Chapter 16 #2
“I’d say all the Griffin men are good catches,” I say, forcing a smile and wearing the mask that says I’m a happily married woman with no connection to Ash Griffin. “They’re all ridiculously handsome. And fit.”
I glance at my husband and how his middle strains the buttons on his shirt. He heard every word, but I don’t care that I’m making him uncomfortable. He created this situation. He should suffer too.
Katarina’s smile broadens. “The Griffins are built like gods, aren’t they? It’s not surprising the other brothers have been snapped up. Luckily for me, they saved the best until last.”
“Would Vasili agree though?” I ask as I recall what Quinn said about the Griffins playing their part in the recent war between the Barkovs and the McConkeys. “I understand they helped dismantle the human trafficking ring your family had established.”
We still have our arms linked, and I feel her tense for just a second.
I know I’m poking a tiger, but what’s the worst that could happen?
There’s the reassuring weight of my cell phone in my linen dress pocket.
All I have to do is ring one number and help would come.
The hardest part would be deciding if I should phone Ash, or my new friend, Jake.
“Barrett told you about that?” Katarina asks in surprise. “He didn’t say.”
“I didn’t… Well, obviously…” Barrett flusters.
“He didn’t tell me,” I say, glaring back at Barrett. “I’m sure he was just protecting me, but no, it was a friend of mine who filled me in on all the grisly details. She used to work for Barrett too. Her name’s Quinn.”
“You didn’t tell me you’d spoken to her,” Barrett says.
“I only saw her today. Obviously, I was going to tell you.”
“Oh, I’ve heard all about Quinn,” Katarina says. “She’s quite something.”
Katarina sounds excited by whatever she’s recalling, whereas I feel queasy as some of the details Quinn shared come back to me. “I’m sorry, it was thoughtless of me to bring it up so soon after your brother’s death.”
“No bother,” Katarina says. “We didn’t grow up together, and between you and I, Ilya was an odious man.”
“I had heard,” I admit as I unhook myself from Katarina’s grasp, and check my watch. “We should start heading back. Dinner’s in an hour and I need to get Piper ready for bed.”
“Perfect,” Katarina says. “But what a lovely start to our weekend. I’m so glad you invited me.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I say before Barrett can speak. I’ll be having words with him later.
Barrett stares at the pillows and blankets I’ve just thrown on the floor. “Belle, I can tell you’re upset, but surely you don’t expect–”
My hackles rise. “You can tell I’m upset?
” He makes it sound like my reaction to Katarina’s appearance comes as a surprise.
“So it never crossed your mind until now how horrified I’d be when you arranged for that woman to come here?
To this house. To the place where you said Piper and I would be safe. ”
“You are safe, darling.”
“Can you stop calling me that. I’m not your darling.
I never was, and I never will be,” I say flicking back the bedcovers.
I’m wearing a pair of long-sleeved, long-legged pajamas that are too warm for the weather, but make me feel just a little less vulnerable.
“You deliberately chose not to tell me that our weekend guest was Katarina. You made me think it was some high society friend of yours, someone with influence.” I glare at him.
“What influence does Katarina have over you, Barrett? Why are you still dancing to the tune of the Barkovs?”
“I’ve told you. Vasili isn’t going to leave me alone until he marries Katarina off,” he says softly before picking up a pillow and moving towards the bed.
“Don’t you dare take another damn step!”
He gives a start. “Dar– Belle, please keep your voice down. If Katarina wanders down the corridor, she’ll be able to hear.”
“Oh, believe me, Barrett, if you try to get into this bed, I’ll make sure she hears.”
Barrett huffs. “I don’t understand what’s gotten into you. You know how much I care for you. I would never make you do anything against your wishes.”
“No?” I ask. “What about when you made me marry you.”
“You said you wanted to help,” he insists. “I never forced you. Why are you being like this?” His furrowed brow eases as realization hits. “It’s Quinn, isn’t it? She’s been feeding you her lies, crafted by Ash no doubt. They don’t know when to give up."
"She said–”
“I don’t want to hear what she said,” he interrupts. “This isn’t a particularly nice side of you, Belle. I never thought they’d get you.” He unfolds a blanket and starts to make a nest on the floor. “Of all people, I didn’t think you’d be gullible enough to fall for their lies.”
His eyes glisten, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to say I’m sorry. What if Quinn was lying? How do I know which version of events is true?
If I can’t take anyone’s word, I can only go on what I see. And how I feel. Both Ash and Barrett claim to want to protect me, but Ash is the one encouraging me to ask questions. Barrett, on the other hand, is eager to close down the conversation.
Damn him to hell.
“You lied about Quinn knowing about Piper,” I say as Barrett crouches down to get into his makeshift bed. “And I want you to tell me why.”
He ignores me completely as he lies down on the hard floor.
“Answer me, Barrett,” I hiss. “Why?”
I can only see his face in profile as he turns to face away from me, but I swear he’s pouting.
“Barrett!” I roar.
Barrett springs up immediately, throwing his blankets to the side. “Shut up,” he hisses. He keeps his voice low, and it’s laced with menace. “Just shut up.”
I stand my ground. “Then start talking.”
“It wasn’t a lie,” he says in a harsh whisper. “I was told Quinn knew. And if Quinn knew, it made sense that Ash would know too.”
“You said Quinn told you herself.”
Barrett’s lips thin. “No, I didn’t. If you must know, it was Ilya who told me.”
My jaw drops. “Ilya knew?”
“Yes, Ilya knew. But thank you for immediately thinking I’m the liar.
That makes me feel so good about myself,” he chokes out.
“I knew you were too good to be true. I knew Ash would try to ruin what we have.” He must see me tense because he adds, “Even if that’s just a friendship.
That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Not just from you.
But my brothers too. Especially Ash. Was that bad of me? ”
I’ve remained standing at the side of the bed, and I don’t immediately defend my position as Barrett approaches.
“I hate that you’re mad at me, Belle,” he says softly, close enough to stroke my arm. “And I’m sorry for springing Katarina on you. I didn’t want you to spend the week fretting about it, that was all. I can’t seem to do anything right.”
Barrett’s hand sweeps up and down my arm, and I stare down at it. Could it be that Ilya was the threat? If only I could ask him. But I can’t because he’s dead.
I shrug off Barrett’s hand. “It’s a little convenient that the one person who could corroborate your story isn’t around anymore.”
“It’s not a story.”
“Then why haven’t the Russians done anything with that information?”
He rolls his eyes. “Maybe Ilya was preoccupied at the time. There was a turf war going on, Belle,” he says.
“I’ve never claimed to know how the Bratva works, but they do like digging up dirt on people and keeping hold of that information until they need it.
Ilya would have carried out background checks on all my staff before moving his operations here.
When I found out he knew, I moved you to Connecticut. To keep you and Piper safe.”
“Stop it, Barrett,” I moan, my hand resting on my forehead. “Just stop lying. You’ve just said it was Quinn who told the Russians who Piper was, and now you’re saying they worked it out for themselves. You’re making it up as you go along.”
He huffs, taking a step back. “Nothing I do satisfies you.”
“I want the truth, that’s all. And it’s becoming clearer by the minute that you made the whole thing up just to convince me to marry you. I thought we needed your protection, but you’re the one who’s created this whole situation.”
Ash wouldn’t have found out about Piper if I’d disappeared again instead of marrying Barrett, but I can’t be as angry about that as I should be. Whatever Ash’s sins, I’ve spent too long keeping Piper a secret from him.
“There’s no talking to you while you’re like this,” Barrett says as he stalks back across the room to the bed he’s made. He drops to the floor and turns his back on me again. “Goodnight, Belle.”
I climb into bed feeling numb. I shouldn’t be here. Piper shouldn’t be here.
But if we leave, I’d have to accept Ash’s help. And what if all that posturing earlier today was because he wants to claim me? What if he doesn’t? He said there was no us. Why does that feel worse?