Page 130 of The Devil's Pawn

“If we have a girl, can we name her Annabel?”

A wave of pure bliss washes over me, my heart expanding, filling the dark corners of me with light and hope.

“My beautiful wife, I’d love nothing more.”

Chapter Forty-Four

NICHOLAS

Watching Xan and Imogen play chess together is a bittersweet moment for me. I can’t deny the bite of envy circling my gut at how in love they are, how they’re laughing and teasing one another. But I made my decision, and I’m comfortable with it. Elizabeth will make a fine wife and a good mother. She’s the easy choice, and I’m all for easy.

Imogen has too much fire in her belly. She’s too combative for someone like me with a dominant streak a mile wide. I’d have said Xan was similar, and before he married Imogen, he’d have agreed with me. But she spun her magic and toppled the king.

Elizabeth won’t topple me. She isn’t even interested in trying.

That’s why she’s my perfect match. Why, when my father gave me the choice between the two Montague sisters, I didn’t hesitate. Victoria is far too much like Imogen. She has a malevolent look in her eye. A kind of “come at me and see what happens.”

I could tame her, I just don’t want to. I’d rather put myenergies into my business interests and come home at the end of the day to a compliant wife who knows when to keep her mouth shut and her legs open.

“Oh, so close!” Imogen exclaims.

“Too close for comfort,” Xan replies. “I taught you too well.”

“Pfft.” Imogen flicks her wrist in a dismissive gesture. “I worked my ass off studying. One of these days, my beloved husband, you’re going down.”

“Isn’t that every day?” He winks at her, and I groan.

“Please, spare me the sexual innuendos.”

Xan chuckles. My brother is almost unrecognizable from the brooding, surly man who hardly ever smiled. I’m happy for him. He, more than most, suffered when we lost Annabel. For me, losing my mother was the real kicker, especially as I was the one who found her beneath the water, her eyes flared wide as though she regretted her choice to take an overdose but realized her mistake too late.

Those eyes have haunted me ever since. It’s why I’ll never allow myself to love someone. As much as my adversaries wouldn’t believe it, I was a mummy’s boy back in the day. I preferred spending time with her more than with anyone, yet she chose to leave me because she couldn’t live without Annabel. She picked a side, and it wasn’t me or her other living, breathing children. She chose to follow my sister to the grave rather than stay with us. Stay withme.

I’ve never forgiven her for that decision, and I never will.

To hate one’s mother when she’s in the ground and untouchable is the worst kind of torture. I can’t speak to my siblings about her. They’ve put her on a pedestal, and nothing will ever knock her off that lofty perch. Not nowshe’s dead. So, I let it fester within me, like a boil I can’t bring myself to lance.

“I don’t suppose you guys feel up to going out.” I’m fidgety and bored, and the discovery of a key my mother hid has brought back memories I’d rather not dwell on.

We’ve gone through about half her stuff so far, but haven’t found anything the key might fit. For all of us, riffling through her things isn’t easy, so we’re taking it in stages. That key has been in the snow globe for over nineteen years. Another few weeks won’t make a difference, one way or the other.

“Where were you thinking?” Xan asks.

I shrug. “Noir?”

“Is that a club?” Imogen asks.

I nod. Noir is one of a string of nightclubs owned by my family, but it’s my favorite. I like the vibe, the music, the pretty girls who tend to the VIP area. The whole enchilada.

“I’m in. I feel like dancing.” She gets up and does a little shimmy. “Before I grow to the size of a house and can’t get through the door.”

Xan grins. “How big do you think this baby is going to be?”

“Who knows? I mean”—she looks him up and down—“you’re pretty big.”

“Don’t fucking say it,” I cut in before my brother can respond.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

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