Page 68 of Defiled Innocence

“But still, why would he want four to begin with?” I lean back, draping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to me.

The allure of finding her half-asleep waiting up for me each night has been the reason I’ve made it home from the club within half the usual time.

Having members of the police force on the payroll has its perks. Like not being pulled over after running a red light doing twenty over the speed limit.

“It’s a religion,” she finally says and tucks her legs beneath her as she leans into my chest. “That’s why he keeps stringing along the first wife, at least that’s what he says. He says the man can’t leave.”

“Hmm. But she can leave him? Then why not tell her he doesn’t want her anymore? She’d leave him then, right?”

She pushes up and looks at me with a grin. “Exactly!”

I chuckle and kiss her forehead.

“What was that for?” She pulls back, her smile slipping a little.

“I wanted to.” I shrug and hug her to me, putting her back on my chest.

“If he doesn’t want her, he should tell her,” I say with all seriousness. “He sounds like a coward.”

“He is,” she agrees as the show comes back on from the commercial. “So, you think divorce is all right, then?”

Her question comes out softer, like she’s prodding a sore area.

“For them, sure.” I tighten my hold on her.

“So, if a man doesn’t love his wife, he should tell her so she can leave.” She stiffens. “I mean, in a relationship like that, where love is a factor. Not like our marriage, I mean a real marriage.”

It’s my turn to go rigid.

“How is our marriage not real?”

“Well, it’s not. I mean it’s legal and we… you know… do what married people do… but it’s not like them.” She gestures to the screen where the man sits with the only wife who can still tolerate him.

She’s talking about love.

Before I can respond, a new thought grabs her attention and she changes the subject completely.

“Oh! I almost forgot. I talked to your mother tonight.” She reaches over to the remote and pauses the streaming.

“You did? How did you talk to her?” I say a small prayer that my mother didn’t put any horrible thoughts in Amelia’s head.

Like the option of living in separate countries.

“She called me.” Amelia laughs. “She said you wouldn’t give her my number, so she had to dig around herself for it. She’s nice. Why wouldn’t you give her my number?”

“I wanted to give you more time before dealing with her. My mother can be a little controlling.” I’d prefer we go back to talking about the show than my mother, but Amelia is so relaxed I won’t do anything to ruin it.

“So that’s where you get it from?” She laughs again; the casual sound of it brightens the room. To hear her relaxed and having some fun—even at my expense—eases the soreness from my soul.

“Maybe.” I squeeze her again. “Did she say if she’s planning a trip here?”

“No. She said she hates New York and won’t step foot here ever again.” Amelia twists so she can look at me better. “What happened?”

“Nothing. She just prefers Russia. My father made us move here when I was young. When he passed away, she packed up and moved back.”

Other than the ruthlessness of my family’s business, there’s little drama on my side of our family. It’s Amelia’s family that has brought all the excitement.

“Hmmm, but she mentioned your brother. She said he should come here, that he’d do well to learn from you on how to catch a wife.” She makes a face. “But you didn’t really catch me, you inherited me. Does she know that? I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t tell her.”

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