Page 57 of Forced Mafia Bride
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”
“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”
Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”
She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”
“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”
When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.
****
I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with her back to mine. Ankles crossed and head bent forward. She must have sensed my presence behind her because her legs stopped swinging, and her back stiffened. Cool evening breeze ruffled her hair, blowing her scent my way. I heard her smack her red-painted lips and sniffle. I didn’t see her face before I knew she was crying.
“What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, just threw her head back, staring up at the twinkling stars in the sky.
“Rosa….”
“Just leave me here, okay? Go back inside. I’m enjoying the view, and it’s peaceful.”
“And it’s not peaceful inside? We were having dinner, and we’re not done. Let’s go back inside. Now.”
“Your wife wants some privacy, and you boss her to get back inside and finish her meal. I shouldn’t be surprised; this is what I signed up for.” Her words stung harsher than I expected. “Finish it, Niko. We were having dinner and then got interrupted by your guest.”
“Rosa. I’m not fucking playing right—”
“How did your reunion go?
The conversation took an interesting turn. I decided to play along and slipped my hands into my pockets. “Very well, actually. I turned around to introduce you both, but you weren’t there, and then I had to come out and look for you everywhere.”
A storm of panic and worry shook me at the sight of her empty chair. I’d decided to come on this trip without any of the men, rendering none of them useful at that point to throw a search party. Calmly, I decided to search the premises myself, tracing the ground with the urgency of a man with only half an hour to save the world.
Rosa’s head snapped with neck-breaking speed, and she jumped to her feet, her eyes blazing with the heat of an inferno. Curling her fists tightly by her hips, she looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“You wanted to introduce me to your lover? God, isn’t that the height of it?
And there it is.
The real reason she was seated out here in the cold, star-grazing with tears in her eyes. It was laughable. My mouth curved in a wry smile, and I approached her, taking one of my hands out to brush the tears away from her cheeks. She flinched, stepping backward.
“Is that what this is about?” I arched a questioning brow. “You’rejealous?”
Why did it feel so refreshing to discover that this perfect woman standing before me gave a fuck about who I shared hugs with? She was fucking jealous, and knowing that was a bigger turn-on.
Her lashes fluttered, like she was only realizing it herself. However, she played the ignorance card and squared her shoulders in defense. “I’m only concerned that—”
“That I reunited with my sister. Got it.”
She was taken aback. “That was your…sister?”
“Nadia Yezhov.” I nodded. “Same blood. Mother and father. But you would have known that if you’d stuck around long enough to meet her. Instead, you chose to come out here and nurse your jealousy.”
That inferno returned with an even greater intensity. “So, what? I am your freaking wife, Nikolai. Yes, I get the right to be jealous when some pretty woman comes along, calls your name like she owns you, and then gets you to walk up to her and smother her with a hug.”
“Mm-hmm.” I ambled closer, tilting her chin higher. The softness of her red-painted lips drew me in, and I was ready to kiss her on the spot. But a nagging voice prodded, wanting to know the exact reason for her green-eyed envy. “It’s incontestable, Rosa. You’re my fucking wife, but that’s not reason enough to push tears to your eyes, is it? So, indulge me; tell me why?Why did it hurt you so much to see me with another woman?”