“And where was this meeting?” An almost cruel smile split my face. She saw it, but instead of being afraid, she flew into a rage.
Grabbing hold of the discarded bottle, she swung it at me wildly, almost hitting me. I dodged away. “Why do you fucking care, Alexei? You’re meant to want to marry me. So why do you care where your ex-wife is? She left you remember. She pushed me down the stairs.”
I caught her wildly swinging wrist and squeezed so hard the bottle tumbled back onto the carpet.
“I know the truth, Violet. Maybe not all of it, but enough. Now, tell me where the hell Amy is before I forget I once cared for you.”
Maybe it was the quiet, menacing tone to my voice, but her body went slack. She looked at me with eyes that I once thought I loved, and I felt nothing but contempt.
“Please don’t discard me, Alexei. After everything, I need you more than ever.”
“Which motel?” It had to be a motel. She wouldn’t have dared to have her little tryst in a hotel in the city. I owned half of them and had contacts in the other half. Which meant if she was carrying on an affair, it had to be at some slimy sleaze bag hotel.
“He didn’t say. Please, Alexei, just come to bed, and I will make you forget she ever existed.”
My temper snapped. Thrusting her away from me, I watched her body crumble, the side of her head hitting the table. When she lifted her eyes back to me, there was blood on her temple. And I didn’t really care.
“You will stay in your room until I get back. When I have found Amy, and she best be unharmed, then we will talk about the rest of your lies, Violet. But until then,” I shook my head, “just get the fuck out of my sight.”
She crawled away on her hands and feet. “You won’t find her, Alexei, because she doesn’t want to be found. She doesn’t care about you. Not like I do.”
“Go.” Pointing to the stairs, I screamed. “Before I end your miserable existence.”
Climbing to her feet, she scowled at me. “I hope someone gets to her before you do. I hope if you find her that she’s dead.”
That wasn’t going to happen, I told myself firmly as I started making calls. It wasn’t a lot to go on, but it was a start. Amy had been seen in a motel, and only a few days ago. She could still be there, and I would check every single one of them personally until I found the right one.
And when I found my wife, then I would deal with Violet.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Amy
“How was it?”
I slipped behind the counter before I’d really heard her. Reaching for one of the white aprons, I tied it over my bump before I answered the other waitress.
“It was g—”
“Good?” she squealed. “I can tell by your face that it went well. Or was it better than good? Was it great?” Her arm went around my shoulder and squeezed before she went back to refilling coffee mugs.
“It was great. I love hearing her heartbeat. She’s healthy. And I’m measuring,” I giggled. “Big, so they think she’s a good size.”
“That’s great news, A, but are you certain it’s a girl? Your bump says boy to me.”
I didn’t believe in those old wives’ tales that you could tell the sex of the baby by the shape of the bump, but I did like hearing about them. Everyone here was so invested in my pregnancy that I knew my baby would have dozens of aunts and uncles, even if she didn’t have a father.
“I don’t know for sure.” I grabbed two plates from the pass. “But I think she’s a girl. It’s like a deep-down feeling.”
And that was all I had to go on. Just my gut feeling. Alessia had died on the day my baby had survived the unthinkable. I couldn’t help but read into that. Balancing the plates in my hands, I flashed a smile at a regular truck driver. “I will be right with you sweetheart.” The words died on my lips as a sleek black car, its windows so darkly tinted that I couldn’t see the driver, pulled up right in front of the huge windows. I couldn’t see who was driving, but I didn’t have to.
The plates tumbled from my hands to smash on the floor and send their contents everywhere. I swayed backwards, and it was only the truck driver’s hand on my elbow that steadied me.
“A?” The other waitress rushed forward. “Jesus, what just happened? Are you OK?”
No, I wanted to scream. I wasn’t alright at all because I knew who was in that car. Mutely, I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I pointed to my mouth, and she nodded.
“Go, if you’re going to be sick. Splash your face with cold water if you feel faint again.” Her eyes turned kind. “And don’t worry.” She darted a look outside, and a small frown drew her eyebrows together. “I’ll deal with the mess.”
