to lay low for a couple more days.”
What she’s saying is true. Although pissed I didn’t hold back and wait as agreed upon, the Feds aren’t the only one chasing my tail. The CIA is right there with them. I’d gloat if it didn’t mean I have to maintain an amicable relationship with India. She’s more demanding than Audrey, and I’m not even married to her.
With the annoyance on my face believable, I use it to my advantage. “Yes, we need to lay low for a few more days. Since the men Officer Daniel was working with have been taken care of, you are no longer included in that equation.”
Roxanne scoffs, huffs, then scoffs again, truly unsure how to respond. Her shock is understandable. I’m a neurotic, jealous prick when it comes to her, but to play this game right, I have to live up to the hype of my last name. Shipping Roxanne off is the next logical step. Then, not only will the woman I’m chasing lose her scent, she’ll shift her focus back to her original target—my wife.
Do I feel like an absolute cunt drawing the focus of a deranged woman back to Audrey? Yes, I do. But the knot in my gut is nowhere near as tight as it is when I consider what could happen if I don’t. Roxanne put her life on the line for me, she lost our child in the process. I owe her this level of protection.
Some may say Audrey deserves to be safeguarded the same way. I agree, for the most part. There’s just a niggle in my gut that won’t quit warning me to remain cautious when it comes to anything to do with Audrey. It feels like there’s more at play here than just my marriage, and when I find out what it is, there will be hell to pay.
Once Roxanne settles her emotions, she folds her arms in front of her chest. I really wish she wouldn’t. I sustained from sexual activities for almost two years, but that was my choice. This, however, is not. “We’re not doing this again, Dimitri. You’re not sending me away to see if I’ll come back. We’ve done that, we moved past it, now can we please get onto the real issue here. I can help you. You’ve just got to let me in.”
My mask almost slips when her voice cracks at the end, but I suit back up, forever ready for battle. Her departure won’t be forever. If I play my cards right, she could be back in my bed, where she belongs, by the end of the week.
But, if I don’t play my hand with the viciousness it deserves, I won’t have any cards left to place down. They will be burned, scorched, left wilted without purpose, and they’d still make it out of the carnage better than Roxanne.
I refuse to let that happen.
I’ll kill every fucking person in this godforsaken kingdom before I will ever let Roxanne be hurt like the numerous scenarios that have played out in my head over the past three days. That’s how much she means to me. That’s how much it is gutting me knowing I failed her.
I promised to protect her. I’m only upholding my end of our agreement now. Some may say it is too late, but it’s better than not at all.
My hostile mood is heard in my voice. “I’m not sending you away to see if you’ll come back. Our agreement is over. My daughter is home, so there’s no reason for you to stay anymore.”
The shock on Roxanne’s face switches to frustration. “You don’t believe what we had was an agreement.”
“I do,” I reply matter-of-factly, halving the fiery glint in her eyes. “That’s why you’ve spent the past three nights alone.” And why I’ve slept in my daughter’s room each night because she’s the only person capable of stealing your devotion, and even then, it’s a struggle. But since that isn’t something I can say, I keep my mouth shut.
I should have realized she’d see straight through my ruse. She isn’t just attractive, she’s smart as well. “You’ve been with Fien?” Since she’s unsure about the authenticity of her statement, it comes out sounding like a question. “Right?”
“Wrong.” I lower my eyes to the paperwork in front of me, acting as if the pain in her eyes isn’t affecting me. “If you want a rundown on my activities of late, perhaps I can get Smith to clip together