Page 82 of Dangerous Promises

"I'm close," I say, hanging up on him as well.

Before I head towards the window I find a hesitation in my step. I turn back to look at Sage who has rolled over now, her arms outstretched and hogging the side of the bed that I just left.

I am so fucked.

I open her window and jump down the two floors where I land upright in the garden bed below, only a small stumble in my step. I straighten my shirt and tuck it in, hoping it dries quicker in the sun. I step out of the garden bed just as Freddie comes strolling around the corner.

He purses his lips and nods. "Hm. Youwereclose," he says, ignoring the obvious as he hands me an assault rifle and directs me towards the front gates.

"Come on."

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Sage

My eyes snap open when I hear the open window gently tapping against the wall. I sit up, startled as I survey the empty space in the bed next to me. How much of last night was a dream? How long was I asleep? How long did he stay?

His clothes are gone, but he's left his socks behind like a weirdo. The only evidence of him ever being here is his inability to close the window that he clearly jumped out of. I suppose that's better than him leaving through my bedroom door.

Heading to the window, I kick the socks out of my path because ew, I'm not touching them, and hang my head out to look out across the estate. Oddly enough, Alexei is still right there. Just in the distance by the front gates, walking up the path with Freddie and holding an assault rifle in his hand.

Odd. The whole thing is just… strange. The fact that he was here and the fact that he hadn't left. I probably didn't miss himby much. Did he spend the whole night wrapped around me? Perhaps. I feel more well rested than I usually do.

With those peculiar thoughts circling my mind I shut the windows and get dressed for the day.

The house is quiet and mostly empty when I head downstairs much later in the day than I would usually be awake. I'm surprised to see Dad sitting out on the porch alone, a full table of breakfast spread in front of him that he hasn't touched. I can just see him through the kitchen windows, sitting there doing nothing in particular but staring off into space.

"Sage?" Dad's voice comes to me from outside.

I cringe, having been spotted. I suppose I should've showered. Is it possible to smell like a Rushkoff? Is Dad's bloodhound nose strong enough to sniff him on me?

I should wash my sheets.

"Sage, come out here."

I place a smile on my face and head out there, greeting him warmly with a kiss on the cheek and a loyal, "Morning, Dad!"

Dad huffs. His recovery is going well, and he's regaining more and more strength every day. The wheelchair is gone and he's onto using a cane to help himself around. It's both heartwarming and terrifying to see. The stronger he gets the more likely he is to come in and stop everything before it can be finished.

But I want to be grateful. I don't want to be focused on hiding from him long enough to see this through. I don't want to lie and manipulate him. I want to take the chance to make things right.

I can't bring myself to do either. My heart breaks at the distance between us. Distance that wasn't there before I did everything I did.

Dad looks at me with a strange expression, not even watching what he does as he butters his toast. I resist the urge to sniff my shirt to make sure it doesn't actually smell like Alexei.

"Anima mia," he says on a sigh. "Sit closer."

He pats the chair next to him and pulls it out for me to join. I rush to take the load away and pull my own chair out before he can strain himself doing so.

"I'm afraid..." he starts, searching for the words. "Something is different. With you."

"You were gone for over a year, Dad. Lots happened," I say, giving my best sweetheart daughter expression.

He frowns. "I know that. Yet somehow, I feel like I don't know you."

"Dad..." I feel a pang in my heart. He doesn't know me. Not who I am now. And probably not who I was back then, either.