Page 100

Pavel signed us in then led me down a hallway, where I could hear my grandmother's bell-like laughter before I saw her.

She was in a spacious room, sitting in a full-body massage chair watching episodes ofMurder, She Wrote.

"Oh, Alina, darling," she said when I walked through the door. It took her a moment, but she stood and walked over to me, giving me a hug.

She held me tight, with more strength and energy in her body than I had seen in well over a year. Her eyes were clear, her smile bright, and I had to push back tears of joy because I actually recognized the woman my grandmother was, not the shell Alzheimer's was creating.

"Grandma, how are you?"

"I'm fine, dear, just fine. Your new beau has me set up in this wonderful place. Tell me, why did you not introduce us sooner?" She leaned in and stage-whispered, "I like this one. He's such a sweet boy."

I looked back at Pavel, who gave me a smug smirk.

"Grandma, I don't think anyone has called him a boy in many, many years."

Pavel chuckled as my grandmother dissolved into a fit of giggles.

He let me sit and visit with her for some time.

He even played a hand of gin rummy with her, and I was surprised to see genuine amusement flicker across his face as she filled him in on the facility gossip.

He patiently listened to all her reports about which one of the nurses was cheating on her fiancé with a doctor, and who had a crush on the handyman.When my grandmother made a particularly sharp observation about one of the other residents, Pavel actually laughed—a real laugh that transformed his entire face for a moment.

He was kind to her, sweet.

I watched him adjust her blanket when she shivered, saw the way he made sure her water glass stayed full. Small, caring gestures.

For a moment, I almost forgot how much of a monster he really was.

Or at least I would have if he hadn't kept his gaze on me, the intent behind it clear. But even that gaze felt different now. Determined, rather than threatening.

If I wanted her here, if I wanted her happy, I needed to behave.

My freedom paid for her comfort and care.

The second I fucked up, her life was over.

When the nurse came to let us know that visiting hours had ended over an hour ago, Pavel glanced at me first and, seeing I wasn't ready to leave, shot that man a look that turned even my blood cold. The nurse backed away murmuring we could stay as long as we wanted.

But then my grandmother yawned, and we said our goodbyes and she made me promise to come visit again soon and to bring the nice man with me.

She had already forgotten his name.

It was clear she was being taken much better care of here, but the disease was still ever-present.

"Thank you," I said quietly as we walked back to the car. "For taking care of her."

Pavel's hand found the small of my back, the touch surprisingly gentle. "She matters to you. That makes her matter to me."

The simple statement shouldn't have affected me the way it did.

"The marriage thing... is it really the only way?"

"In my world, yes." His voice was matter-of-fact. “Do not forget, as far as my family is concerned you are a liability.”

Oh yes. How could I forget? The only reason I was in this predicament was because I’d witnessed him commit a cold-blooded murder.

It seemed like a lifetime ago. Like it happened to someone else. Like it was nothing more than the hazy memory of a horror movie I’d once watched.