Page 28 of Sinful Lord

“These should warm the place up,” I mumble, picking up the two boxes I grabbed on my way over here. Inside are two small but strong space heaters. I pull them out of their packaging and set them up around the apartment.

The small space immediately warms up. I didn’t think they’d work this fast, but I’m glad they have. Melina will be on her way home from the hospital any minute now and I need to get out of here before she arrives.

But I won’t leave until everything is set up.

No big surprises over the next few weeks.

Fuck. Those were the doctor’s exact words. There’s little more I want to do than take care of her in every little way as she recovers from her nightmare, but I know seeing me would only plunge her into a whole different kind of bad dream.

For her sake, I’ll make sure my reintroduction is slow and gentle—even if I’m already getting restless.

It’s been two days since I left Melina in that hospital bed, surrounded by nurses and doctors. Her cold blue lips and pale white skin still haunt me, along with all the guilt and rage I feel for letting her down.

In an attempt to calm my inner storm, I’ve put myself to work. For the last forty-eight hours, I’ve been furiously trying to find out who’s responsible for what happened. But I keep hitting dead ends.

Hell, even the van crash that led to Melina’s escape had been almost entirely cleaned up by the time I managed to trace its location. No cops seemed to be involved. There was no mention of it in the news this morning. I’ve only heard crickets.

It feels like something big is being covered up. But no one wants to give me a clue.

I don’t know this town, and it doesn’t want to get to know me.

My phone starts ringing again as I reach into the hallway and pull a suitcase inside.

Once again, I ignore it for bigger problems.

How the hell am I going to figure this shit out?

Usually, I can brute force my way through a case. I can kill and maim and threaten my way to clarity. And if somehow that doesn’t work, I’ve always been able to outmaneuver all of my rivals.

But it’s hard to outmaneuver shadows, especially when you don’t speak their language. And it’s even harder to physically force my way through the underworld when I don’t know anyone in it.

I’ll have to find a way, because whoever tried to take Melina will be back, and more will follow in their footsteps.

She’s a hot commodity. A mafia princess on the run. Everyone wants to use her for their benefit.

But she’s not theirs to use.

She’s mine.

Zipping open my suitcase, I pull out everything else I’ve brought for my little runaway. That includes a cache of top-of-the-line art supplies; paints, brushes, and every small canvas I could get my hands on.

I also fill her tiny bathroom with medicine and pain relievers, both doctor-prescribed and personally recommended—I’ve been through my share of recoveries before, and I know what helps most.

When I’m finished up in there, I head into the kitchen and open the fridge. It’s no surprise that it’s nearly empty. I was thinking of bringing over some food, but then I realized I don’t know what Melina likes to eat.

What’s her favorite food? Her favorite drink? Her favorite dessert?

Shutting the fridge door, I look towards where one of my cameras is hidden. I’ll know all about Melina soon enough, but not just because I’ll be watching her. I’ll also be tracking her.

Running a hand through my hair, I head back into the living room and rifle through the rest of the suitcase.

A few wads of cash transfer from my hand to Melina’s nightstand, as do two pre-paid credit cards. This way she can order in whatever food she likes without having to go outside. That means I’ll always know where she is. It also means I can keep count of each cent she spends.

But that’s only the beginning.

Melina’s new laptop and phone go directly on the bed. These are the most important items I brought, even more important than the heaters and the medicine. These are how I’m going to communicate with her, all while keeping a respectful distance. It's how I’ll work my way into her life without having to threaten it with my presence. Only when she’s recovered and ready for me will I appear to her. Only then will I take what I came for.

My eyes drift toward her dresser drawer. The scent of her panties practically wafts from the seams. My fists clench. My cock swells. But somehow, my mind is able to stay focused.