Page 77 of The Mistake

But, I don’t. Iget to my feet, fix her dress into place, and then wrap my arms around her, pulling her in close.

“Tellme when you want to head back to the city.”

“Are you getting bored?” Charlotte asked.

“Not at all.”

She giggled. “You keep asking me that, but why would I want to leave here? It’s perfect.”

I know there’s a lot she’s not telling me. Her father did a number on her, and from time to time, I’ll say something, and she will explain what happened. The other night I’d been stroking her back, and one of the scars on her back is a little more ridged than the last. That night I found out that Cassie had called Social Services about what was happening, but their father believed it had been Charlotte, so he beat her.

It didn’t come as a surprise to me, the power that the Evil Savages MC had, that no one would believe them, or they were too afraid to go against Demon.

“Then this is where we’re going to stay,” I said.

I kiss her lips and help her into her chair. The fruit doesn’t look quite as crisp or as cold as when it first arrived. My staff know when not to disturb me and seeing this was my honeymoon, they had kept fucking clear of the dining room. I’d have been pissed and had no choice but to punish anyone who interrupted me while I fucked my wife.

Charlotte picked up her fork and pierced some peach. I watch as she takes a bite. Her eyes closed for a few secondsas she enjoyed the taste.

“This is good. I don’t know how Michael does it.”

“He cuts up fruit,” I said.

“I know, but he has to pick the right fruit. It tastes like fruit. I’ve eaten some in the past that taste like nothing but water. So gross.” She wrinkled her nose.

I was about to respond when the sound of the doorbell rang out. I tensed up.

“What’s the matter?” Charlotte asked.

“Stay here.” I don’t have guests.

No one ever knocks or rings my fucking doorbell. I want to enjoy breakfast with my wife.Getting to my feet, I enter the main hallway as Hubert opened the door, and Ivan saunters in with a big smile on his lips.

“Good morning, Hubert.”

He turned toward me, and then the smile widened.

“Ah, one of my many favorite people in the world.” Ivanstepped up to me and shook my hand.

I’d left the door open, and of course he saw Charlotte enjoying her breakfast. I guess today’s plans of taking her out into the gardens and making love surroundedby flowers, was now out of the question.

Summerwas nearly over. It had been a long one this year. Most of spring had felt like freaking summer. I was looking forward to winter. My birthday was only a week away.

Ivan moved into my dining room, and of course Charlotte got to her feet, and I watched as the two people embraced. Just like that, easily.

There is no fear in Charlotte’s eyes, and I don’t know if that makes her a bit of a fool for not being afraid of the monster before her eyes. But then, Charlotte’s life had been full of monsters. I wonder if she considered Ivan a good monster. As if there were truly any of them around. I fucking doubted it. Ivan was a dangerous man. He was not the kind of man you trifled with.

“Still eating breakfast?” Ivan asked.

In response my wife’s face went a bright red.

“We’ve been busy,” I said.

“Excellent, that’s what I like to hear. So the honeymoon is going well?”

I swore my loyalty to this man but right now, I wanted to punch him, real fucking hard. Charlotte’s face had gone bright red, and she seemed to be fascinated by the plate of fruit in front of her.

I call out to my staff, and immediately one steps through the dining room door. I order a fruit plate for Ivan and then pick up my fork.

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