Nina recoils backwards but doesn’t say anything.
He chuckles to himself before leaving.
I run a hand down my face. “What the fuck was he thinking coming here?”
“He was trying to get under your skin,” Alek says. “And it’s working. Don’t let him come between you and Nina. Focus on your marriage. And Luca, don’t make Nina get on her hands and knees ever again. I gave her to you to make an alliance but you will treat her with respect.”
I shoot a glare at Alek. “She is my wife to do what I want. And I am not doing it to hurt her. I am doing it to make her better. Which was something you should have done.”
He flinches. “Fine. I’ll admit. I didn’t control Nina and Susanna as best as I could have but don’t be an asshole towards her.”
“I’m not. Now, I think it’s best if everyone leaves.”
“But the party hasn’t even begun,” Susanna objects.
“Susanna,” Nina says in a tired voice. “Please.”
Susanna stares back at her sister for a long moment with a ton of different emotions in her eyes before she nods and follows Alek and her mom and the rest of the guests out of the house.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “Gabriel is closing in. He came here to show me that he could. It was a power play. Fuck. And he kept looking at you.”
“Why? What am I to him?”
“You’re my wife, Nina. Don’t be naïve.”
She takes a step away from me and yet, it feels like she’s leapt across a canyon to get away from me. “I am not naïve. This is all new to me.”
“I don’t need you giving me sass right now. Not when I need to worry about Gabriel. He was looking at you. It made me want to…” I clench and unclench my hands, trying to get myself under control.
“Makes you want to do… what?”
“Kill him,” I say, looking her right in the eye. “I hated it. I don’t want another man looking at you. You’re mine and mine only.”
Her eyes widen and her lips part but nothing comes out.
“You look surprised,” I comment.
“I just… I didn’t know if you cared about me. That’s all.”
“You’re my wife now, Nina. Of course I care.”
“You just have a funny way of showing it,” she mutters.
“Don’t,” I warn. “Now, I need to go get some work done. Gabriel coming here cannot stand. I’ll be to bed late.” I walk away from her before she can say anything else.
Nina
With Luca busy dealing with Gabriel, I decide to leave the house. Still in my party dress, I find myself going back to my old home. To my mom. To Susanna.
I know it’s not what Luca wants but I didn’t get the chance to talk to my mom tonight and I want to see how she’s doing. Susanna will make things difficult, I’m sure, but I can manage.
What surprises me after I knock on the door and my mom opens it, is that I can see Alek and Katya in the house as well. I guess Mom and Susanna are not the only ones with worries.
I give my mom and Katya a hug while Susanna remains back, eyeing me over with suspicion.
“We didn’t get to talk.” I say to my mom after I finish hugging Alek.
“What is Luca doing?” Alek asks.
