Alexei muttered something in Russian. “Amy, you can get your own water, surely?” His eyes locked on the untouched glass on the nightstand, and he frowned.
“I don’t mind getting her a fresh glass. She’s such a precious little thing.”
“It’s fine. Sorry, I didn’t see it,” I said quickly, my throat sore and raspy. “Thank you, though.”
“Anytime, and remember what I said.” She smiled at me like a shark would smile at a fish before it ate it.
Oh, I would remember everything. “I will.” Our eyes clashed, and her smile grew as she clung to my husband’s arm. Draping herself against his side.
“Would you like me to sit with you for a while, Amy?” Alexei’s question was unexpected. Violet’s smile faded.
“No,” I said flatly. “I’m just going to sleep. You should go and enjoy the rest of Violet’s party.”
It wasn’t a lie, I did want to sleep, but more than that, I wanted Violet out of my room. She was dangerous, and I suspected I wasn’t even seeing the worst of it yet.
“OK.” Bending down, he kissed the top of my head.
I didn’t need to look at Violet’s face to know she was pissed. Arm in arm, I watched them leave.
“Don’t you ever go into my wife’s room again, Violet.” I heard him say as the door closed. “Stay the hell away from her.”
“But—”
“No buts,” he snapped back.
“I’m just trying to make things less awkward between us all. I’d like to be her friend as well, Alexei.” Her voice sounded so sad that I almost felt sorry for her. “But I don’t think she likes me very much. I think she would like to get rid of me.”
“Amy won’t hurt you, just stay out of her room,” Alexei said softly, like it was me that had attacked her and not the other way around.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Amy
I don’t remember falling asleep, but when I woke up, the house was quiet, and my throat was so sore I could barely swallow. Reaching out, I gulped down the water. It didn’t help. I needed something more soothing. Maybe milk or some orange juice.
Sweeping my covers back, I headed towards the door without even thinking. It was only when I was halfway to the stairs that I remembered the party and paused. Listening, I tried to hear the sound of voices, but there was nothing but silence.
The party was long over by the sounds of it, and the house was asleep.
I let out an audible sigh of relief. That was good. It meant I could sit in the kitchen for a while without being disturbed.
I’d made it to the top of the stairs and taken the first step down when a door opened behind me. Illuminating me in the light from the open doorway, I blinked in shock as Violet sauntered out. The light behind her made the scarlet red, short nightdress almost see-through. I could see clearly the outline of her dark nipples. Her hair was tousled around her shoulders, and her lipstick was smeared like it had been kissed passionately from her face.
“I thought I heard you sneaking around, little dove,” she cooed in a sickly, sweet voice. “A few minutes ago, you would have heard—” she padded towards me on her bare feet. “Well, you know what you would have heard.” She giggled like we were girlfriends gossiping about our conquests.
“He really does have stamina, doesn’t he?”
I couldn’t help looking over her shoulder to the open doorway. I couldn’t see the bed from this angle, but deep down I knew Alexei was in there. He was the reason she was dressed like she was and her makeup was all smudged.
I’d always suspected that he spent his evenings with her, after all, he spent all the other time with her. But to be faced with it crushed something inside of me. Some last remnants of hope.
“He loves me in red,” Violet continued, “Or more specifically, he likes taking me out of red. Did you know it’s his favorite color?”
I remained silent. I did know that. That’s why I had worn the red dress for his birthday.
“He likes my hair down so he can, you know. She wiggled her eyebrows. “Did he pull your hair as well, Amy?”
I bit my lip. I knew Alexei liked my hair down, but he had never pulled it. He just brushed his face in it and stroked it like it was a security blanket.
