Page 23 of Sweet Deception

“Okay, Anna,” Ivan replied easily. The others muttered in Russian. I hurried off, no clue where the restroom was.

Glancing back, I saw Ivan and the two men trailing me, ten feet behind. Were they following? Or just walking? My pulse quickened. I wove through the crowd, searching for an exit.

Hands grabbed my arms. I screamed, fearing Ivan’s crew had caught me, then froze.

Gleb.

His icy glare pinned me.

My jaw dropped, words stumbling out. “I... I just wanted fun. The house is suffocating.”

Without a word, he hoisted me over his shoulder. I felt small, helpless, as he carried me out to his car.

“Hey,” I said as he set me in the passenger seat. “Why’d you come for me?”

He ignored me, starting the engine. We drove home in silence. When we arrived, he rounded to my side as I stepped out. “Besides laughing with that guy, what else did you do?”

My face fell. “Which guy?”

“The one next to you at the club.”

He’d seen us? “Nothing. We just talked. He was funny, that’s all.”

“Did he touch you?”

“No.” Truth.

“Did those other men touch you?”

“No,” I said sharply. “Why do you care? I thought you hated me.”

“Those are mafia men. You can’t wander anywhere ‘for fun.’” He dodged my question.

“So I rot at home, lonely and depressed?” My chest ached. “My husband, who’s supposed to be there, doesn’t give a damn.”

“Watch your tongue.” he warned.

“No. Stay out of my space. You can’t hate me and stalk me like I matter. Don’t say it’s because I’m your wife, that’s nonsense.”My voice rose, chest aching. I turned away, avoiding his piercing blue eyes.

“You’re bored? I’ll fix that.”

I snapped back, confused. “How?”

He shrugged. “I’ll figure something out.”

“Keep me company at night,” I said. His eyes flickered. “Not sex. Games, talking, anything.”

“You think I’d sit with you, playing games?” His tone dripped venom. “Die lonely for all I care.”

“Really?” His words sliced deep, my body trembling. How could he hate me this much?

My stomach clenched. “Then leave me alone. Until you’re ready to consummate this and let me go, stay away.”

“I can’t,” he said.

“Why?”

“Pick something else. No chance I’m cozying up to the daughter of my mother’s killer.”