Page 67 of Sweet Deception

Curious, I opened it.

Gnocchi.

The moment I saw it, my hunger took over. I didn’t even try to play it cool.

I devoured it shamelessly.

When I looked up, Gleb was staring at me.

I ignored him, focusing on my food.

He didn’t say anything as he disappeared for a moment. When he returned, he placed a bottle of water beside me.

I grabbed it, drinking deeply. Only when I was satisfied did I mutter, “Thank you.”

He nodded.

I lifted a hand to my hair, wincing as a dull ache pulsed across my scalp.

I hadn’t thought much of how Yegor had yanked it at the time, adrenaline had masked the pain, but now, the sting had settled in, stubborn and lingering.

Gleb’s eyes darkened. “Who did this to you?”

“What?”

“You are in pain.” His voice was deceptively calm, but his gaze was locked onto my face. “Don’t lie to me, Anna. I know when something’s wrong.”

I turned away. “It’s nothing.”

“Tell me now.” His voice dropped to a cold menacing edge. “Did someone touch you?”

“I just said it’s nothing. Drop it.”

“Was it one of my siblings? A woman? A man?”

I clenched my fists. “It’s better if you don’t know.”

Gleb exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. His patience was running thin.

I needed to change the subject fast. “Where are you traveling to?”

“New York. Business.”

“And taking me with you wouldn’t be a problem?”

“It might.” He shrugged. “But I’d handle it.”

Silence stretched between us before he spoke again.

“Who did this to you, Anna?”

I sighed, exhausted. There was no point in lying. “Yegor.” I hesitated before adding, “And don’t do anything stupid. It’s already stupid enough that you keep killing every man who touches the wife you supposedly hate.”

His expression darkened further.

I pushed harder. “It’s my body, not yours.”

His voice came low and lethal. “Your body is mine.”