Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“A man who hates you doesn’t keep a guard at the door all the time. My men are not known for being fools, Adelaide. Most of them would always have a guard by your side, and yet, Andrei keeps you home … alone.”
I didn’t like the way he said the last part, as if I wasn’t alone.
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“Aurora has a guard with her at all times. If Slavik isn’t around, she has someone to protect her. Andrei won’t allow another man to come near you. That is not a man who hates you, Adelaide. I am going to give you a piece of advice. He has probably already told you what he needs in order for you to have more freedom. Andrei doesn’t trust easily. He’s a hard man. Life hasn’t been kind to him, but it is his story to tell, not mine. The man you married is complicated and cruel, but believe me when I say you are the best match for him.”
He sipped his coffee, and I drank mine.
It wasn’t exactly a comforting speech. No part of it made any sense. Nibbling my lip, I stared straight ahead.
“I think it’s time that you talked to your husband.”
“He’s never home.”
“He’s home every single night. It’s time for you to stay up.”
I frowned and turned toward him.
“I have my ways of finding out what I need to.” Ivan smiled.
That wasn’t a good look on him. Averting his gaze, I sipped my coffee and wondered how I had gotten to be part of this life. What had I done to end up like this? Tears filled my eyes, and I hated it. I’d never been much of a crier, and I wasn’t going to start now.
Andrei had given me a chance to get out of this apartment. A kiss. Was that all he wanted?
“I can’t wait to see little Andreis and Adelaides running around,” Ivan said.
“What?” I asked.
“You and Andrei, having kids. I’m sure he will have a nice country house waiting for you.” He winked at me.
Again, he shouldn’t try to be the teasing sort.
****
Andrei
Ivan was in my home. Leo informed me and I brought up the penthouse suite on my cell phone. I was at the casino across the city, nearly an hour away without traffic from my wife. I left the casino immediately.
There was traffic, and it was a nightmare. Running a hand down my face, I kept glancing over at my wife. I couldn’t stand her to be alone with him. I shut down the app and tried Ivan’s cell phone, which went straight to voice mail.
Anger rushed through me. I couldn’t kill Ivan for being near my wife. I continued to dial his cell phone, but he never picked up. In the end, I had no choice but to watch my wife and my Pakhan as they had coffee. I wanted to know what they were saying but with Leo in the car, I wasn’t interested in turning up the volume. Trust only went so far.
We were still ten minutes away when Ivan got up, and I watched him leave. Before I had chance to sign out of the app, my cell phone started to ring, and of course it was Ivan.
“Are you nearly here?” Ivan asked.
I’m not a fool. I know Ivan has spies in every territory. He is a man known for being one step ahead of the game. No one could take a shit without him knowing about it.
“Yes. What are you doing at my house?” I asked.
“You saw quite clearly that your wife is still in one piece. You’re welcome. Adelaide is spending a lot of time alone. Is your intention to drive her crazy?” Ivan asked.
“She hasn’t earned the right to leave,” I said.
“She has a right to a cell phone, a laptop, and a guard. You won’t even let the poor woman shop. Are you aware she’s afraid of heights as well?”
No, I wasn’t, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
Ivan laughed, as he always did, which meant he already knew the truth.
“Don’t punish her too badly,” Ivan said. “I really like her. She’s got a whole lot of fire inside her, and if you were to train her well, she’d be a good wife to you.”
I didn’t need him to tell me what Adelaide would or wouldn’t be. She was my wife. I was the one who would take care of her. Instead, I kept my thoughts to myself because he was still my boss.
“We’ll talk soon.”
Ivan hung up, and the desire to crush my cell phone was strong, but I didn’t. Changing cell phones pissed me off. I preferred to keep the same one that I knew how to work.
Arriving at my penthouse building, I didn’t wait for Leo to park the car. I climbed out even before he’d finished, and was near the elevator. Pressing the button to my penthouse, I waited. The ride was taking too damn long.