Chapter 130
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Nikolai
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I’d been avoiding the house for over twenty-four hours.
After leaving Velvet, I’d driven aimlessly through the mountains until dawn, went back home and got annoyed by the sight of Sylvia looking so fragile, drove back out and then spent the day in town, nursing coffee and trying to make sense of what the hell was happening to my life.
Every time I thought about facing her, about seeing those bruises and the broken look in her eyes, something in my chest tightened until I couldn’t breathe.
So I stayed away.
Now it was evening, and I was finally dragging myself back because I needed a shower, some food, and maybe eight hours of unconsciousness that might pass for sleep.
The plan was to grab some water from the kitchen, take a scalding shower, and crash in one of the guest rooms. Avoid Sylvia’s room entirely. Avoid thinking about the woman sleeping in my bed who belonged to someone else.
The house was quiet as I let myself in through the back entran
