Page 173 of Wicked Villain

I reach for her hand, the one without any tubes, and give it a gentle squeeze.

“I love you, Mama.” Better to get that in before I go.

We seem to be out of the woods for the massive health scare, but we’re still in trouble.

We? No. Not we.

Me.

I set my shoulders back and turn toward the door. As much as I would like to stay by my mother’s side, with her asleep, it feels like I’m hiding and stalling.

I should find Lev.

Regardless of what happened, he saved my mother.

Had he not come along…

I don’t even want to finish the thought. I’m not ready to lose my mother yet.

I can’t imagine going to the cemetery to visit another grave.

Pulling in a deep breath, I look at Mama once more then leave the room, making my way to Lev.

I walk down the corridor, searching for the private waiting room. I find it a few seconds later. The door is ajar. I push it wider and find Lev standing by the window, his back turned to me.

He knows I’m here. He doesn’t have to look around or move for me to know that.

I walk in and close the door behind me, then take a few steps inside. I stop when I’m a few paces away.

An awful silence settles between us and all the questions I had previously come back to me.

How did he find me?

What is he thinking?

What is he going to do to me?

Mama and I were never going to get to Buenos Aires.

When the silence lingers for far too long, I decide to break it. I owe him. That is the one true thing I know right now.

I have a debt to Lev Karsavin. And all I have to pay it is my gratitude.

“Thank you for saving my mother.” My voice is whisper-soft and small in the tense silence.

“She wouldn’t have needed saving if you hadn’t left.”

My stomach twists. “No,” I rasp in a hoarse voice. “She wouldn’t have.”

He still keeps his back turned. “Was it her idea to leave? Or yours, malyshka?”

I know why he’s asking the question. He wants to know if I truly left of my own will after all we’ve been through and how close we got. I just don’t know what answer to give. Yes, Mama came up with the plan all on her own, but I won’t stand here and make him think she forced me to leave.

“Do you really want to know? I’m not sure it would change anything.”

A new tear streams down my cheek. Quickly, I wipe it away.

“Tell me. I want to know.” He faces me, and those cerulean eyes pin me in place.