Page 67

“They’re together.” Maverick says with a smile as though he read my thoughts.
“And you?”
“I’m just with our girl.”
I blink at them. “And it works?”
Maverick nods. “It works.”
“How?”
Before he can reply, there’s a sound coming from the hallway, and goosebumps skate along my skin. It’s Sabrina -laughing. Not the low-throaty noise that comes out of her when she’s in public. No, this noise ishearty, loud, andgenuine. She’s bent over, one arm slung over Raven, and they both fall to the ground in a fit of giggles. It’s the first time I've heard any sounds coming out of Goth Cello Barbie. Parker is behind them, hands on his hips with a smile on his face, searching the ceiling for some kind of patience.
If I weren’t aware Sabrina is in recovery, I’d swear they were drunk with the way they keep trying to sit up only to fall again. And it’s… it’s incredible to watch. She’s sweaty, slightly pink in the face, wearing an oversized sweatshirt and yoga pants. Does she come here to work out? Why doesn’t she use the gym at the penthouse? Does she not like it? No. She doesn’t even know where it is – I haven’t shown her because I’ve had no time and barely see her.
I need to fix that.
Parker helps Raven up first, since she’s closest to him, then takes Sabrina by the elbow. It isn’t until she’s aware of me that their giggles stop, and a frown replaces her smile.“Maksim? What are you doing here?” She walks toward me and all I can see is the sparkle in her eyes dwindling.
Does she hate me that much? I thought we had made progress in Italy. That was until Parker showed up and then they traipsed all over Italy without me. Then again, I had to work. I had business to address at each vineyard. Another thing I chose not to tell her about. The wine is just another way to be able to launder more money for the famiglias.
“You said we were having dinner here,” I explain, hoping she doesn’t kick me out in front of these people.
“Right, no, yeah, I did.” She liesforme. Again.
Just then the doorbell rings, and I lift a finger at Mav when he stands up. “I got it.” It’s the least I can do for barging in on their eveninglike this. I’m sure they’re just too polite to kick me out. I go to the door and take the five pizzas from the older guy.
“That’ll be one hundred and seventeen.”
I give him all the cash in my wallet. “Keep the change.”
“Holy shit. Thank you, man.”
I look up at him to see tears in his eyes.
“You… you don’t know what you’ve done. Thank you.”
A weird pang hits my chest, “Have a good night.”
He stares at the few hundreds in his hands, mouth still open, nodding as I dismiss him, closing the door on his face.
“That was… kind of you.” Sabrina says softly, her glare gone, but her green eyes shine a little bit… for me. Another weird feeling hits my chest.
“You’re not staying here,” I grunt as soon as her front door closes behind us. Christ, even her home smells distinctly like her. I could breathe all of this Sabrina-tinged air for years - and I plan to.I need my penthouse to smell like this – her. My sheets.
She gasps. “And why not?”
“Because you belong in the penthouse with your husband.”
“The contract-”
“The contract stated you wouldkeepyour home,notthat you would bounce between homes like some fucking child of divorce. You and I aremarried. ‘Till death do us part, Duchess. The devil is in the details. You should know this. Don’t you read the fine print?”
Oh. I changed the fine print behind her back.
Oops.
“Please, Maksim, that place is cold. It’s like a weird prison I can escape during the day. I just want a weekend where I can be myself.”