Page 19 of Vegas Baby
“But I didn’t,” I reply simply.
Sebastian’s anger deflates and he lays his head in my lap, face down, defeated. I stroke his hair, understanding how he feels.
After a moment, he sits up abruptly. “Why was Andrei even talking to Cliff in the first place? Why right then?” he asks suspiciously.
My brows bunch together as I get his meaning. “You think they were working together?” I ask skeptically. He raises an eyebrow, confirming his accusation. I scoff. “Cliff would never.” I ponder it for a moment though before I realize what it must’ve been. “In my message to Andrei yesterday I told him I’d learned he never owned my contract. Cliff told me Andrei came looking for my last check. Andrei must’ve panicked when he knew the money would stop and tried to drain me for the last little bit before I could stop him. Little did he know, it was already too late. But obviously he got something else useful out of Cliff instead.” I frown deeply, knowing I brought it on myself. I should’ve known better.
“Hey,” Sebastian says, lifting my chin with a finger. “It’s not your fault.”
I gaze into his dark eyes, searching for answers. “How is it sometimes it seems like you can read my mind?” I ask.
He huffs out a breath and smiles. “I can’t, Kira, I’m just paying attention.”
His answer hits me in the gut. Because I’m pretty sure nobody has ever paid attention to me the way he has.
“Can we get out of here and go home?” I ask in response.
Sebastian smiles. “I’ll find a nurse.”
I lie back to rest, but Sebastian returns in what feels like moments. Or perhaps I fell asleep.
“I have news,” he says, sitting next to me once more and smiling. So, it’s happy news.
“Yes?”
“They’re processing your discharge paperwork now,” he says, borderline giddy.
I squint at him. “Okay …?”
“And the authorities plan to deport Andrei. They’re putting through an expedited application due to the danger he poses. If all goes well, he’ll be sent back to Russia and turned over to the authorities there in the next two weeks. Until then, he’ll remain in police custody here, no visits, no calls, no hope for outside help.”
I gasp. “You’re joking!”
Sebastian grins. “Not even a little. You’re free, Kira.” The nurse opens the door and Sebastian laughs. “In every sense of the word.”
14
SEBASTIAN
As Kira bursts happily back into the apartment, I have to laugh. I never imagined I’d see her so carefree and upbeat.
“Let’s go see all the things, and eat all the food, and — oh! More chick flicks!” she demands.
I chuckle. “How about we see some of the things, eat all the food, and watch chick flicks?” I counter. “Remember, you still have a neck sprain.”
She pouts a little before her face brightens mischievously. “True. Though you know what today is, don’t you?”
I step forward into her space, slowly, in case she wants to stop me. When she doesn’t, I swipe my hand down the side of her face with a grin. “The first day of the rest of our hopefully very long and very happy lives?” I murmur.
She blinks up at me in surprise. “That’s not what I was going to say … but yes. I hope so too.” She goes up on her toes and presses her mouth tenderly to mine. After a moment, she breaks away. “Today is also the day I can take this —” she taps her cervical collar “— off.”
“Would you like me to do the honors?” I ask.
She steps back into my space this time, pressing up against me. “Yes. But … I want you to take it all off, Sebastian.” She rubs against me, and I inhale sharply.
I place my hands gently on her shoulders, holding her in place.
“Are you sure, Kira? A lot has happened. I don’t want to take advantage of —”