Page 52 of Sins and Virtue

Relishing in our little squabble, I dipped the warm towel in the warm water, twisting and squeezing it out as I grabbed his arm and carefully lathered it down. Mindlessly humming, I noticed the black ink of his tattoos was so intricate I wondered what some of them meant.

Konstantin scratched his nearly week-old scruff as he asked. “How’s the child?”

“Ah, Mauricio, great actually! A bit roughened up by the experience, but he was in awe of how you saved him. I'm actually not supposed to tell you this, but he and the other children wrote you someget-bettercards.”

A fraction of sentiment passed his eyes as he became stoic again. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“You were brave out there. Seriously,” I paused, looking directly into his eyes. “Any other man would have cowered away.”

“It doesn’t matter whether I was a hero or a coward. I brought this danger upon you and took responsibility for it.”

Wow, a man taking accountability was the hottest thing ever.

Heavy weariness accumulated like a dark storm off the coast as he remained quiet for several seconds, but my curiosity got the best of me.

“Did you know that guy?”

“No, probably some low-level henchman sent by someone. No one that high up would expose themselves so stupidly,” he tsked with a heavier accent. “Damn fucker.”

“Why?”

“Because now that I’m out, I’m a threat. A liability. A vault of secrets many wouldn’t want to get out. I wasn’t an enforcer for no reason, kotyonok. I did bad things. Saw bad things and made sure no one would find out if I didn’t want to.” He ominously foretold, his gaze an impenetrable field.

Dealing with mafiosos wasn’t new to me, but with the current situation, the scaling of danger was incomprehensible. I mean, how did they sleep at night knowing there was a target on their backs constantly?

Well, that’s a thought I should ask myself too.

“My only concern is they know I’m still in the city. It means they’re watching. Why?” He murmured something along those lines.

An eerie pricking foreshadowing made goosebumps break on my skin.

My lips parted, nearly asking why when Reverend Mother, Sister Alice, and the head nurse walked in.

“Oh, look who’s awake?” The forty-something-year-old nurse breathed in delight, wearing blue scrubs and white sneakers.

I broke away from him and turned to the audience, his eyes following.

“Thank god,” Sister Alice and Reverend Mother sighed a cross.

“How are you doing, sir?” Reverend Mother inquired with a pleasant tone and polite smile.

“Better, sisters. Thank you both for your thoughts and prayers. Especially for keeping Blair to watch over me.” Kon acted like a distinguished gentleman as I gazed back at him with a look telling him to drop it.

If he acted too mushy-mushy, people would question.

“Oh, it’s nothing!” Sister Alice insisted, waving off with her eyes bright. “Especially with a kind soul as yourself, we know we needed to extend a hand after all you did for the child.”

“Yes, exactly. It was a true act of selflessness. Something that should be rewarded.” Reverend Mother added.

The pair appeared smitten by him, heart eyes in their gaze like in a cartoon.

Geez, what a bunch of desperate—

“Well, now that he’s up, will you ladies give us a moment? I’ll bring the doctors in to examine if everything is okay.” The nurse commented, approaching the bedside and checking the IVs and vitals.

Sister Alice pouted, not wanting to leave. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, it is necessary for us to see the patient thoroughly,” the nurse answered.