Page 117 of Emerald Malice

I settle myself by the pool, just under cover of one of the larger trees. Even if she happens to look out, I’ll be disguised in shadow. But I know she won’t look out. She can play the piano for hours without stopping.

I close my eyes and let the music wash over me. It’s the only sliver of peace in my life at the moment—these nights by the pool, listening to her play.

A half hour passes in what feels like seconds when Natalia stops playing to answer her phone. Her voice carries through the open window.

“Aunt Annie! Guess what I was doing when you called?” she laughs, standing to pace across the floor in front of the window. “Nope. Not even close. Getting colder. Okay, I’ll tell you… I was playing the piano!”

She smiles, and she’s beautiful. Forget the stupid dog; I want a closer look. But before I can stand up, she turns back to the piano. “Okay, hold on. Let me put you on speaker and then you can listen.”

She places the phone on the surface of the baby grand and starts a new song. This one is light and happy. It’s the most upbeat tune I’ve ever heard her play, and I’ve been out here all week listening to her find her way through one song after the next.

“What do you think?” she asks once she’s done playing.

“Oh, sweetheart!” Aunt Annie’s voice is exactly what I would have expected. Soft, maternal, like a caramel sweet warmed in a pocket. “That was wonderful. You haven’t lost your touch. Where did you get a piano?”

“Um, Andrey… He gave me a baby grand.”

“I told you I liked him. When do I finally get to meet him?”

I expect Natalia to make excuses. Maybe tell her what an arrogant ass I am. Warn her that she doesn’t actually want to meet me at all.

“He’s so busy,” Natalia says instead. “He works really hard.”

“I suppose he must if he can buy you pianos and trained support animals! Then at least tell me when I can see you,” Annie continues. “We haven’t met since you told me you were pregnant.”

“How about next week?” Natalia offers. “I’ll check with—I’ll check my schedule.”

“Wonderful. And the baby? How’s my little grandchild doing?”

Natalia gets to her feet and grabs the phone but thankfully, she doesn’t take her aunt off the speaker. “Granddaughter, you mean?”

Annie shrieks with delight and the rest of the conversation sort of slides into the background.

I sit there, under the shadows, staring at the silhouette of the beautiful woman carrying my child, wondering how I could possibly have found myself on the outskirts of this pregnancy.

I should have been there for the gender reveal. I meant to call the doctor yesterday after her appointment. But there was a Nikolai sighting in Chinatown. Two of my men were on his tail before he disappeared into thin air. I was busy. Again.

When I tune back into the conversation, Natalia is saying goodnight to her aunt.

“Enjoy your happiness, my beautiful girl,” her aunt croons. “You deserve it more than anyone I know.”

Is Natalia happy? I want her to be. I hope she is.

But as Natalia puts her phone away and sits back down at the piano, her smile disappears. She drops her head into her hands and cries.

I stand and walk away.

41

ANDREY

I’m pouring myself a cup of black coffee the following morning when Shura walks into the kitchen, carrying his own mug. He offers me nothing but a small nod.

Things have been strained between us since my chat with Leonty and him in the office. Regardless, when I gesture for him to sit, he takes the chair next to me without a fuss.

“How was dinner?”

Shura takes a long, thoughtful sip of coffee. “Good.”

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