PURPLE HEART - Soliders Of Fortune [BOOK TWO]

Chapter FORTY ONE

Sunday 'Sunny' Santos

...a few days later...

I stare at the miserable looking plate of soggy Huevos Rancheros sitting sadly upon the marble kitchen counter.. When the clock ticks to 10am, my hopes are dashed as it becomes bitterly obvious that once again Max won't be joining me for breakfast.. Just like yesterday, and the day before that..

It's been almost a week since the whirlwind night of sex and carnage at Blazhénstva, and ever since The Loan Shark has taken every opportunity available to avoid me.. We've hardly spent more than five minutes in each other's presence for days, and even when we do speak, the talk has become small and civilised.. As if we were little more than acquaintances rather than betrothed..

Which I suppose is exactly what we are..

But now, with the date of our faux-nuptials fast approaching, I am forced to consider whether or not Max is having second thoughts about marrying me, or if there is another reason for his withdrawn and standoffish manner..

I know I couldn't blame him if his feet felt a little chilly, after all, it had been a crazy plan to begin with and I still have no idea why he thought I would be the person to help him execute it.. Yet I wonder if it is not the plan at all that scares him; rather it is the intimacy between us and my growing feelings towards him that give him pause for thought..

Is it a fear of commitment that keeps Max at such an unreachable distance?
Or is there a more sinister secret he keeps hidden away behind that stoic facade?

Either way, it seems unlikely today will be the day I'll get the chance to ask..

Disappointed and dejected, I scoop up the wasted plate to set it down on the floor, where Paco happily devours the entire portion in a mere matter of two ravenous mouthfuls..

At least somebody enjoys my cooking..

Turning my idle hands to dishwashing in hopes of distracting myself, I find no escape from my languishing thoughts.. I hate to admit how much Max's absence has affected me, but the truth is his silence is beginning to feel much like a punishment.. If only I knew what I had done wrong, maybe I could fix things.. But as it stands, it seems unlikely The Loan Shark will even give me a moment to appeal and I am left to question what it is I'm actually being punished for..

My ears prick in anticipation and my heartbeat begins to skip when I hear the heavy thud of booted footsteps in the foyer, moving swiftly in approach to the kitchen.. But as I turn, it is Viktor's passive, patient face that greets me..

"Oh.." I fail to swallow the bitter disappointment that tarnishes my excitement and turns it to rust.. "It's you.."

'Don't look so happy to see me', The mute mountain of a man signs sarcastically, very clearly trying to cheer me up.. Just as he has done each morning for the past few lonely days..