Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Leo won’t leave. I’ve told him not to worry and to do something else, but he won’t listen. He continued to stand guard.
“Is he okay?” I asked.
“I would have gotten a call if he wasn’t,” Leo said.
“That’s not comforting.”
“Why don’t you sit down?”
I shake my head. “No. I can’t sit down. Someone shot at us.”
“Mr. Belov knows how to deal with this, Adelaide. He is perfectly capable.”
“But someone wants him dead.” I look at my cell phone, stop, and turn to Leo.
“Someone always wants him dead.”
Tears fill my eyes. “That isn’t good.”
“I know. This is the life he leads. This is not the first, nor will it be the last attack on his life. This is what happens.”
I move toward the stairs. My legs had started to ache and I dropped down onto the second step. “That’s awful.”
“He’s used to it.”
“I highly doubt that. I don’t think anyone in their right mind could get used to having their life constantly in danger.” I put my hands on my face and attempt to wipe my eyes, to clear my thoughts, but nothing is happening. “I don’t know how you can be so calm.”
“I have no choice,” Leo said.
Alone with him, I feel the guilt at what I did to him. “I never said sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“Don’t be like that, Leo. I betrayed your trust and I am sorry. You must hate me.”
I know I hate myself for doing it. I’d found the sleeping pills days before I had given them to Leo. At first, I’d thrown them in the trash, but then I had the feeling I was going to need them, and I did.
“I don’t hate you.”
“I hate myself. Drugging you like that was awful. I didn’t even think of Andrei being angry at you.”
“He should have killed me,” Leo said.
“But he didn’t.”
“Because of you,” Leo said. “So we’re even.”
This made me want to cry even harder. “Have you ever thought it might be because you’re a good man and soldier to him? Saving you might not have had anything to do with me.”
Leo shook his head. “That’s not how this works. Andrei spared my life to help you.”
I still didn’t believe it.
“Have you heard anything?”
“Are you not curious as to why?”
I looked at Leo and pursed my lips. “I’m not sure I know why.”
“He loves you.”
“You’re wrong. Andrei doesn’t have feelings for me. I’m his wife, and he was forced to marry me.”
Leo laughed. “Haven’t you realized yet that Andrei doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do?”
“But Ivan is the one in charge.”
“Yes, he is, but Andrei didn’t fight him on this, and everything he’s done shows he loves you. He is in love with you.”
I rub at my temple, a little uncomfortable. “I think you’re wrong.”
“Do you love him?” Leo asked.
“That is none of your business.”
“Funny, I would say you are in love with him because you didn’t want him to leave you.”
“Maybe I was being selfish and I figured if he was with me, he’d be an easier target.” It was all lies.
“No, I believe you love Andrei, and you were terrified of anything happening to him, which is why you begged him not to go back. You are in love with him.”
But that didn’t mean he loved me. I wasn’t one to dwell on old emotions, but years of being second best, constantly made to feel like I didn’t measure up to Bethany’s standards, hit me so fucking hard.
These feelings were not fair. I didn’t want them. I hated them.
Bethany wasn’t better than me and I certainly stopped comparing myself. My parents hadn’t loved me. Friends had easily abandoned me for the more fun-loving sister. They never gave me a chance.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to hold on for dear life because the truth is, I was in love with Andrei. I don’t know if it happened on our honeymoon, or when, but it was there, blaringly obvious, and I was unable to deny it.
He’d somehow gotten under my skin, worked his way into my heart, and now I couldn’t stop.
“There’s no guarantee he’ll make it home tonight,” Leo said.
I didn’t like that. He had to.
“Then I’ll wait right here until he does.” I fold my arms determined to wait for my husband.
Even as I stare at the door, desperate for him to walk through it, I can’t help but be reminded of that moment the gun went off. I’d been so happy. Andrei had wanted to spend the day with me. He’d woken me up this morning, stroking my body, arousing me, getting me ready to take him. He’d made love to me. It had started slow and gentle, but it was like he couldn’t get enough of me, and he’d gotten rough, commanding, and I loved every second of it. Even now, I’m sure I can still feel him on me, inside me.