Color climbed Anya’s cheeks. It was a guess, but it appeared I’d hit the mark. There was nothing more important or desired by a woman with Anya’s heritage than the coveted family heirloom because it symbolized what her place was in the life of the man she was obsessed with.
Slashing her wrists on my wedding night left no question just how obsessed she was with Kirill.
“He will never love you.” Her fingers whitened around the flute of champagne, so much so I feared the glass would shatter in her hand. But her beautiful face cracked into the ugly lines of a woman eaten up by jealousy. Who knew snarling lips could transform a face so efficiently?
I didn’t know her entire story with Kirill. Was she a victim of the Russian mafia? “If you think I married Kirill for love, then you’re the pathetic one.”
Her eyes flashed; her mouth curled further into a hideous sneer. If we were best friends, I would tell her it wasn’t a good look.
I gave a brief, derisive snort. “Not all of us are attracted to overbearing men.”
It was then said overbearing man exited the high-stakes room. His eyes scanned the space and narrowed when he spotted Anya with me. It must have been my imagination, but all chatter ceased around us.
He headed our way, and I braced for the ultimate public humiliation. I was helpless to control the burning of my cheeks and the acceleration of my heartbeat. I’d chalk it up to the wine.
His eyes darted between me and Anya, and I realized I’d been exhaling shaky breaths while rooted to the spot, dreading the oncoming train wreck.
He was going to pick her. I was sure.
But Kirill veered to my side and picked up my hand.
What?
He even linked our fingers like lovers do and kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry, Lusenka. Are you bored?”
“Not really,” I managed a squeaked answer.
Get ahold of yourself, Lucy!
“Anya, I think you’ve had enough alcohol and should go home,” Kirill said mildly.
Something passed between them, and it irked me more than Anya confronting me because it signaled a secret language. Her already flattened mouth tightened as if she were holding on to her words before she spun around and headed to the facilities.
“What did she say to you?”
I shrugged, gathering a semblance of nonchalant composure even when the tense muscles of my shoulders refused to relax in relief. It was hard to let my guard down when Kirill was around and seemed to have changed tactics.
“You married me to protect her.”
“You handled that well.”
“I had weeks of practice. Are you done?”
He tugged me along and smirked. “Night’s early. No, I’m having the worst luck, and I need you.”
I need you.
My heart somersaulted.Jeez, Lucy. He’s a manipulator, remember?
The attention of the entire room was on us until Kirill led me into the card room. The smoke gagged me even with the oxygen pumping into it. It was as refreshing as a dumpster fire.
“If you think I’m going to bring you luck, then you must have hit your head and sustained a brain injury.”
He glanced down at me. “I’ll take my chances.”
What? He said that in a flirty tone.
“Are you high?” I whispered.
