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A bouquet of flowers I saw in the gardens back at the manor is beside her. The low cadence of her voice continues as she catches her brother up on everything. “And by the way, Charlie, I wanted you to hear it from me - I’mmarriednow. Can you believe it? You’d like him. He’d take the piss with you. Although, he was a monumental twat when we first married. His name is Maksim, and he’s part broody bastard and part romantic. He’s also a riot, a mafia boss, and a Pacman.” I cover my mouth to hide a small wheeze. “They say he’sdangerous. But helovesme. Sometimes it’s like I’m one of those women trying to pet a wild bear. Buthelovesme. All of me, I think. I don’t know why – I’ve also been a downright cockwomble at times, yet he still seems to actually like me no matter how much I tried to push him away. He pushed back. And I’m so glad he did. Therefore, I know you’d love him. Oh! Also-”
Sabrina keeps talking like she’s talking to her best friend, and soon she’s laughing, crying, spewing it all out. About me. Parker. Her. Tildy and Derek, David, Raven and her guys, and lastly…
“Kane came by the office, Charlie. I know you’re the only person I’ve told, but now Parker and Maksim know everything. I still haven’t told Mum. Doesn’t feel right to tell her yet, and it seems so dismal and minute in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t it? I suppose one day it’ll come out, but like my husband says, ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.’” She says this in a gruff voice, like she’s mocking me. “For now, I’ve gone back to school to be a physician. Being a lawyer wasyourdream. I tried to fit your mold, but I’m afraid my tits are bigger than yours. Also, I really hope you're not watching me get pummeled.”
I snort at that, and she stops talking.
“Come on out, husband. Come meet my brother.” She invites me.
Who am I to deny the love of my life?
Sabrina pushes herself off the ground, wiping her hands on Parker’s sweats, and holds her hand out to take mine. She presses on her toes, and I bend for my morning kiss. “You didn’t kiss me goodbye this morning.”
“I didn’t mean to take so long. There was so much to catch up on.” She inhales and blinks up at me, twin peridots still glittering from her earlier tears. She turns in my arms, inhaling sharply, and blowing out her breath just as quickly.
“What is it?”
She shakes her head. “No, nothing. It’s just been a long time since I've allowed myself to look at him.”
“Him?”
I can feel her nod against my chest. “Father spared no expense. It was made in his likeness.”
I look up at the statue of the angel. That’s just disturbing. Beautiful, but still disturbing. No wonder she sits with her back against the monument.
“C’mon,” she says. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.”
I nod when she leaves my arms, but I don’t follow her immediately, my feet staying rooted to the ground. I blink at his name and keep my voice low. “My mother was into the woo-woo stuff, always talking about… well, it doesn’t matter. But, if that was you that pushed me earlier, I want you to know you can rest easy now. I’ve got her. Okay? Between me and Parker, she’s okay. I’ll die before I ever let anything happen to her. I know Parker will, too. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen anytime soon. But just know, she’s safe with me. I promise. I don’t give those out too often. So you should know, I mean it.”
I clear my throat and turn away, only to see Sabrina standing nearby, bottom lip quivering – but she’s smiling. Again, she holds herhand out to me, and I take it, watching as the mist clears. She squeezes my hand, then crushes herself against me in a tight embrace. I kiss the top of her head.
And then, like another little whisper on the wind,“I love you.”
I hum, my throat going slick with emotion, heart pounding, and I have to clear my throat before I can respond. “I love you, too, Duchess.”
We make our way back to the manor, Parker waiting for us with coffee andbreakfast by the open door.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Parker.
Verona, Italy
Italy's fucking wild once Raven and the guys pop up on Thursday evening to surprise Sabrina at Maksim's family Villa. The house is busy as fuck. All the wives welcome the foursome easily into the home – as if it’s theirs – and are very understanding and patient with Raven when she tries to talk with them in Italian. If she starts stuttering too badly, Sabrina happily interprets for her.The old wives talk over each other, often laughing, and they cook all fucking day.
Ieatall fucking day.
Alright,thatpart’s not so bad.
Maksim’s father, Aristide, has been with us since we arrived.
The old G is a fuckin’ flirt. Or maybe he’s just nice, but I don’t like anyone being ‘just nice’ to my girl. He and Sabrina spend a lot of time together, talking, laughing. She even gets onto him a few times in a language I barely speak, but I don't miss the way the old man smiles up at her from his wheelchair every time she does. But I get it. It’s easy to be pulled into Sabrina’s orbit, especially when she’s so fucking radiant.
It makes Maksim laugh.
I do not.
Maksim leaves early that morning to take his father to his treatment, then to check on the vineyard. Maverick and Damon go with them. So Jonas and I decide to take our women out to Verona, where we rent mopeds and goof around - eating too much, shopping, and watching artists paint in the streets. At one point, there's a musician duo – a cellist and a violinist. Raven gestures to them, asking if she can play.The look on the guy's face is hilarious when he realizes she's incredible. They playThe Show Must Go Onby Queen. Both Jonas and Sabrina take videos of her impromptu performance, and post them to their socials because, hey, any publicity for her album coming out, right?