Page 64 of Savage Obsession

Julia lets out a noncommittal snort and marches up the steps. She passes Sophia with a curt ‘good morning’ and heads inside.

A fragile truce has broken out. Julia and Lily have been here for three days, and so far we’ve got along fine. Julia has taken over the cooking, and her efforts seem to me to be on a par with Sophia’s. We’ve seen hardly anything of Lily because she’s spending all her time at the stables with José.

The girl isn’t scared of hard work, and she’s already picked up a few phrases of Spanish. José has allowed her to sit on old Mattie. Mattie, or Waltzing Matilda to her racing public, is now in semi-retirement after a long and illustrious career where she has more than earned her keep in prize money. A small mare at just thirteen hands, she’s quiet and undemanding, the perfect first ride for a novice. I’ve spotted Lily ambling around the paddock on her back. and I don’t think it will be long before she’s graduated to a more sprightly mount. I look forward to a day when we can ride out together, me on True and Lily on Dancer.

“Sir, you have a visitor.” Sophia interrupts our breakfast on the fourth morning. “The gentleman refused to wait?—”

“I’m not waiting around in my own fucking house.” Kristian strides into the dining room, Janey beside him. “I expected to see you at the yacht before now.”

I get to my feet. “Kris, I thought you were still en route.”

“So I can see.” He takes in the cosy domestic scene. “Keeping busy, I see.”

“This is Julia. My… wife. And Lily.”

Kristian raises one eyebrow and says nothing. Janey is effusive enough for the pair of them.

“Julia! We had no idea you were coming. And Lily, too. It’s so nice to meet you, both of you. Isn’t it, Kris?” She nudges him with her elbow. “Will you be staying for a while? You’ll have to come to dinner with us.”

“I… We…” Julia struggles to find a response.

I save her the trouble. “We’d love to come. You just tell us when.”

“They can come tomorrow, can’t they, Kris. That’ll give me time to hit the markets and cook. Do you both like fish? They have the most wonderful tuna here.”

“Baz, a walk.” Kristian spins on his heel and leaves the dining room, clearly expecting me to follow.

I don’t disappoint him. I catch up with him at the door to the room I’ve commandeered as my office and business headquarters. He marches in and heads immediately for the cabinet where I keep liquor.

“Do you have Scotch?” He peers at the shelf of bottles.

“There.” I point to the bottle I know to be his favourite.

He pours himself a drink, then offers me one.

“No thanks.” It’s not yet eight the morning, for fuck’s sake, though I don’t point that out. Instead, I slide into my chair behind the desk. “You’ll be wanting a report?”

“Fire away.” He gestures with his hand to encourage me.

I rattle off the facts and figures, all of which are more than satisfactory. The racetrack is a particular success story, but the hotels and casinos are doing well, too. There was hardly a blip during my absence, despite Feliks’s nervousness. My boss has no cause for complaint, though I suspect that won’t stop him.

“So, how was it, on Caraksay?”

“Fine. Casey was brilliant.”

He inclines his chin, cradling his Scotch between both hands. “And Ethan?”

“He was… civil. We didn’t see that much of him.”

“Janey’s keen to pay a visit home. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.”

“Right. She’ll want to share her news.”

“And, speaking of happy families…?”

“There was a… problem. In Warsaw. Not a good idea for Julia to go back there.”

“Explain.”

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