Page 219 of New Storm Rising
She opened her mouth, and I was already ready for a sharp reply—only to be surprised when she didn’t say anything, but instead scrutinised my face, as if judging and giving a score. Finally, she nodded, almost imperceptibly.
“On second thought…you might be right.” One corner of her mouth quirked up, and she reached up to touch my face. “It might be adequate after all.”
Did she…did she just speak disparagingly of her husband by agreeing with me? That was devious, disrespectful, and…
…exactly the kind of thing my little ifrit would do.
My eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“To quote Her Majesty the Queen, I amnotamused, Mrs Ambrose.”
Instead of being intimidated, her eyes twinkled. It was simultaneously the most enervating and most charming thing I had seen in a long time. “Oh, but I am, Mr Ambrose. I am.”
Her smile widened. Why in Midas’ name did her smile have to be so captivating?
I was just about to open my mouth—to say what, I did not know—when the smile suddenly slid off her face, her eyes fixed on something in the distance. Frowning, I followed her gaze with my own, only for it to land on the distant silhouette of a ship in the harbour. The ship that, soon enough, would take us back to England. To our everyday lives. To ourmarriedlife, as a soon-to-be father and mother.
“Will…will it really be all right?” This was the third time she had asked this. Normally, I would be highly incensed at my employees repeating themselves. But, looking at the expression on her face… I couldn’t bring myself to. “This…I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never felt like this before. I have no idea what to do.”
Instinctively, my arms tightened around her. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
At hearing that, she instantly perked up. “Whatever you can?”
I felt a sudden sense of trepidation. “Yes. Why?”
“Well…” The smile of anifritspread across her face. “I’ve had this fantastic idea. It’s called ‘maternity and pregnancy benefits’, and involves—”
In a flash, I had leaned forward and pressed my lips on hers, silencing her completely. Some words were not allowed to be spoken in my presence underanycircumstances! Besides…silence was so much better. Especially if it was accomplished by my lips on hers. Tightening my grip on my wife, I kissed the life out of her, conveying with every touch, with every caress of my lips, that our future would be brilliant and beautiful. Just as beautiful as she was.
***
We spent quite a bit of time on top of the statue taking care of important business. Yes, it definitely was important business. Absolutely necessary for the future prosperity of my various enterprises, and not at all because I could not tear myself away from my wife. I was Mr Rikkard Ambrose. Watching romantic sunsets was not of any interest to me whatsoever, and whoever said differently would be sued for libel.
By the time we finally decided to leave the observation platform, the interior of the statue was almost pitch-black. The only illumination came from a few sparse beams of moonlight falling in through the openings in the statue’s crown. Arm in arm, we slowly descended the spiral staircase and stepped out of the stone base of the statue and started towards the boat. Halfway towards the shore, however, we stopped in silent agreement. The best kind of agreement.
Sighing, my wife leaned back into my chest. She didn’t resist when I slid my arms around her, interlacing my fingers with hers. Together, we gazed up at the stars. And, for some reason, I did not mention what a waste of time it was.
“You know…” Her voice was soft. Almost inaudible over the nocturnal breeze. “I’m glad I’m married to you.”
I considered this for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. I do know.”
That got me an elbow in the ribs. “This is where you’re supposed to say you’re glad to be married to me as well!”
“Indeed?”
For some reason, this made her smile. Though I had no idea why she would react like that to a perfectly normal response.
A moment later, however, when she lifted my hand and placed it on her belly, I stopped caring.
“The future might not be what I expected,” her soft whisper reached my ears, filling my cold heart with warmth. “But…I think I’m looking forward to it. And more importantly, I’m looking forward to seeing this future together with you.”
“So am I,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “So am I, Mrs Am—”
That was when I felt a chill at the back of my neck. Something I never felt, because it was something I made others feel. My instincts screamed at me to move. And I did. I just didn’t move away. Instead, I shifted, shielding my wife—just an instant before the gunshot came.
Dead Men Walking
(Chapter 42, “To Love, Honour and Protect”, from Mr Ambrose’s Point of View)
