Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4)(42)

Her fragile jaw tightened and she looked around, taking a minute before she said, “Last night, when I walked into that restaurant, did you see Justin kiss me?”

Storm clouds swept in to blacken his mood. How could she so carelessly toss that in his face? Sheppard’s kiss had been tender and genuine. What Sacha had seen in Alek’s office couldn’t have been further from something honest and real had he and Maks’s dancer been paper cut-outs.

“Yes, Sacha. I saw him put his hands on you, and I watched his mouth come into contact with your skin. What about it?”

Her smile was quick and didn’t reach her eyes, but her condescension reached his fucking ears. “He did not do it. What you saw was fabricated.”

Well, holy fuck. He took a slow step back. Couldn’t fucking stand that tone. Hated when someone used it with him. Her? Yeah, it was worse. He roamed the small room, each step causing the parquet flooring to shift and creak. He didn’t stop until he’d once more placed that goddamn sofa between them.

Drawing in a slow breath that sounded like a snake hissing as it passed through his teeth, he couldn’t help but think the little guy’s jabbering coming from the corner didn’t fit with the tension now hanging in the air. He concentrated on it and allowed it to bring him down.

He had to get a grip. He shouldn’t have to work so hard to control this. He was supposed to be the cultured one in their group. Gabriel was the leader, Vincente the muscle, Maksim the brains, and Alek used to be the gentleman his father and uncle had raised him to be. The problem was, he didn’t feel gentile. He felt raw and wounded, and so far into defense mode it was disturbing. His time spent without her had done something to him, changed him. Made him think in ways he would never have before. Made him feel things he shouldn’t. Dark, ominous things more suited to Maks or Vincente’s mind than his own.

“I will caution you to think before using that tone with me again.”

She made an indifferent sound that grated on his nerves like fine sandpaper on an open wound. He ignored it and studied this courageous little soul for a moment. She had changed. Toughened up.

Because of what he’d done to her?

Never before would she have given him lip like this. Too often she’d been an agreeable little princess whose favorite expression had been Whatever you like, Alekzander. She was the only person aside from his mother who’d ever used his full name. Even in the midst of an orgasm she’d extended those four syllables in a way that soon had him joining her.

“You probably enjoy having Sheppard to throw in my face, hmm?”

He got a brief but clear view of how much she didn’t enjoy it when her composure slipped to reveal her remorse before she hid it again. A small line formed between her brows as she rubbed at her nose with her palm in that way she’d always done just before they’d argued. God, he missed that little rub.

“How did you meet him?” The question slipped from him before he could catch it. He didn’t expect an answer, so he was surprised when he got one.

“His friend lives upstairs. I care for Steve and Angela’s son.” She pointed to the playpen, and then went over to gather a small pile of toys that had been thrown over to their side of the barrier. The smile she flashed at the little guy inappropriately hit Alek right behind the zipper.

“Cozy little fucking family you’ve found,” he muttered under his breath. “What is he to you, Sacha?”

“He is my charge.” She petted the boy’s dark head. “I have known him since he was born.”

Alek’s heart melted a little. “Not him, angel. I’m asking about the asshole I met last night.”

She glared at him. “Justin is not an asshole,” she said sharply. “He is a wonderful man. And what he is to me is not your concern. Is this what you needed privacy to speak with me about?”

Her heated defense had his muscles quivering, and as he eyed the door, he was very conscious of his gun under his arm. If he stuck around long enough, would Sheppard show up?

Eventually, yes, to take Sacha to the dinner tonight. Did he plan on arriving early so they could have some private time before going out?

Tipping his head to the side; first right, and then left, Alek stretched his neck out.

It was on the tip of his tongue to come clean at that moment. But the shit banging around in his skull wouldn’t let him drop this.

“I want you to tell me what he is to you.”

Her fragile shoulder went up in a careless shrug that said we didn’t always get what we wanted. That had his jaws coming together in a slow grind he was surprised didn’t cause his mouth to fill with dust.