Page 10 of Scream (Duchess & Devils #1)

Without answering her, I bend to put my socks on and while I button up my shirt that stayed crisp in my valise, all I can think is she’s undressed in there, picturing her champagne hair cascading down her back and shoulders, probably framing her ample breasts perfectly, deadly curves in her bra and panties looking so fucking… virginal .

My dick roars to life again just as the closet door clicks open and she steps out and Christ, I don’t ever think I’ve ever had my heart beat so slowly in my ribcage my entire life.

Black wedge boots stop just above her ankles, baby pink sweater dress that clings to every fucking curve swoops down at her neckline like a loose turtleneck, hiding her breasts and it stops just below her knees, showing off her shapely calves.

I was right about her hair cascading around her in golden waves, parted in the middle, framing her heart-shaped face.

“Oops,” she mumbles, reaching back into the closet and I see the material of the dress stretch across her ass as she bends forward, grabbing a purse and a pristine, snow-white coat.

I swallow, hurrying to step into my casual Italian loafers, grab my black, double-breasted overcoat, and follow her out of her room, chills rushing up my forearms with each click of her booted heels against the marble floors beneath our feet.

Matilda and Derek wait for us at the base of the curved white-oak staircase, Derek rushing to put a coat on his wife.

Sabrina puts her forearm to the side, the one where her coat is carelessly draped over, and it hits my abdomen.

Withholding my eyeroll, I take it from her and help her into it like an actual gentleman, careful not to touch her, of course.

I catch a scarred face with mix-matched eyes by the entryway to the den - suit still so fucking crisp and edgy.

He puts a tumbler full of clear liquid to his lips, and swallows, maintaining eye contact, pursing his lips as he swallows.

Sabrina tightens her coat by the waist, the fur trim pushing out like an extra dress, a little Russian doll. Parker takes a step forward, hiding his little smirk well.

“Oh Parker! Are you joining us tonight?” Sabrina asks.

He shakes his head once. “Not tonight, Miss Winters.”

“Oh,” she sounds disappointed. “Next time?”

“Sure, Miss Winters,” he drawls.

She slightly bobs her head, mouths something to him, and he blinks at her in return.

I don’t fucking like it.

“Oh, I told you, he was defending my honor, Mum! Truly you should have seen it! The man swung, and oh, it was so quick the way my Maksim swung back. Oh, I’ve never seen anything so…” she sighs dreamily, “ manly .”

I’ll say one thing about my betrothed - she’s a damn good liar.

She has Matilda practically swooning in my direction as I take another swig of the amber liquid in my crystal tumbler.

I grin, chuckling at how goddamn easy it was for Sabrina to make her parents like me.

So fuck it. I can play along. “Yeah, well, you know, nobody tries to touch my woman and gets away with it.”

This causes my future mother-in-law to squeal happily in her seat and begin fanning herself. “ Your woman,” she chuckles, scrunching her nose at her daughter. “Oh, I love it! Goodbye feminism. He’s practically barbaric, Tink.”

The Italian restaurant we’re currently in reminds me of the finest ones New York has to offer.

The lighting is low but not too dim, the tables are covered in white tablecloths with red suede runners and candlelit centerpieces.

There are crystal chandeliers above each table and a string quartet softly playing somewhere.

The building itself is older, but the architecture reminds me of something you'd see in an old Victorian era film.

“Oh, this is such great fodder!” Matilda smiles.

“Fodder?” I ask.

“Yes, darling,” Sabrina squirms in her seat and then drags her gaze to mine. “Remember I told you Mum writes books? She's been a bestseller for the past decade.”

No, I don't remember because I don't know anything. Also, I can respect a woman that leaves her shit husband and makes something of herself. There are too many strong women out there not making enough of a fucking ruckus. Then again, the wives of the capos are silent and swift in their kills. You have to be in our world. We can’t get too much attention poised our way.

Flicking my gaze back to Matilda I ask, “Oh, so this is how you add scenarios to your books?”

“At times. Sometimes I people watch, sometimes I hole myself up until I have an entire chapter written, sometimes I get bloody wasted and type, letting it flow through me, and when I wake up with a blaring headache, I'll sift through what I typed and sometimes…

sometimes I just listen to other's stories and steal them.” Matilda says with a grin and rough voice at the end, making her look a bit like a villain.

Sabrina giggles and the sound prickles the bottom of my skull. Her wide smile is directed at me, and the little scrunch of her nose makes my chest feel like it's being squeezed. She makes a motion toward her mother, taking a sip from her glass of water. “She's an evil genius, my mother.”

“Evil, no. Genius , absolutely.” Derek smirks, putting a hand over his wife's. When they look at each other, it's with a palpable longing.“But I will say my wife is amazing, always surprising me. Keeping me on my toes.”

It takes the older couple a moment for them to tear their gaze away from the other, lost in their own world. “Well!” Matilda chuckles. “Let's get on to the planning, shall we?”

Sabrina sits up straight like a doll come to life. “Planning?”

“Your engagement party, Sabrina, love. Please tell me you didn't think we'd skip over that now, did you?”

“Oh, uh, I'm not so sure. With mine and Maksim's schedule, I'm not sure if we'd be able to fly back in time. He's so busy and I have so many clients.”

Matilda's happy moment seems to crumble, and where I shouldn't feel anything, I shouldn't care, I feel bad for her. I took what should be a happy occasion away from them. Fuck. “I'm sure we could… find the time.”

Sabrina's eyes flash at me as if I've done something wrong, but there goes that fucking uncanny grin again. Every tooth white and shiny and perfect.

Matilda gasps and claps her hands together. “Wonderful! Derek!”

“Something small, Mama, please. I… please .” Her voice is small and it… irks me.

Is she ashamed of marrying me?

“No, yes, of course, Tink. You give me a list of names you’re okay with having there, and I’ll keep to it. No funny business, I promise.”

“I'd also need to get Raven out here. I can't have my engagement party without my maid of honor.”

Creepy goth barbie. Wonderful.

But what can I say? The man that'll most likely be my best man is Niko, and that's because he'll be carrying. Which reminds me- I pull my phone out at the table, excusing myself and typing out a quick message to him to put cameras in her bedroom and bathroom, mostly where the tub is located, while we’re away.

I want to determine if I did hear her screaming underwater, or if it was a wrong assumption.

But if she is screaming under water… I want to know why.

I darken my screen and shove my phone back into my front pocket, as the conversation ebbs and flows between us and the more I watch Matilda and Derek interact, the more I can see there's a story behind their affections.

I'll make sure to ask Sabrina later when we're alone in her Barbie Bedroom tonight.

When we get back to Kensington, Sabrina practically flies up the staircase after saying goodnight to her parents, and I follow, taking the steps two at a time.

Immediately upon entering her room, I see the light on under the door of the bathroom.

I go to the walk-in to undress and hang my suit back up, stepping out at the same time as her.

I inhale slowly as I take her in. Tiny sleep shorts that showcase her sturdy thighs, camisole that hugs the dips of her waist, braless so her nipples are peaked.

Before I can even think about what color they are, my phone rings, distracting me at the right moment.

She fidgets, then darts to the sofa bed.

I try to ignore the ringing in my pocket and help her pull it out, but she makes a shooing motion with her hands, dismissing me.

Okay then.

I look down at my screen to see it’s Niko.

“Yeah?”

“Hey boss, sorry to interrupt. What time is it there? ”

“Just after eleven.”

“Oh, how are the in-laws?”

I grunt, “Fine. What’s going on?”

“Cops tried to raid before the fight tonight.” he begins.

“Did they have a warrant?”

“No. But I'm thinking they’ll try to have one soon.”

“And the club?”

“Everything’s legit. As far as they’re concerned, they're just exotic dancers. None of the licenses are out, all of our keepers are up to date on their certifications.”

“The cop?”

“Same one as always - Donahue.”

“What the fuck is up his ass this time?” I demand, watching my fiancé bend over the length of the sofa bed, fighting the need to help her.

“Well, I don't want to make it a big deal and I am keeping my eyes on it, that new girl, Harley? She looked really fucking nervous.”

“You think she's hiding from him?”

“Yeah. I'll ask around to see what the other girls know.”

“Do that. Her background check was clear. There should be no reason a cop is looking for her if her record is clean.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Alright boss. I'll see you when you get back.”

I hang up, darkening my screen and putting it in the drawer of the nightstand by my gun. I head to the bathroom, wash my face, and begin brushing my teeth as Sabrina is looking around for something, bending over in those sweet little silk baby pink shorts. Dammit. I avert my gaze.