Chapter Thirteen
Alexei
I had gone looking for her because she had been gone too long, and I had started to worry. The last place I expected to find her was with him.
Kristoff was a snake, and now I had every reason to believe that Amy might be as well. But then, hadn’t I always thought there was something off about her? No one could be as good as she appeared to be.
Still, it was like a gut punch when I looked out the sliding glass doors and found her with Kristoff, hugging the shadows of the hedges with their heads close together. They looked as thick as thieves.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I didn’t need to. It was pretty clear from their body language that they were having a very, very deep conversation. That’s when I slid the door open and stepped out. The first thing I had noticed was Amy’s terrified face on seeing me, and the second was that he was touching her.
Kristoff had always had a thing about trying to take from me what was mine, and Amy was mine, whether we liked it or not.
I didn’t know what to make of any of it, but one thing was for sure:my suspicious nature had been activated, and just like I had promised, I would be talking to Amy when our guests left.
“Is everything OK?” Gabriella asked as I almost dragged Amy back into the room. She glanced down at the way I was gripping her hand and frowned.
“Of course,” I spoke before Amy could even open her mouth. The arm in my hand trembled. She was nervous and maybe even a little terrified. Good. She should be both of those things. “Amy is feeling a little sick from the wine.” I flashed a rueful smile that dropped from my face as Kristoff sidled in behind us, taking his place next to Misha and Gabriella. My eyes narrowed.
I didn’t like Kristoff. I never had. He wasn’t to be trusted, but the other two I had always considered friends. Only now I wasn’t so sure.
“My wife isn’t much of a drinker.” Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her glance at me and almost turned to her. At the last minute, I thought better of it and flashed a smile at my guests instead.
Did it really matter if no one in my life could be trusted after all? It wasn’t like I trusted them anyway.
“Oh, I am sorry, sweetie.” Gabriella rushed forward, and I reluctantly let go of Amy’s arm so they could embrace like old friends. I watched the whole thing through my eyelashes. Even here, Amy charmed everyone around her. It seemed to be her gift.
Mine was the ability to see through bullshit.
“I hope you feel better soon.” Gabriella’s voice dropped to a whisper as she hugged my wife close. I didn’t catch the next bit, and that just made me angrier.
“Thank you.” Amy stepped back to my side with a flattering smile, and my hand reached for her arm again. It was like I couldn’t help myself. Not because I needed to touch and be close to her, but because it was always good to keep your enemies close, and I had a sneaky suspicion that Amy was my enemy, or she would be soon anyway.
“I would like that very much. And it’s been so great to meet you all,” Amy said politely.
Misha stepped forward and kissed her cheek goodbye. “The pleasure is all ours, lovely Amy.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Kristoff stepped up next, and I stiffened. When his lips brushed her cheek, I held my breath.
It might have been my imagination, but I was sure his lips lingered a few seconds too long.
Anger gripped me. I yanked Amy back to my side, glowering at him. In answer, he smirked. God, there was nothing I wanted more than to wipe that smirk off his face, either with my fist or with the muzzle of a gun.
The world wouldn’t mourn a man like Kristoff. I sure as hell wouldn’t.
They left, and the staff, who had been discreet, swept into the room to begin to tidy up. Amy turned to help them.
“What are you doing?" I asked through gritted teeth.
Confused with a dirty napkin in her hand, she lifted her wide doe-like eyes at me. “Just cleaning up before bed. I hate coming down in the morning to chores that could have been done the night before.”
In a way that made sense, but I wasn’t about to say that.
“The staff have it under control. Let’s go.” I held out my hand and caught sight of one of the maids’ grins. She thought I was leading my wife upstairs to have my wicked way with her. And that’s exactly what I needed them to think.
Reluctantly, Amy took my hand and let me lead her away, our bodies pressed together. It was only when we were halfway up the stairs that I shook her handout of mine and put some distance between us.
“Upstairs now,” I snapped in a hissing whisper.
