Dangerous Sin

Chapter 7: The Aftermath

Elena woke in a hospital room, the sterile smell of antiseptic filling her nostrils. The sky outside the window was gray, the clouds heavy with rain. Her shoulder throbbed with a dull, persistent pain.

"Hey."

She turned her head to see Alexander sitting in a chair beside her bed. He looked terrible—unshaven, dark circles under his eyes, his clothes wrinkled. But his eyes, when they met hers, were filled with relief.

"How long?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"Two days. You lost a lot of blood."

"Damian?"

"In custody. He's facing charges of attempted murder, trafficking, conspiracy. He'll never see the outside of a prison again."

Elena closed her eyes, relief washing over her. It was over. Or at least, this part of it was.

"The evidence?"

"Safe. I delivered it to the FBI myself. The Castellans are being arrested as we speak. Victoria, her father, the whole family. They're going down."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. "You saved my life."

"You saved mine first. The lie about the evidence—that was brilliant."

"I didn't know what else to do."

Alexander reached for her hand, his fingers warm around hers. "I'm sorry. For everything. For dragging you into this, for putting you in danger, for lying to you."

"You didn't drag me. I chose to help. For my father. For Miguel."

"I know. But I should have protected you better."

Elena squeezed his hand. "You did. You came for me."

They sat in silence, the rain beginning to fall against the window. There was so much between them—secrets, lies, pain. But also something else, something fragile and new.

"What happens now?" she asked.

"Now you rest. And when you're better, we figure out what comes next."

"The marriage. The contract."

"We'll figure it out. Together."

Together. The word felt like a promise.

Elena closed her eyes, exhaustion pulling her under. But for the first time since this nightmare began, she felt something like hope.