AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Andrei glances at my hands; his eyes aren’t on the road. Is he waiting for a big reaction? Does Andrei want me to beg for him to slow down? Is he trying to force me to talk to him? I refuse to respond by questioning the shit he’s pulled on me.
He must care about her. He never reacts like that with me.
As soon as we stop, I leap out of the car and head to the front door. Guards in their black suits rush behind me into the mansion as if I’m being hounded by the paparazzi. Security has been overly attentive since Andrei dragged me out of the restaurant by my elbow.
I rush upstairs to our bedroom, kick off my heels, and slam the door shut. Andrei should sleep in the other room tonight. On some nights, he occupies a bedroom upstairs alone. I’ve never been in his private room, but the maids have. The guards have. And Eva and Sonia too.
If I had to guess, I’d bet that Talia has been in his room and his bed too. And I have no doubt in my mind that one day, she’ll be back in both.
I tug at the sleeve of my tight dress but stop when Andrei enters the room. I don’t look at him glaring at me from the door. He watches me with his hands on his hips as ifI’mto blame for this mess.
His dark eyes burn holes into the side of my face, but I refuse his gaze. He owes me an explanation, and he knows it.
Instead, I look around our bedroom, pretending to search for something while purposefully ignoring him.
I take in the familiar perfect room with its snow-white carpet and glossy wallpaper depicting a pale silver trellis on white. The furniture is all white, and the accent pieces are gleaming silver. Oil paintings of wildlife adorn the walls as the only hint of a personality. In the center of the room stands a king-sized bed in front of two French doors leading to a balcony.
I stare hatefully at the bed—our marriage bed—with its mattress covered in cool blue linen sheets and pillows beneath a white-tufted headboard. I decide to sit at the vanity table far across the room.
Andrei sighs loudly and turns away from me. As much as I want to hate him, I don’t want him to leave the room. Am I that desperate? I want him to say something comforting while he holds me tight.
But he’s not wired to lie to be kind. He only likes to tell the truth when it hurts.There are worse people.
My wrist pulses and I turn it over, looking at a streak of blood where Talia’s nails broke the skin. It was stinging before, but I didn’t know I was bleeding. I run my fingertips over the torn skin, smearing the blood over my palm.
I’m out of my depth.
“Did she do that? Did she hurt you?”
I jump, not realizing that Andrei is standing over me. I try to hide the blood by turning my hand over, but he swiftly reaches for me. I hiss as Andrei grabs my hand, and instantly, his grip relaxes.
His eyes widen, startled that he can hurt me. Does he only realize that now? Then, almost as if he’s holding onto air, he turns my wrist over and gently touches the bloody scratch with his fingertips.
“She shouldn’t have done this.” His voice shakes low with temper. “She’ll be sorry for what she’s done.”
“What she’s done?” I snatch my hand back and stand up quickly. “Why don’t we start with whatyou’vedone.”
“What have I done?” The cold calm returns, erasing the concern from his expression.
I want him enraged, not hiding behind a mask of control. I want Andrei to understand how much he’s ruined my life. He fought withher. He showed his emotions toher.
And what has he ever shown me? The size of his cock? The feeling of his mouth between my legs?How much did this whore cost you, Andrushka?Is that all I am to him? Will he abandon me once I’m of no more use to him?
“You turned me into the other woman!” I fight back the tears to keep my voice even. “Even after you knew that my own ex-fiancé cheated on me!”
“Talia is nothing to me, Paige,” he replies evenly. “Nothing but a business deal that I ended.”
“How can you be so unfeeling?” I stare at him in wonder. “I saw her being dragged out of the yard. What did you say to her? Did you blame it onme? Were you fucking her while I was kept a hostage before our wedding?”
Andrei reaches for me, but I rush past him, dodging his hands. I look back at him, and he dissolves into splintering rays as tears fill my eyes.
“Will she be your mistress?” I clench my fists like a petulant child. “Don’t all Bratva men cheat on their faithful, obedient wives?”
Andrei answers me with a short laugh. “I want nothing to do with her. I never touched her.”
I shake my head, unable to believe him. The pain in Talia’s eyes wouldn’t exist unless he put it there. I know that familiar hurt and betrayal. Having lived it, I know.
“I can’t trust you,” I tell him between gasping sobs. “After everything you’ve done.”
