Page 24 of Sinner's Sacrifice

“You are such a pain in my ass.”

He opened his mouth, but she stopped him with a palm in front of his face. “Don’t say it.”

He shut the car door instead.

Magnus slowly got out of the car as well, but aside from watching them walk into the motel’s parking lot, did nothing else.

Sam tripped on a crack in the pavement, and Yvgeny reached out and caught her before she could do more than wobble.

A funny, shocked noise came out of her mouth, but she didn’t pull away from him. For a moment, they stared at each other, until he realized they were out in the open and mostly likely being observed by many.

He dropped her arm. “Try not to break your leg. It would be inconvenient if my on-site paramedic needed a hospital visit and extensive recovery time.”

She rolled her eyes. “My apologies. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”

That made him want to laugh again.

Twice in less than five minutes.

What was wrong with him? He’d gone decades without laughing, and now he was doing it at nearly everything she said or did.

“Did Darlene give you a room number, or are we going to knock on every door?”

Sam looked at him oddly for a moment, then said, “Yeah, I have a room number. One-twenty-two.” They headed for it, but she was still looking at him with suspicion in her gaze.

“What?” he asked. “Do I have asparagus growing out of my head?”

“Eww, no. I was just surprised.”

“By...”

“You remembered her name.”

“Names are important, Samantha. Especially the ones we give ourselves.”

“Stop with the wisdom sound bites,” she said in a disgruntled tone. “You’re too young.”

He laughed so hard he stopped walking.

She stopped too, watched him for a moment, then muttered, “See, this is what I mean. You are the most confusing man I’ve ever met. That wasn’t funny.”

“It’s hilarious,” he gasped, as he reined in the humor bubbling through his blood.

She shook her head, continued to the motel room door, and knocked on it.

The curtains in the window next to the door twitched.

A voice, muffled by the wood, came from inside the room. “What do you want?”

“I’m a paramedic. Sharon knows me. I heard she’s not feeling well and came to help.”

“We can’t afford help,” the voice said, almost too quietly to hear.

“I don’t charge for my services.”

“Bullshit.”

Sam closed her eyes for a moment. “Tell Sharon Sam is here and ask her if I’m full of shit.”