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“That was a quick shower. That’s not like you, Niko. You used to spend an hour in the shower. Of course, most of the time we were in there together. That always took much longer than an hour, didn’t it, sweetheart?” she purrs.
“Those days are over, but you know that. What is going on here, Katherine?”
“Nothing, I promise. It’s just fate that has brought us back together. That’s it.”
I watch her closely. I should believe her. She looks calm but the longer I stare, the more I notice she’s avoiding my eyes. That feeling in my gut that keeps telling me something is off, hits me again.
“How did you know what hotel I was in? Or what room for that matter? I didn’t give you that information.
“Am I being interrogated?”
“Should you be?” I return.
“I never knew you were so distrusting of me before, Niko. Perhaps it’s a good thing that we ended everything.”
“You’ve never given me a reason to doubt you before.”
“Now I am?”
“We both know you are. How about we drop the act, and you just tell me how you found out where I was and why you are really here.”
“I don’t think anything I could say would satisfy you. It’s clear you’re going to doubt everything I tell you.”
“It’s a simple question,” I point out.
“Fine. If you want to know the truth, I followed you.”
“You what?” Of all the things she could have said, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Followed you. Don’t look so shocked. You of all people know I can be resourceful. I waited around after we talked and followed your limo. From there, it wasn’t hard to find out what room Niko Petrova was in. You only book the best suites, lover. We both know that. I will admit the new security guards caught me off guard. Did you fire your old crew?”
“First, drop the nickname. We’re not lovers. You cashed the check to prove that.”
“It’s not like you left me much choice, Niko. You kicked me out without warning and for a kid, no less.”
She puts her drink down and walks closer to me and I let out an annoyed breath. “I’m not discussing Emilia with you. Whatever you have planned, you might as well forget. Now, I’m going to ask you an important question and you need to answer truthfully because if you lie to me, you will find out why they call me the devil.”
“You assume I don’t already know,” she laughs. “We were together for a while, Niko. You don’t have many secrets from me.”
Her answer annoys the hell out of me. Katherine and I didn’t have that type of relationship. There was no pillow talk. She knows nothing of my business life. She knows some of my private life—like where I grew up. Yet, only because she heard Callan and I talk. That’s it. She’s overstepping her value and that’s not like her at all.
“I want to know what this is about, and I want to know now.”
“I’ve told you. I needed a place to hide out until my friend shows up. I can’t go back to Noah tonight. He was too angry. He’s not exactly the nicest guy around. We’ve been on the rocks and it’s still early days. He gets extremely jealous. That’s one thing I can say about you Niko. You were never like that.”
I used to think I didn’t have it in me to be jealous of anyone or anything. That was before Emilia. The fact I have Victorio here instead of with Emilia speaks volumes. I am jealous when it comes to her and that’s a condition I don’t see getting better—just worse.
“How is that my problem?”
“He saw me talking to you at the restaurant. I told him it was innocent, but he didn’t believe me. Noah went crazy. He threw me up against the wall and beat me. He wouldn’t listen to reason. I just can’t stay with him anymore. I was scared for my life.”
“Maybe he didn’t believe you because you stalked me to find out where I was,” I murmur, not buying her story for a minute. For one, she’s retelling the whole story in a monotone voice. She’s more upset that I’m questioning her than about some supposed boyfriend hitting her. At this point, I just need to get to her friend, or put her in a room and tell her to be gone by morning. That’s it.
“Don’t be an asshole, Niko. I’ve gone through enough. I came to an old friend looking for safety until my ride could get here. It’s not like I’m begging you to take me back.”
“You would if I asked.”
“I’m in a bad position but I’m not stupid. Our years together were some of my best. Of course, I would take you back. I wasn’t the one that ended things, Niko. I still love you.”
