Page 26 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 25

Simon

Simon lifted his head, letting Valentina fluff the pillow behind him before dropping onto it.

“You don’t need to fuss over me.”

She touched a manicured hand into his shoulder, pressing him down into the cushions. “It’s no trouble.”

He sighed, his gaze shifting to the window and the world beyond. He was lucky to be alive. That's what they kept telling him: the doctors, the nurses, and the specialist who was working out a surgery date and rehabilitation schedule for his broken back.

But he didn’t feel lucky. He felt mortal, something he hadn’t felt in nearly a century.

Something he’d never expected to feel again.

At least now, it would be easier to end it. The thought had replayed in his mind since the moment he’d awoken and understood what had happened.

Simon didn’t remember seeing her in Spain. Didn’t remember the flight back to the US. He only remembered Valentina’s words when he woke up in a hospital bed in New York.

Snowflakes drifted past his window, settling along the sill. They stuck, forming a white barrier around the rim. This early in September, they shouldn’t have snow, much less snow that didn’t melt. The strange weather was connected to Elizabeth somehow, but he could be of no help in his condition.

He could never be of help to anyone again. The doctor said he’d walk eventually; with hard work and a rigorous PT schedule, he could be on his feet in six months. He would have laughed if it didn’t hurt to breathe.

“Baby, let me get you some soup.”

Valentina’s voice grated on his nerves. He longed to tell her to leave. To lose his number and never call him again. But she’d told Rebecca about them, and he understood her well enough to know she’d never forgive him for this. It would be dumb to burn a bridge with his business partner when she was so heavily invested in their firm. Not to mention, several of the other partners were likely to back her if he asked for a split.

A messy divestiture while he was recovering from back surgery and dealing with his new mortality was illogical. So, he’d kept his mouth shut as Valentina fussed and cooed over him, counting the days until he could extricate himself from her clutches.

Still, he fumed internally, knowing Valentina’s intent toward Rebecca had been malicious, whatever she said. They hadn’t been together in years; he’d never lied to her. She knew Rebecca was the only woman he’d ever love. That mean streak in her was what had driven them apart years ago.

Once, he’d thought of Valentina as so much more than a friend. The first true confidant he’d ever had. Someone he could talk to about his long life. Rebecca remembered none of it until her memories returned, leaving him feeling completely alone for years at a time. Before Valentina, he’d resigned himself to a life on hold until Rebecca came back to him.

But what had started as friendship quickly developed into something else.

He knew he should have ended it, but a selfish part of him enjoyed being first in someone’s life, never forgotten or set aside for family obligation, a curse, or death. When he learned of Allie’s murder, he realized how wrong he’d been. Valentina hadn’t taken it well, but she’d never acted out so overtly before.

He only thanked his lucky stars he’d never told her about Claire. It would have been the first thing out of her mouth, and then the door to Rebecca’s heart would have truly been closed forever.