that was probably all he was referring to. Neither Kingston nor Kash asked any questions, so I guess Maverik must have told them about his suspicions.
I had this nagging feeling inside that was begging me to open my mouth and tell them everything. I pushed it away, because I already knew the consequences of that would be disastrous. I was a strong woman, and I would handle my own problems. I didn’t need to go running to Maverik to solve them for me.
I groaned when I saw Nina sweep down the stairs and head toward me. “I should get going, Mr. Ferguson is waiting.”
Nina sniffed. “He can wait.”
Maverik stiffened as Nina passed by him and Kingston scowled. Kash watched her warily, but no one said a word to her.
Nina stopped a foot in front of me. “Don’t embarrass me while you’re at Bedford. Remember, my engagement to Richard is still on a need-to-know basis. Don’t even think about ruining our plans.”
I raised an eyebrow at Nina. “You probably shouldn’t have enrolled me at Bedford as Ekaterina Wilder, then.”
Nina looked annoyed. “It wasn’t my idea. Plus, you weren’t supposed to be going to school there until the fall. Only the headmaster and a select number of staff members know who you really are.”
“Everyone will just assume you’re a bastard,” Kash said bluntly. “Just roll with it for now.”
A mean glint shone in Nina’s eyes. “Yes. That’s not far from the truth, anyway. After all, you are a bastard child, just not Richard’s.”
My eyes flashed with anger, and I wanted to punch Nina in her stupid, smug face. She was enjoying the fact that I was set up to be tormented in school.
“Don’t you have pills to pop and mimosas to guzzle?” Maverik interjected. “I’m sure Dad’s going to be working late tonight and will completely forget all about you. You’re going to have to sit here alone in an empty house since he’s not willing to publicly admit to dating you.”
Kingston broke out into laughter, and Kash paced in front of Nina like a panther eyeing up his prey. Maverik stayed right where he was, but pinned Nina down with a predatory stare.
Nina spluttered before she managed to get words out. “You’re a hateful person. I’m not surprised your father wants to send you to another country for months at a time.”
“You think that I’m hateful?” Maverik asked with a smirk. He pushed off the wall where he had been leaning and approached her, his threat unspoken but still heavy in the air.
Nina lifted her chin, but her voice shook. “If you touch me, I’ll tell your father.”
“Touch you?” Maverik mocked. “Kingston, would I ever touch her?”
Kingston laughed. “Not with a ten-foot pole.”
“Kash?” Maverik asked next.
“Hell, no,” Kash answered as he crossed his arms across his chest.
I stood back and watched the three of them surround her like a pack of lions cornering their next meal. Their movements were too smooth and practiced for this to be their first group confrontation. Abby and the others had warned me that these guys were dangerous, but this was the first time I was really seeing them in action. They weren’t spoiled playboys - they were fighters, and I was finally seeing their true nature. I wondered how much of the rumors were true – what had these guys been involved in?
“I’m leaving,” Nina said in an attempt to salvage some of her dignity. She turned back to me as if she wanted to get one last dig in. The guys had put her down, and now she wanted someone to lash out at.
I raised my chin, letting her know that I wouldn’t lie down and take it. If she wanted to start something with me, I’d fight. She ruined my life by bringing me here, constantly tried to belittle me, and set me up to be used by Sergei. Her threats now seemed pale compared to whatever Sergei had planned for me.
“I wouldn’t,” Maverik told Nina softly.
Nina flushed, but swept out of the room without another word to me.
Maverik gave me a look that said: see, this is why I wanted to send you away.
I looked at him irritably, because I didn’t like him stepping in between us. I wanted to handle Nina myself.
“That was fun,” Kingston said brightly. “I’m going to miss you, Kitty Kat.”
Maverik grunted something that might have been an agreement, but it might have also been an objection.
Kingston ignored him and swept me up in another hug. “Be good,”