Page 79 of Scream (Duchess & Devils #1)

I almost purr when she slips her hands under my jacket and rubs on my chest. “Not fucking me means a little blue pill will be slipped into your morning espresso. Shall we dance?”

With what I’m sure is a dumb grin on my face, I slink an arm around my wife’s waist, lead her to the dance floor, and put her little gloved hand in mine.

She makes a little hmmm sound, takes her gloves off, and slips her bare hand back in mine.

I spend the evening having fun with my wife.

We dance, we eat, we laugh . Together. Cue the fucking movie montage, because that’s how this feels.

Especially when they bring out the sparklers as we wish the couple a happy and safe honeymoon.

I regret being a fucking beast to her at our wedding again.We could have made so many better memories.

My wife simply kisses me, green eyes crinkled at the sides, as she smiles at me.

And then it’s a two hour drive back to Wales.

My wife is not a very stealthy person when she tries to leave in the morning.

Adorable, but not stealthy whatsoever. We fell asleep in front of the fireplace of the massive bedroom we were using last night after drinking a bottle of Sabrina’s favorite wine.

She was not lying when she said a lot of the bedrooms are full of unused furniture.

It’s like being in a museum full of odd things.

You could get lost here if the staff hadn’t closed most of the doors of the unused rooms. Parker almost died laughing when I told him what Tildy said to me at the renewal.

He told us all the gossip he heard including who slipped away with whom.

Sabrina trips over my foot, and catches herself on the arm of the sofa with a small groan.

I blink as I watch her fumble around. Not getting up just yet, I see when she goes to the suitcase in the corner and slips on a white thermal, Parker’s sweatpants, and her ‘trainers.’ She leaves the room, Parker still softly snoring where he fell asleep.

I quietly get up and get dressed into something warm.

Much like mid-September in New York, England is cool in the mornings and evenings. I set out to follow the Duchess.

I hear the door downstairs slam shut. I peek out of the window to the Winter Manor’s expansive gardens below.

I shove on my own trainers and proceed on my quest to be with my wife.

I lose her momentarily when I get to the grassy knoll, but spot movement between the trees towards the end corner of the acreage, where she had pointed out the familial burial grounds.

I pause in my tracks, thinking I might intrude on something extremely personal.

But when I don't see her anymore, I don’t like the feeling of not having her in my sight.

I really should insert a tracker in my wife.

Suddenly, like there’s a whisper of a push on my back telling me to continue, so I do.

I jog down to where I last saw her. I come to a stop at a small pond, fog rising from it as more mist coats the surrounding land.

Then I hear it - Sabrina’s soft tone as she speaks.

I follow it, staying between the veil of the tree line.

I find my wife with her back pressed against a giant monument - an angel with its wings spread far and wide.

The name CHARLES KOEN WINTERS is etched in large font.

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’m married now.

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’s dangerous . But he loves me.

Sometimes it’s like I’m one of those women trying to pet a wild bear.

But he loves me . 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 was your dream. 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 her hand 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 and breakfast by the open door.