Page 46 of Protected by the Sinner (The Sinner’s Touch #2)

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I don’t think I’ve ever felt fear until today.

All along my path, solitude was always welcome. But as I watch—again—my woman lying in a hospital bed, I realize that, aside from Ruslan, I have no one to share this with.

The doctor arrived shortly after she fainted, and it didn’t take long for Amber to wake up. Still, she didn’t seem like herself. She wouldn’t speak, wouldn’t make eye contact. When we got to the hospital, the obstetrician suggested I leave her to rest, saying I was making her anxious.

Coincidence or not, when I called Elodie, she had just landed in Boston.

I explained that Amber had regained her memory—and again, that there was no more risk in coming to Louisiana.

I told her to head to the airline desk—one I partially own—because I’d arranged a first-class ticket to bring her here.

I’ve been waiting for her for about two hours when my secure phone rings. It’s Ruslan.

The device—untraceable and highly encrypted—was a gift from him.

Designed by Odin Lykaios’s [13] company and sold to the U.S.

Intelligence Agency, it was custom-built at the request of Ruslan’s grandson, Grigory, who’s been friends with the Greek tech magnate for years.

This particular model was made especially for the Organization.

“I heard what happened. Are she and the baby okay?”

“How do you know about the fainting?”

“I went back to Russia, but I would never leave you and your family unprotected. I know you handled the issue with the damn Italian, and I believe that’s the end of that story—but I don’t trust the Sicilians.”

I don’t even know why I’m surprised anymore that he’s always in the loop. Since the day I met him, Ruslan has always been there, somehow knowing exactly when I need him.

“She remembered everything. I still don’t know what that means. She started screaming that she had betrayed me, and then she passed out. The doctor politely asked me to give her space.”

“And you listened?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to make her okay. Even if it means staying in the background.”

“You really love her.”

“Yes, I do. When I saw the guilt on her face, the horror at thinking she’d betrayed me, I felt her pain. I wanted to take it away.”

“If what you two have is real, everything will work out in the end.”

“Yeah. It will. I won’t give up on our family.”

“And what about the cult?”

“I’m coordinating to get the girls out, but I don’t want to delay the plan.”

“Let me know if you need backup.”

“Thanks, but I have to handle this myself. For Amber.”

I wouldn’t even need Roman walking beside the woman coming down the hospital corridor to know she’s Elodie Martin.

Other than being slightly shorter than her sister and wearing her hair shoulder-length, they could pass for twins.

“Beau, how is she?” she asks, pulling me into a hug.

It’s not easy to catch me off-guard, but Elodie just did—with style.

We’ve spoken on the phone a few times, mostly about details regarding the elders, but I didn’t expect her to be so open.

Maybe a more serious version of Amber, being the older sister.

Definitely wasn’t expecting a hurricane.

She’s also . . . very colorful .

Attractive in her own way, but she wears way too many colors for my taste. Honestly, I’m not even sure I know all the names of the ones she’s got on.

“Your sister woke up,” I manage to say, “but the doctor said I should leave her alone to avoid stressing her out.”

“That doctor’s a moron. Amber doesn’t like distance, and she doesn’t have that suffocated feeling most women get when faced with a possessive guy. We’re both touchy-feely. We like hugs and kisses—I mean, not from everyone, but I’m sure she loves yours.”

I try to mentally catalog everything she’s telling me—it’s all useful—but I probably miss a third of it. She talks fast. Very fast.

“Here’s what you’re going to do,” she says, as if totally confident in her plan. “You’re going in there right now and talking to her. Openly.”

“Don’t you think you should see her first?”

“No. If I go in first, she’ll feel safe and get emotional. Then the chances of her wanting to see you today go down.” She plants her hands on her hips, making a bunch of her bracelets jingle. “So, what’s it gonna be?”

I don’t need to think. “I’m going in.”

I knock on the hospital room door out of courtesy—but I’m going in whether she says I can or not.

The doctor—the hospital’s obstetrician—is standing by her bed, looking way too invested.

I’m at my limit, and this is the final straw.

I think I make some kind of sound in my throat because he looks up.

He starts to say something, but I beat him to it.

“Out.”

He stares at me, but after a few seconds, he’s smart enough to back off.

When the door closes, she leans back against the pillows. “Beau, I don’t think this is—”

“No, I need to talk. The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with you or the baby, so I’m not waiting. Otherwise, you’ll get all emotional,” I say, echoing Elodie’s words.

She frowns. “You talked to my sister?”

“I did. But that’s beside the point. About what you said before fainting—I understand the shock of getting your memory back and realizing how things started between us. But let me tell you something: You remembered your side of the story. I deserve to share mine.”

“What’s there to say? I acted like a . . . I . . .”

“You did what you had to do to save the only family you had left. And there was no betrayal, because the moment I saw you, I already knew you were mine.”

“The day I got hit by that car, I overheard you talking to someone, maybe Roman. You had called me and didn’t realize it. I was so stunned I crossed the street without looking. I was sure you’d never forgive me.”

“So was I,” I say honestly. “But I hadn’t realized yet that I was already completely in love with you. If things were different, Amber, if you’d planned to have me killed, even loving you, I wouldn’t be able to forget. But how could I hate you for doing what you did out of love for Elodie?”

She opens her arms to me, and I step closer, though I don’t touch her just yet. My emotions are right at the surface. I’ve been through hell over the past few hours.

“I don’t deserve you,” she says.

I sit on the bed and pull her into my arms. “Don’t be fooled, Amber. I’m no saint. Forgiving you isn’t some noble act; it’s purely selfish. I love you. But don’t expect me to forget it if you ever do something like this again, no matter the reason. I take loyalty to the extreme.”

I look her in the eyes to make sure she understands I’m breaking all my rules for this crazy love, but there will be no second chances.

“I’ll never betray you again. I promise. I’m so ashamed . . .”

“How ashamed?”

“I can’t even put it into words.”

“There is one thing you can do to make it right.”

“Anything, Beau.”

I pull a small box containing a diamond ring from my pocket. “Marry me. Be my love, my home. Let’s build the family we never had. Be my anchor and my lover. My daisy.”

“You remembered.”

“I remember everything you told me.”

She’s got her face buried in my chest, but she stretches out her hand for the ring. “Yes. I want to be your daisy, Beau.”