Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Assuming he means the first time, I answer, “In Rome.”
“Ro—”
“I heard her, boss.” The clicks of a keyboard being put to work are the only audible noise for the next several seconds. Everyone is on edge, including Matvei, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me for even a second.
“Ah…” I don’t know the lady on the other end of the line, but I could kill her for the delay. We already know she won’t find anything to verify Matvei’s claims, so why doesn’t she just rip the Band-Aid off in one go instead of delaying the inevitable? “A marriage license was issued three months prior to the nuptials.”
“Is it authentic?”
“Oh, Henry. He of little faith. When have I ever steered you wrong? The ink on the license has aged naturally… unlike the marriage certificate you asked me to authenticate this morning.”
“We married twice,” Matvei lies. “Three years ago in Rome.” Henry’s claim that I couldn’t see the date on our marriage certificate rings true when he adds, “And last week when we renewed our vows on our third wedding anniversary.” His eyes bore into mine. “The original marriage certificate was lost when we honeymooned in Milan, Athens, and Singapore.” I return his stare in bewilderment. Each place he rattled off is a place Saka and I traveled to before settling in Kronstadt. “You should reconsider forging footholds in Southeast Asia. No one there knows the Gottle name.”
Henry throws back his head and laughs. “And lose the ability to handle matters in person?” His laugh is cut short before his focus shifts back to me. “I much prefer face-to-face meetings. It is harder to lie when you’re put on the spot in person.” He stares at me like he can access my soul with nothing but his eyes before he asks the simplest of questions. “Is this man your husband?” Before I can get out a word, he shushes me. “Before you answer, remember, I can’t help you if you lie. Not now or in the future. One lie will strip you of as much protection as Bastian had to keep him from being killed by his children or those seeking his throne. Heirs are protected by mafia law. Those who break the rules pay with their lives.” My stomach gurgles when he shifts his eyes to Matvei during his last sentence. His eyes are back on me, hot and heavy. “But there is one rule that supersedes all the rules below it.” More pieces of the puzzle slot into place when he murmurs, “A man’s ability to protect his wife.”
The way he expresses the rule exposes it is personal to him. I doubt it was in the rulebook before he took helm of his reign, and it most likely won’t be around when he’s overthrown, but it means a lot to him. I can see it in his eyes.
“So, Natalya, I will ask you this question once and once only. Is this man your husband?”
My head screams for me to say no before falling to Henry’s feet and pleading for him to place as much distance between Matvei and me as possible, but my heart won’t let me.
It may have all been a lie, but my heart loved this man, and that can’t be denied for any reason. So instead of saying no, I silence the crowd by murmuring, “Yes.”
34
NATALYA
Henry stares at me for several long seconds before his lips furl to one side. “Very well.”
With a second click of his fingers, the doors of the SUVs pop open, and Maksim’s crew files out one by one. They look like they’ve experienced a deadly war. No man is without injury, but none appear to have life-threatening injuries.
My theory that the accused is a member of Matvei’s family is proven accurate when Henry tells Maksim, “I assume this matter will be handled in-house?” Blood pools in the corner of Maksim's nose when he nods. “Good.” Henry takes two steps away from him before backtracking on one. “Just remember, you can’t kill him. If you do, I will be back. You don’t want that, do you?”
“No,” Maksim replies without pause for thought. “But since greed was his motivation, I won’t face any issues financially killing him instead.”
“Very well.” Without a backward glance, Henry slides into the back of the lead SUV and signals to leave. His fleet of personnel follows him out.
The helicopters have only just finished fluffing up my hair when I’m suddenly grabbed. Stupidly, my body responds as it always does when Matvei touches me. Goosebumps rise to the surface of my skin, and my breath hitches in my throat, but mercifully, he only turns my brain to mush when his touch is sexual, and I’m far too angry to let my libido control me.
“Get the fuck off me.”
“Language—”
I shove his reprimand into the back of his throat with a stern glare. “Are you fucking kidding me? You used me to kill your father and get back your money. I was just a sick fucking game to you. A damn prop!”