Close to the end, I relented. I didn't visit her but I called and we talked. It was enough.
Lukas, knowing all this, apparently decided that forewarning me about Adriano would end with me refusing to speak to him. He wasn't wrong. I wouldn't have wanted to see him. But, now my cousin is unavoidably here in my house, making himself at home, I find I'm pleased to see him.
"Your wife has been most hospitable." He takes a bite of his pastry and waves his free hand in Lukas's direction. "She's significantly more welcoming than him."
"Is that so?" I throw Lukas an appreciative glance. At least he made some effort to repel Adriano.
"Yes. Katya and I have been having a nice chat."
"No," Katya says as I pour myself some juice. "You've been interrogating me and I let you."
"Me?" Adriano puts a hand over his heart and affects innocence. "I would never do such a thing."
Katya shakes her head. "I am Russian, remember. We have the best spies in the world. I know all about interrogation techniques and how to plant false information. Do you really think you could seduce my secrets from me?"
Adriano laughs, a genuine bark of amusement that comes from deep inside him.
"I like you."
"Of course you do. I'm a beautiful woman, your number one weakness." She offers him a shark-like smile. "Apart from pastries."
"I don't have a weakness for pastries," Adriano protests.
"Please." Katya rolls her eyes. "You've eaten four since I got here and who knows how many before. You might want to slow it down. Your cholesterol is too high."
"My cholesterol is fine." Adriano pats his abdomen which beneath his shirt is no doubt perfectly toned. "I'm at the peak of physical fitness."
"Tell that to those fatty deposits beneath your eyes," Katya says, waggling her finger at him. "You need to speak to a doctor, my friend, because you are a ticking time bomb."
For a moment, Adriano looks worried. Then he laughs again and turns to me. "You married an assassin."
"She's insightful."
Katya beams and I realize how true that is. She rarely misses a thing.
My wife is good at reading people. Though I'm sure I perplex her at times, she has a better read on me than anyone, apart from Lukas, ever had.
There are moments when I forget how remarkable she is. This is not one of them. Watching her play Adriano at his own game is intoxicating.
"So, why are you here?" I ask Adriano because, as unexpectedly pleasant as this back and forth between them is, he must be here for a reason.
"I have news." He throws a hesitant glance at Katya.
"It's fine," I tell him. I have no problem with him discussing business in front of my wife.
He shakes his head. "Not here, Gabriele."
I get the message. Whatever he has to say is for me alone. Ice fills my veins as I realize there's only one topic he'd feel strongly enough about to insist on keeping private.
"My study." I push my chair back from the table and get to my feet.
My pulse races as Adriano follows me along the corridor. When we reach the study, I cross to the window while he goes directly to the liquor cabinet in the corner of the room. He pours us each a glass of Scotch, hands one to me, then drops onto the sofa.
For a moment, I stare out of the window, watching two of the guards pausing at the east gate to exchange a few words before both continuing on their way. I close my eyes, count to four and turn to Adriano.
"Tell me," I say.
He sips his drink, stalling for time. The delaying tactic in itself tells me all I need to know about the bomb he's going to detonate.
