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I fought the tremor building in my body at the threat and nodded. “I understand. I won’t fail you again.”
He left, but I stayed rooted to the spot long after his car had gone.
“Why is the door still open?” Cleo’s voice echoed through the entry hall.
I didn’t move, watching her rush forward and close the door. Leaves had blown inside, and I noticed the chill in the air for the first time. I must have spaced out, something I used to do often when living with Aleksándr.
Cleo rushed up to me, her eyes full of concern. “What happened to your cheek?” She cupped the side of my face that wasn’t hurt, studying what had to be an angry red mark by now.
It’d be gone by tomorrow. Aleksándr never hit me hard on my face.
“I’m okay.” Stepping out of her reach, I covered my throbbing cheek with my hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll lie down for a little. Please don’t tell Gabriel that he was here.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything.”
Mustering a half smile, I escaped to my room. But I didn’t feel safe in my new home anymore, the illusion gone.
I slid under the blankets, pulling them over my head. I knew what I had to do. But despite my family, betrayal didn’t come easy to me.
But as it had always been with my life, I didn’t have a choice. Not if I wanted to survive.
9
GABRIEL
“There’s something wrong with Vanna,”Mother said as she breezed into my office, not bothering to knock.
Looking up from the accounts I was going over, I watched her make her way around the desk. Standing up, I greeted her with a kiss on her cheek.
We took a seat on the couch that was placed along one side of my office. I didn’t use it much, but it came in handy whenever Mom visited.
Turning to me, she took a deep breath. “You need to talk to her.”
“Why do you think something’s wrong?”
She let out an exasperated huff, Mom’s version of an eye roll. “When was the last time you actually spoke to your wife?”
That would have been at the ball. Where I’d realized how much I was really attracted to her. And had been fighting it every day since. I didn’t need the distraction a wife would cause. I was the new head of the Olysses family and had no time for anything else. “We’re married on paper only. She knows this. She can live her life, and I can live mine.”
If I kept repeating it to myself enough, I’d hopefully believe it one day.
“She canceled brunch today.”
I blinked, not sure I heard correctly. “Are you telling me you think something’s wrong because my wife canceled on you?”
“She was so excited when we organized it. Then she messaged me this morning that she had a headache. And she didn’t want me to come around and check on her.”
“Maybe she wanted to be left in peace. Doesn’t mean there’s something wrong.”
I should follow my own advice, because now all I could think about was calling Cleo to check in. Or maybe I should drop by the house.
“She sounded off. There’s usually a bounce in her voice that wasn’t there when we spoke.”
I knew what bounce she spoke of. The joy she seemed to find in every little thing was a part of Vanna I found hard to resist. One of many, if I was honest with myself. Which I hadn’t been much lately.
“I’ll check in on her on my way home.” There was no stopping my decision once it had niggled its way into my thoughts.
Mom opened her mouth to say something else, then seemed to think better of it and nodded instead. “Thank you.”
