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Chapter 15 – Talia
Greece. The butchertook me to Greece. And then disappeared.
For three days, I’d been pampered with spa treatments, taken on exclusive tours, and dined at five-star restaurants, where politicians and movie stars sat in dark corners to enjoy a slice of normalcy. This town on the northern edge wasn’t tourist heavy, but the cove was decadent enough to attract the top tiers of society.
It was the perfect honeymoon, except for the small reality that I was failing in my role. My husband hadn’t touched me, not once since we exited the church.
After yet another afternoon on my own, I decided to take some time to exercise and clear my mind before a late supper. The only bathing suit I’d been provided with was a skimpy two-piece. Had I selected any of these clothes, I would have chosen an athletic one-piece for swimming laps. But all new clothes had been bought and delivered to the honeymoon mansion. I had nothing of my own. No phone or even makeup. I was completely dependent on my ghost of a husband to provide for me.
It could be worse.I let out a long breath and pushed into the enclosed room that held the massive swimming pool. There was an infinity pool in the master bedroom, as well as a few jet tubs in various rooms and balconies. But this pool was long, and although there was lounge space with faux rocks, a waterfall, and very real plant life, it was also adequately sized for actual swimming.
Except, tonight it was occupied. The sister was here.
I stalked to a table near the waterfall and set down my towel and slipped out of my shoes. Iryna hadn’t vanished like her brother, but she’d also made no effort to interact with me. She wasn’t mean, but she sure as hell wasn’t friendly either. She was justalwaysaround. And tonight, she had company. I ground my teeth. At least someone was getting laid on my honeymoon.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, slipping out of the thin coverup and glaring at the snuggling couple as they played under the waterfall’s spray.
Iryna looked up at me with a ‘what da fuk you gonna do ‘bout it’look. But then the words that fell from those saucy lips surprised the hell out of me. “Want to join us?”
This was not how any of this was supposed to happen! No matter how gorgeous this beauty was, with her eastern European heritage, she wasn’t my target.
“Bringing random strangers into the villa? Is that the smartest idea?” My superior tone struck a nerve, as I’d intended.
Iryna turned from me in disgust to run her fingers through her guest’s hair. “Her name is Ari, and she doesn’t speak a word of English, so I’ll forgive you your rudeness—but only this once.” Iryna lifted her deep blue eyes to glare at me as she added, “Don’t ever make the mistake of insulting my friends again. Understood,tzigane?”
That bitch! Such an inappropriate insult. “I’m just saying, how safe can it be?” I sneered, vision tinged with red at the cultural slur.
“Very.” Iryna’s voice dropped several degrees. Her guest whimpered, but Iryna placed a finger on her lips and murmured something in Greek. It was a language I wasn’t familiar with—another sore spot. Ari giggled and skittered out of the pool. Her bare feet slapped against the tile floor as she approached. In a flash, Ari grabbedmytowel and disappeared with a squeal.
I gasped in protest but was too shocked to move fast enough.
Iryna took her sweet time stepping out of the pool. Not nearly as tall as me, maybe reaching five and a half feet, she exited the pool and sauntered past me, dripping all over the tiles. Those curvy hips swayed seductively. “I take my family’s security very seriously. Don’t push me, Beaumont.”
I couldn’t help it, I lunged. My hands collided against her upper body. Iryna toppled backward into the water. As she popped from the surface, spluttering, I bit back, “I’ll push you if I see fit.”
Iryna surged to leave the pool with a roar. I took a defensive stance, ready for her attack, when a hard hand came down on my wrist. “Lay a finger on her, and it will be the last thing you do,” the butcher menaced. “The treaty be damned.”
“I—I—”
“I heard it all; spare me your version of events,” he raged. Flicking a glance at where his sister reemerged from the pool, he added, “No fighting.”
I couldn’t see her reaction, but the butcher narrowed his gaze. “I mean it, Iryna.” His voice brooked no argument.
“Fine. I’d rather be a lover anyhow. You two need to take it down a notch.” Iryna flounced past us and disappeared from the pool room. Her thong bikini left nothing for the imagination.
I refused to shake in the presence of the raging beast before me. My husband was in a righteous fury. And yet my brain scrambled to analyze what had just happened. This was valuable information. A true reaction, free from his icy exterior. His relationship with his sister was a chink in his tightly controlled temper.Interesting.It had been next to impossible to evoke a reaction from him on the plane. But threatening his sister with well-deserved violence? If I could force the butcher into an altercation, it would be easy to claim self-defense when I ended him.
Except, I needed clear evidence that it would be self-defense. Which made right now the wrong time.
“Let go of me.” I stressed each word calmly.
