My lawyer frowned, the first time I’d seen her hesitate.
That smart lawyer on the couch watched the bodyguards’ confusion. “An annulment would be quicker with her cooperation and signature, a few weeks instead of six months or longer. Throwing her out would be counterproductive if you want this over with quickly.”
Nicolai was staring right at me, his silvery blue eyes widening as, I swore to God, I could see the flywheels click into place and his brain sort out everything I’d said and he’d seen over the last few days.“Lexi, with me, now.”
I set my coffee and muffin on the sideboard but didn’t move. “We can talk in front of the lawyers if that’s how you want to play it.”
He backed up a step and opened the door to the bedroom.“Now.”
My lawyer, Victoria, raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything.
I had to remember that even though she’d seemed to be on my side, Nicolai Romanov was paying her.
I practically dragged my toes like a sullen toddler as I circumnavigated the sitting area and stomped into the bedroom.
CHAPTER 4
i should’ve been a therapist
LEXI
The door slammed shut behind me as I trudged into the suite’s bedroom again. Shower steam and soap scent floated in the air because the hotel’s windows didn’t open.
I plodded toward the bed.
I didn’t need pity. I didn’twantpity.
“Were you living in yourcar?”Nicolai demanded from behind me.
I didn’t even turn and look at him. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Lexi!”
“Isaid,it doesn’tmatter.”
“It does.”
I clambered onto the bed, shoving the slipping sheets and blankets under my stockinged feet. “If some mafia guy threateningyouwith a lifelong marriage that you don’t wantdoesn’t matter,then me sleeping in my car for a few days isnothing.I would’ve figured it out.”
When I flipped around to sit on the mattress and glare at him for invading my privacy by even asking such a question, he was standing with one hand raking through his hair, his light eyes wide with horror.
Yeah, the genetic prince who might have inherited half the world had probably never been “between places” and had to sleep in his car for a night or two.
His outrage embarrassed me, even though it was totally normal to miss a meal or a couple, or to crash in your back seat or on a friend’s couch for a little while.
Ithappened.It was athingthathappenedtopeople.“It’s not a big deal!”
“You were . . . unhoused, when we met?”
At least he had the decency to use an adjective to describe my temporary situation instead of slapping a “pathetic dirty homeless” noun-sticker on my forehead. “It’s none of your business.”
“It absolutely is my business if you’d been sleeping rough. You’re—you’re mywife.”
“Not for much longer though, huh?” I challenged him. “Those vows we said to each other—for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health—didn’t mean much to you, did they? You’re bailing the minute things get rough.”
“I’m not bailing onyou,Lexi. You saw onlysomeof what they did to that woman!”
“You can’t scare me. They can’t scare me.” I was scared. “I’mtough.”
