Page 10 of Unforgiving Queen

“Not right now.” Of course the Pakhan had insisted on remaining here. If he’d left, I’d have bribed this motherfucker of a doctor and stayed in here until the police or Interpol showed up. “What’s your deal with Romero?”

“No deal.” Just couldn’t stand the motherfucker even more since learning he was my biological father.Hecost me Reina. I didn’t give a shit if my blame made sense or not. I pinned it on him.

“Is she awake?” I asked, hoping I could get at least that.

“She’s been in and out.”

“I need to see her.” Illias didn’t seem moved by my persistence.

“And she needs her family.” His voice was grave. “She needs this surgery.”

“Then tell this guy to do it,” I snapped. “He will if you green-light it.”

“I will not.” Dr. Dubois’s no-nonsense face told me he meant it. I had a feeling my heart was going to give out if I didn’t save the cinnamon girl even at the cost of my own sanity.

So I did the only thing I could.

“Fine.” I cleared my throat so I wouldn’t choke, and there wasn’t enough air in the fucking room as I braced myself to finish. “I’ll give you her family’s contact information.”

Fuck, it killed me to say that.

“It’s the right thing, Amon.”

Then why did it feel so fucking wrong? I walked over to peer through the glass, her unconscious form deathly still on the bed. Her golden curls framed her pale face, making my heart twist.

I did that. Me.

I wrenched myself from the window and turned to find Illias staring at me. Somewhere in the room, the soft drip of a sink registered. The scent of bleach and disinfectant perfumed the air.

“I never thanked you,” I started, raking a hand through my hair. I forced myself to take deep breaths until my heartbeat slowed.

“You would have done the same thing for me.”

I nodded. “I owe you. I won’t forget it.”

Illias let out a sardonic breath. “If you owe me, I won’t bother collecting from Romero.” I couldn’t tell whether he was joking or not. It didn’t really matter.

“You’ve met Reina before?” I asked.

No answer.

He leaned against the nearest wall, his expression unreadable. “What’s the story with you and her?”

“No story.”Not anymore. He scoffed and shook his head. “It’s none of your business,” I finally added, hoping he’d drop the subject.

Illias’s sigh contained exasperation. “Ah, to be young again,” he muttered. “Believe it or not, I’m on your side.”

“For now.”

Another, deeper sigh. “I’m not in the habit of switching my alliances, Amon.”

I glanced between Illias and the girl who’d brought sunshine into my life. “I know.” Illias Konstantin was a man of his word.

“It’s obvious there’s something going on with you two,” he remarked. When I didn’t answer, he continued, “I saw her at the party. She seemed pretty distraught when she saw you with your woman.”

I swallowed the lump of guilt in my throat.

“Not my woman,” I muttered, closing my eyes and pressing my fingers to my temple. “I’m going crazy.” The last three months had felt like a train wreck, and it was catching up to me.