Page 118 of Captive Ruin

Part of me doesn’t even care. No one talks about Amelia like that.

“Bastien!” I grip his forearm, pounding him on the shoulder with my free hand.

He grins at me, returning the greeting with as much enthusiasm. His two bodyguards fan out around his car, covering opposite angles with professional efficiency.

“It’s good to see you in person. How long has it been?”

“Three months?” I venture.

“You’ll have to come out to Montana. That mare you like? She’s with foal.”

“I have my own mare, now,” I chuckle. “Come and meet her.”

“I don’t remember seeing you this… lighthearted,” he says as I lead him into the house.

I hadn’t considered it, but maybe he has a point.

“Why shouldn’t I be happy? I’m getting married. Ah, Linda. Is my beautiful fiancée ready?”

“Mr. Fournier, sir. How nice to see you again.” Linda gives Bastien a deferential nod, expression carefully composed, then addresses me. “Amelia is at the pool.”

“Of course she is.” I laugh to hide my irritation. I specifically told her that Bastien would be arriving soon. She was supposed to be in our rooms, preparing herself, and I know she’s done this deliberately. My Little Stray does like to push. “A whisky, then?”

“Swimming in November?” Bastien asks as we walk through the house, his bodyguards trailing at a distance.

“She swims every day,” I say with pride. Her already spectacular body is leaner and tighter for it. “The pool’s heated, of course. I understand she’s turned the temperature up. It’s probably costing me a fortune.”

Bastien chuckles. “Was that a veiled attempt at a pay raise?”

I spread my hands innocently. “I do have another mouth to feed.”

His expression turns grim. “The Volkovs have disrupted two more of our deals. They’re targeting us deliberately.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Work faster,” he says curtly. “They’ve cost us millions already.”

I show him into my study, getting two glasses and a bottle of single malt off the bookshelf. “How are they finding them?”

Bastien flops into a chair. “I’m not sure. It’s possible they have someone inside. Or they may merely have analyzed our patterns.”

I nod as I pour. “Koval is behind this. He’s their sovietnik.”

Bastien accepts his glass, looking over it at me. “Do whatever you need to do, use whatever resources are required. Get this done, Lukas.”

“I understand.” It will take me away from Amelia, but it will keep her safe in the long run. “I’ll see it through. Then I’m going to want some time off.”

“Of course. And thank you for delaying your honeymoon.” He grins, raising his glass in a toast, turning on his charisma in that way of his.

We both take a sip, the whisky smooth and warming my throat.

Bastien waves his glass. “This woman of yours that’s such a distraction. Married after only four weeks? She must be keen.”

“Very,” I say instantly. Then I pause. “Well… not very. She understands the need.”

“Understands the need?” Bastien’s eyebrows rise. “What did you do, my friend?”

I talk to my whisky. “I… uh… might’ve told her that the Volkovs wouldn’t attack her or her sister once she was married to me.”