and I release him. “We need to talk about us.”

“I’m not leaving you. I don’t care what you say. I’m not going anywhere.” I step out of his embrace, but he pulls me back, taking both my elbows.

“I’m not letting you go, Gabriella.”

To my surprise, he gets down on both knees, takes my hand with my rings, and kisses my knuckles. Then he presses my hand to his cheek and stares at me.

“This is how I should have done it. Proposed on both knees and asked you to be mine forever. I’m lucky to have you.”

I smile down at him, loving him even more. “Oh, Jaxon. I’m lucky to have you, too.”

“I don’t know about that, but I want to be the man you deserve. My life is filled with danger, but I will always, always protect you so you know you’re safe with me. All I want to do now is love you.”

My heart soars, lifting my soul with it. “Only if I get to love you, too.”

“You do.” He stands and pulls me in for a kiss. “I love you, Gabriella Bortsov.”

“I love you, too, Jaxon Bortsov.”

“I think we need to go to bed now,” he whispers across my lips with a smile in his voice. “My body misses yours like crazy.”

“Then take me.”

He scoops me up and carries me to our bed. There he takes off my clothes layer by layer until I’m naked.

Placing his head between my thighs, he pushes his tongue into my pussy, instantly pulling a desperate orgasm from me.

My God, I love his mouth on me and in me.

He continues to feast on me then claims my body for the rest of the night, making me his all over again and taking me to that place I never want to leave.

I’ve come to realize that place is anywhere he is.

That’s where I’ll always belong.

Right by his side.