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My head was spinning after Andrey”s call.
Someone really tried to play me. I was determined to move heaven and earth to find the person responsible for the attempted kidnapping of my sister.
Romeo had been making phone calls to soften the blow and to cover up what had happened without it affecting us. The joke was going to cost us a pretty penny.
The only positive aspect was that it happened in Marbella, and we had that territory more than bought, in addition to having Segarra, the homicide cop who played on Romeo’s team.
I even thought about changing the flight and leaving early, but my husband stopped me, saying that everything was in motion.
It took several hours of calls to steer the situation.
We barely ate. Andrey called me from the airport to tell me they were about to board and to keep calm. Sarka took the phone, and I tried to calm her tantrum. She said she was no
longer sure if going to St. Petersburg was a good idea, that she would be alone there and that something similar could happen again.
I wanted to reassure her and explained that, given the circumstances, she would be better off there than here, that she would have bodyguards and that Andrey could teach her self-defense, not to worry because it was best that she stayed with Olga.
In the end, she hung up half-convinced, and my head began to ache.
I needed a paracetamol. I feared for the safety of my mother and Irisha. I was about to call them, but ultimately decided it was better not to worry them. If I spoke with my mother, she would raise hell about my sister”s trip to St. Petersburg, which would only serve to tighten the tension.
Better I wait until Sarka arrived and tell her more calmly when she was safe at her best friend”s house. Maybe that way she wouldn’t stress so much.
I would convince her that it had been the best option, that she would be safer there, with the bodyguards and the fear our last name inspired in the city.
A Koroleva was not to be trifled with. Everyone knew what they were up against.
In Spain, it was different, if they needed to see the wolf”s ears, I was ready to make a whole collection of bones with which to carve my new furniture.
Maybe Cheng would go after my family, as revenge, or maybe for what Romeo did to the dealers who were playing both sides. If that vile Chinese woman was behind my sister”s kidnapping attempt, she could consider herself dead.
”So much tension is taking its toll on you,” my husband
remarked, coming up behind me to massage my temples.
”I don”t know if it was a good idea to come here. We get distracted for a few days and look at the mess it causes. Maybe it would have been better to stay in Marbella.”
”It would have happened anyway.”
”Do you believe that things happen for a reason and we can”t avoid them?”
”Something like that,” he murmured, pressing the tips of his fingers against my skull. It felt good, even though I was in a foul mood.
We were on the hotel terrace, sitting at one of the outdoor tables with a couple of empty coffee cups. I used the last sip to swallow the pill.
I looked toward the horizon, the exact point where the sea merged with the sky, drawing a line that gave rise to tales of monsters and the end of the Earth.
”Believing in chance, luck, or fate isn”t really my thing. However, I acknowledge that sometimes life surprises you.”
”Like with this amazing husband.” The corners of my lips tried to rise.
”Like when an enemy takes the liberty of trying to mess with my family. I”m someone who prefers to anticipate setbacks and prevent them from happening.”
”That”s why you almost never disconnect, or let yourself go.”
”With you, I”m letting myself go too much. Do you see the Koroleva from a few weeks ago riding a donkey?” He chuckled. ”My choice would clearly have been the cable car.”
”And why did you get on?”
”Because part of me likes challenges. And because, for once, I wanted to feel like one of those vacationers who ride donkeys.”
”You wanted to feel like someone normal?” I shrugged.
”I guess. I don’t complain about having responsibilities, I like them, I love who I am, what I”ve become...”
”But that doesn”t mean you might not want to be just a mortal instead of the mafia goddess Koroleva someday. Plus, I bet you haven”t laughed like that in a long time,” he commented suspiciously.
”I won”t argue with that. I”ve never seen a rider on a donkey while the donkey was mounting his girl. That scene will be etched in my retinas forever,” I confirmed.
”I promise to show you things you”ve never seen before.”
I didn”t doubt what he was saying. My mind returned to the incident that led my husband to massage my head.
”Do you think it was Cheng?”
”If it was her, we”ll find out. I told Dante to make a move to draw the Chinese out of their cave.” That sounded like an ambush.
”Are your father or uncle in the loop?” He stopped the motion and moved to my shoulders, which seemed knotted by a harbor sailor.
”This is our thing. Family is great for almost everything, but sometimes you have to make decisions regardless of what they think.” His voice dropped a few tones.
”Mmm,” I murmured. ”I”ll always say it, you have magical hands.” His tongue brushed my cheek.
”It”s our last day in Santorini, and I wouldn”t want us to leave with a bad taste in our mouths. Why don”t you go to the villa, fill up the bathtub, light those candles we bought yesterday, and rest for a while?”
”And will you join me in the bath?” I purred, in a better mood.
”I would love to, but I have to make a couple more calls to reorder the chaos and, though I didn”t want to tell you, I have to go pick up a little something I ordered without you seeing it.”
”What little something?” I asked curiously.
”If I tell you, it wouldn”t be a surprise.” I smiled sideways.
”Is it some kind of sex toy? Don”t tell me you ordered a dildo
in the likeness of Eros,” I joked, referring to the donkey.
”I would never put myself at a disadvantage against something so enormous. No matter how much you insist, I won”t tell you what it is, otherwise, it wouldn”t be a surprise and I love surprising my wife.”
He stopped kneading my flesh and stood in front of me.
His eyes shone, and I swore mine did too. I saw my reflection in those dark pools and barely recognized myself.
Could marriage be changing me? And if it was, was I ready to be this new Nikita whose pulse raced when her husband smirked at her?
”Why are you so generous with me?” I inquired, trying to find answers.
”I”ve already told you. I like you and I want a chance for a future. When you”re convinced that all the bad things you want to attribute to me aren”t true, you”ll fall helplessly for my charms.”
”Are you referring to being a thug and a drug trafficker?”
”More like being an insatiable lover.” Romeo kissed me again, parting my lips, igniting a desire in me like a match.
”Are you sure you don”t want to come to the villa with me? I don”t need gifts, this is enough.” I lowered my hand and caressed his groin.
”It”s a very tempting proposal, but I must delay it for a while. I promise it won”t take more than two hours. You can set your phone”s alarm if you want and find something to spank me with if I”m late.”
”Ummm, a tempting promise. Alright,” I agreed. ”I”ll wait for you.”
Romeo extended his hands to help me up. I couldn”t hold back. I pressed my body against his, caressed his mischievous beard, and kissed him.
That was no simple kiss; I put my whole soul into it, leaving the door open to a maybe.
One that tasted of hope and possibilities between us.