Page 78 of Koroleva

"No, you're not, it’s what’s expected of newlyweds, and it’s very understandable. My son and you are made for each other. Let's hope your love bears fruit soon, it’s what everyone wants." "Especially me," I thought sardonically. "Let’s have lunch, the three of us together, you need to eat, you might already be carrying my new grandchild. The Capuletos are known for their marksmanship."

Was that statement loaded with a double meaning? His eyes didn't leave mine until he took my hand to place it on his arm.

We were seated at a beautiful table with a white tablecloth and views of the golf course. Everything was enveloped in green and people who broke the harmony dressed in plain or checkered clothes. They were dressed as one might expect from players of that sport, all except for me.

Some women brought a hand to their mouth upon seeing me to comment to their table companion about my inappropriate attire. The men didn’t feel like commenting; they only had eyes and balls full of desire.

As soon as I glanced at the menu and we ordered from the waiter, I excused myself to go to the bathroom.

I couldn’t shake the idea that it had been my father-in-law, but what if I was wrong? I couldn’t exactly ask him, or if I did, I couldn’t be sure he would answer honestly.

If it was him, it could only mean that Romeo had called and told him. How did he manage to follow me? Maybe he was on his way to the house, wanting to visit his son before going to the field and he explained what he had found out.

My head was about to explode. I went into the women's restroom, took out my phone, and called Andrey.

"Hello, boss, if it's about the information on the new port director, I’m on it."

"I didn't call you for that. Are you alone?" He paused for a moment.

"I can be."

"Good. I’ll wait."

I waited a few seconds looking at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look like someone who had been on the verge of death or sitting at the table with my potential executor.

"Okay. What’s up?"

"Someone tried to kill me." Andrey cursed.

"Was it your husband? Because of me? Are you at home? Is he dead?"

"No, no, no, and no. I'm not sure if it was one of his men or my father-in-law. I'm having lunch with him at the golf club. He entered just minutes after me with a glove on his hand."

"Send me your location, I’m coming immediately."

"No, you keep doing what you're doing, I need the information I asked for or the Colombians' operation will go to hell. If I called you, it’s because I want you to send two of our men. I was shot at a couple of times while driving, but I managed to escape. The car is damaged, so I need one of ours to drive it back home and I’ll go in the other car, ready to attack if necessary."

Andrey started cursing in Russian and saying that it was all his fault, that he was going to kill Aleksa for being a blabbermouth.

"Calm down. I need you whole. I want to know who shot at me and I want them dead. Got it?"

"Don’t worry, boss."

"I'm going to continue with the lunch, they won’t let the boys in, so tell them to wait for me at the door. In about an hour, I’ll be ready."

"You’ll have them there in fifteen minutes, they’ll stand guard outside. I apologize again and put my life in your hands. What I did last night was unforgivable." His tone was one of regret. I knew my man and knew he was very troubled.

"It was, that’s why you are going to give your life, but to find the guilty party. Are we clear?"

"We are."

I hung up and turned on the tap to cool off. I let the water run until it got very cold, only then did I immerse my hands and ran them over my neck and décolletage.

The chain of one of the urinals clanked. A middle-aged woman emerged from one of the stalls with a furtive look. She didn’t even stop at the washbasins. She must have been frightened by what she had heard. If I were her, I would be too.

"Calm down, Nikita!" I forced myself.

I dried my hands and returned to the terrace. My father-in-law stood up and pulled out my chair for me to sit down. They had already brought the lunch and three glasses of wine.

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