Page 39 of Dangerous Promises

Instinct picks at me and I turn back over my shoulder as the woman heads back into the room. The locks snap into place behind her.

They're hiding something.

Something good. Somethingbig.

"Pool. Rushkoff," Freddie says, a commanding tone this time and his voice a little more forceful than it was before.

Now isn't the time.

I let it go, because I don't have to discover what they're hiding right now. I could do that at any point. And I plan to.

Freddie takes his hand off my shoulder when I move to do what he says, even though I keep a knowing glare on my face the whole time.

We walk through the house towards the pool with Freddie right on my ass the entire time. Whatever is up there has clearly got his knickers in a knot.

I have very little patience for playing along to whatever this is.

We hit the entryway when one of his men stops him and he has to debate whether he wants to watch me walk to the pool or let me overhear this. Eventually he waves me away.

For now, though, I go where I'm supposed to. It won't take long for them to forget that I've seen something they don't want me to. If they aren't watching me closely enough to know what I'm up to with Sage, they won't be watching me closely enough to stop me from getting into that room either.

I make my way through their kitchen towards the pool where Anton is apparently waiting to talk to me.

But as I'm walking through the kitchens, I see a little platter of breakfast and medication that's obviously set out for a certain princess.

I smile just as the idea for a game comes to mind.

Chapter

Fifteen

Sage

The sight is familiar from the balcony where I stand overlooking the pool. Alexei and Isla sit at the table together with Freddie and Anton, shaded by an umbrella. Even though what they're discussing is clearly serious, they still smile and laugh, talking like old friends.

I take a bite of my apple, and then check my glucose levels, administering the right dose without looking even while I stare daggers down at them.

Just as I'm taking the last bite of my apple, Alexei's eyes snap up to mine mid smile from something that Freddie has said. His eyes lock onto me and he gives me an evil smirk. Like he's trying to tell me he knew I was there the whole time.

Just the sight of him makes my blood boil and my jaw tight.

I throw the apple core back onto the tray and head inside to the kitchen, stopping to grab two bottles of wine before I come out to join them by the pool.

They're still laughing happily amongst themselves when I make it out there. Grasping the bottles with one hand, I strut over there as inconspicuously as I can. The conversation gets coherent as I approach, and none of it is about Chet or anything to do with Chet which just pisses me off more.

What's the point of being forced into close quarters with them every day if no one is going to focus on the goal? What's the point of them hosting him, socializing him, and treating him like an old friend just to keep us separated if there's no end in sight? Not allowed to kill him. Not going to do anything useful about Chet.

I don't know why I bother involving anyone else. I have to do everything myself.

"Sage, are you going to sit?" my uncle asks, startling me. Oh I was invited this time was I? Thanks for letting me know at the last fucking minute.

"No," I say, plastering a false smile on my lips. "Just came to top you up."

I pop the bottles with my teeth and pour them equally amongst the existing glasses until everything is empty and I can walk away with the evidence. The bottles will go straight in the big bins outside. Lesson from last time.

I help myself to a comfy spot on one of the pool loungers and rest my head as I watch them through my sunglasses. Look at them. Sipping the wine without a care in the world.

Alexei barely touches his. I try to ignore it but my heart is skipping beats and I am dying with anxiety just waiting for him to touch his fucking glass.