Page 8 of The Perfect Wife
“That’s a negative. But as soon as we have any information, we will let you know. Just keep Miss McCall safe until we give you the green light, and we’ll do the rest.” I knew the guys were more than capable of doing what was necessary to ensure Reyna’s safety. There was no doubt in my mind that they could handle whatever came at them.
As I pushed open the door, already I could feel my uneasiness dissipate. I spared no expense to equip my penthouse with the best security money could buy. There was only one way to access it, and that was from the service elevator on the other side of the kitchen. Other thanThe Society, my GM, Samantha, and my trusty housekeeper, Eloise, no one else had access to this floor.
With my hand on Reyna’s back, I allowed her to enter first. As soon as I closed the door behind us and began setting the alarm, her annoyance ricocheted off my back. “Are you going to tell me who you were talking to?”
Hitting the last number on the security panel, I turned toward Reyna. “How about we eat first and then talk?”
“You are impossible.” Her arms flew in the air before coming down against her sides. Even exasperated, she was beautiful.
The thoughts spinning in my head at this moment were so inappropriate. My thoughts should be on her safety and not how much I wanted to strip her of her dress and everything beneath it just to feel her soft skin pressed to mine. Her beautiful brown doe eyes made my cock hard the minute she met mine with her disapproval. I didn’t plan on this, but I rather enjoyed her feistiness.
Removing my suit jacket, I placed it on the back of the barstool and walked over to the fridge to see what I could scrounge up for dinner. Typically, Eloise had my meals prepared for me, but since I had dinner plans this evening, I gave her the evening off.
When I turned to face Reyna, she hadn’t moved away from the door. Her eyes fixed on the open space of my penthouse. When I had this hotel/casino designed, my objective was to get the same reaction displayed on her gorgeous face. I had imported most of the furnishings, even the sectional couch was of fine Italian leather. The beveled glass coffee table and matching end tables came from Africa. Ornately carved ivory positioned in a triangular steeple helped to support the tempered glass. Not even the extravagant furnishings could match the view of Atlanta from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Atlanta wasn’t the biggest city in the US, but it was my city, the city where the Cross family gained power over a century ago. As Russian immigrants, changing the family name from Crostova to Cross gave us the strength we have earned today, without affecting our heritage. Even my great-grandfather would be proud if he were still alive today.
Unbuttoning my shirt cuffs, I headed to the kitchen. “Do you have a preference on what you would like to eat, princess?”
“I lost my appetite the minute you kidnapped me. And quit calling me princess.” She inaccurately spoke, disregarding the explanation I had given her earlier.
Smiling, I laughed at her spunk and said, “Chicken Alfredo it is, then.”
Making my way to the fridge, I pulled out a few needed items and placed them on the counter before opening the cupboard to grab the rest. Even though I couldn’t see her since my back was towards her, I could tell that she was fuming. Her eyes were burning my back as I began preparing our meal. She never responded on whether or not she liked what I was about to cook, but though it didn’t matter at this point, I would have much rather heard her input.
In no time, I pulled the dish from the oven, cooked to perfection. The aroma alone should make Reyna’s appetite come back. Dishing up our plates, I took them to the dining room table. Reyna remained seated at the bar with her arms crossed at her chest. I suppose that if I were in her position, I would be a little annoyed with myself as well. The way she looked at me with her gorgeous brown eyes only made me want her more, beneath me, in my bed.
Stepping over to where she was sitting, I held my hand out, hoping that she would take it. When she didn’t move, I lifted her chin with my hand until her eyes were on mine. “Reyna, let’s eat, and then we will talk.”
“I will eat only if you promise to tell me what is going on.” Her eyes said everything, and the walls she built to show her strength were starting to crumble.
“I will tell you what I can, at least enough to protect you. The last thing I want is to put you in more danger.” If she knew everything, it would surely put her in more danger. Rui Salko hadn’t made himself known, but when Patton called to inform me that Reyna’s apartment had been broken into, there could only be one man behind it. Thankfully, Patton was able to intercept the 911 call her roommate Kenzi made when she returned home after leaving with her friend Kip for dinner. Impersonating a cop by showing the correct identification wasn’t uncommon forThe Society. After securing Kenzi in a hotel, Patton reviewed the footage from the cameras we placed in the apartment before Reyna moved in. BetweenThe Societyand the McCalls, we have been able to keep her safe. Tonight, that all changed. The two men inside her apartment had to be Salko’s men. It was clear they were looking for something. Whatever it was, they came up empty-handed. Before I told Reyna anything, I needed to find out how much she knew about her father.
Leading her to the table, I pulled out her chair and waited for her to take a seat. Pouring her a glass of wine, I looked over to her for approval as she took a sip. “This wine is delicious.”
“I’m glad you approve. Now eat.”
~6~
Reyna
The meal the Davian prepared was wonderful. I might have told him that I lost my appetite, but the second I took my first bite, that all changed. Dinner was over an hour ago, and as we sat on the leather couch, it was time Davian came clean and told me what the hell was going on. Two glasses of wine gave me all the courage I needed. “I think I have waited long enough. It’s time you tell me what is going on.”
When Davian looked at me, I knew he was contemplating what to tell me. He was on edge, and his pushing from the couch and pacing was a good indicator of his tension. There was a compressed trail from his black leather loafers, which I was sure were also imported, in the plush rug. My annoyance with him was on the verge of breaking loose when he turned my way. “How much do you remember about your father?”
“My father? What the hell does this have to do with my father? I never met the man.”
Davian stopped pacing and took a seat beside me. His hands reached for mine, and he pulled them to his lips. My eyes went to his lips, and at that moment, the thought of how it would feel if his lips were on mine didn’t escape my mind. It didn’t matter how annoyed I was with him. When our eyes connected, the secrets behind them overpowered my need to kiss him. “Please, Davian, just tell me.”
The ability to keep the tears where they belonged, hidden away, failed when he spoke. “Your apartment was broken into. We have secured Kenzi in a hotel until we can find out what they were looking for.”
The information that Davian just shared with me had my head spinning. I still didn’t know what it had to do with my father. Knowing the connection wasn’t a top concern at that moment. “Kenzi… was she there? Did they hurt her?”
“Kenzi wasn’t home when the break-in occurred. She is also safe.” Davian assured me as he pulled me closer.
“Why would anyone break into my home? I have nothing to offer. I’m a college student, for God’s sake.” My tears came down full force as I tried to ask my next question. Pulling away from him, I wiped away the tears, “What does my father have to do with this?”
“I can’t give you all the details, but we believe he may have been responsible for the break-in.”
I tried my best to understand what Davian was saying, but I was having a hard time believing that a man I had never met could be responsible for the break-in of my apartment. “I don’t understand. What could he possibly want? I have nothing of value, except maybe my jewelry.”
