Page 138 of Ruins
The words leave my mouth sharper than I intended, slicing through the kitchen air.
Amelia’s hands still over the dough.
For the briefest moment, I see it—the flicker of hesitation, the carefully concealed pause. Then, she exhales softly, her expression smoothing over, practiced.
“He’s an associate,” she answers evenly, her familiar smile snapping into place like a well-rehearsed lie.
But I saw it.
Her eyes flick to Romeo for the briefest of moments—a silent exchange that I almost miss.
A cold weight settles in my stomach.
They’re lying to me.
I glance between them, my chest tightening, a sharp sting creeping into my ribs.
I thought Amelia was on my side.
I thought she was someone I could trust.
Now, I’m not so sure.
Chapter 28
Santo
Mybrilliant,enigmaticwifeis also aspitfire.
She has a sweet tooth and a sharp tongue—a fiery attitude she seems to reserve only forme.
What Romeo knows, but my wife does not, is that each SUV I provide my men come with GPS tracking. Whatneitherof them know is that each one also comes with a listening device.
And so, Iheardher.
I heard the anger in her voice. The defiance.
I knew I upset her last night.And again today, but when I sawhimstanding there, in her bedroom, I saw red.
Romeo knows his place. He respects it. But that knowledge did nothing to curb the wildfire jealousy that burned through me, fierce and relentless.
I wanted to rip him from that room. From her presence. I wanted to remind him—to remindher—that she ismine.
But then, I listened.
Hearing herfightfor herself, demand her freedom, refuse to be controlled… it sparked something in me.
Admiration, maybe.
Or maybe it was something deeper. Arealization.
My wife is far stronger than I ever gave her credit for.
Now that Vasilisa is home, now that she’s safe, I push those thoughts aside and leave my office, making my way to the conference room where Maksim and Angelo are waiting.
After last night’s interrogation, strategy must be discussed.
Because now that weknowour enemies have made a deal with Miroslav…
