He was purposefully pissing me off.
“Well, I was thinking of taking you out,” Ivan said.
“I’m taking her with me,” I said. This was not the ideal plan. I had shit to do. Not babysit my wife. I felt her gaze on me but I didn’t care.
“You’re taking her?”
“Yes. I’ve made arrangements. She’s coming with me.”Ivan sighed. “We’ll have to arrange to go out some other time, sweetheart.”
“I don’t want to be a problem. I’m quite happy staying at home.”
“You’re married,” Ivansaid. “You and Ive should be spending as much time together as possible. In fact, how about we meet up tonight? You and Ive spend the day together, and we can enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant of my choosing.”
If I killed Ivan Volkov, I would mourn his death, but I would guarantee my and Charlotte’s death as well. None of the Bratva would rest until his killers were dead. In that moment, I was tempted. I had business to deal with. Women to fucking rescue. Running a hand down my face, this left me no choice but to contact Vlad and have him pick up the women.
I’ve already got my contacts on standby in the police force. Now Vladwould have to handle it. This was not a problem. I could delegate while I dealt with my wife.
The rest of breakfastwent by without any more idiotic suggestions. Ivan and Charlotte talked about a movie they both wanted to see, and while I sat between them, they made a date to watch it in one month’s time on my home cinema screen. Popcorn and pizza were mentioned.
I had a feeling Ivan liked my wife. Why? What was so important about Charlotte? She was nothing more than a mistake. An unwanted daughter that one of Andrei’s men had fucked up with. Cassie had been our target, not this woman. One man’s fuck-up had turned into my problem.
Now Charlotte was my wife, and I had to deal with her. It would be easier for me to lock her in one of my cages but I had a feeling Ivan would take offense to that.
So, after breakfast, Ivan took his leaveand promised to see us tonight. I was alone with my wife. Great. Just fucking great.
Lottie
I had a feeling Ive didn’t like me. Maybe it was the silent treatment, or the constant glare that seemed to be glued to his face. Either way, he wasn’t happy, and I had a feeling it was my fault. I didn’t ask to be invited along on whatever business he had to deal with. Stuck in the back of the car while Hubert drove us toward the city.
If he thought silencewould be a problem to me, he was mistaken. I liked silence. It was fun, calm, easy. Staring out the window, we left what seemed like the countryside where there was barely anyone around, to being completely immersed into city life, and I hated it.
The people were miserable. I didn’t see a single person with a smile on their face. I’d grown up relying on facial expressions to know people’s moods. No one was happy.
I’d rather be back home where I saw the occasional staff and guard. Michael was far more talkative than my husband. Even Hubert was talkative, but not Ive. No, he was pissed off because his boss told him he had to take me along for the ride.
Turning back toward my husband I nibbled my lip. “You know, I could have stayed home.”
“Ivan would have found out,” Ive said. “He told me to take you, so I’m taking you with me.”
“But you’ve got work to do.”
“I’ve always got work to do, Charlotte. Your presence is not going to stop me.”
Okay. He was pissed off. Sitting back, I stare out the window and we come to a stop outside of a clothing store.
“You own a fashion boutique?” I asked.
“No, but Ivan will expect you to dress appropriately and I don’t recall you owning the right kind of clothes for being a Bratva’s wife,” Ive said.
Glancing down at my old jeans and shirt, he wasn’t wrong. The clothes I owned were from back home and they were the ones Cassie had gotten for me, when she convinced our father to let her take me shopping. If he ever thought there was any benefit for me, he’d deny it. Cassie had a way of pretending she wanted to dress me like a doll. He accepted that, so I got new clothes. If he thought I liked them, he’d destroy them.
Cassie was always carefulabout what she got me. Dresses were off limits most of the time. If she showed enjoyment and I showed hatred, I was allowed to keep them. Strange.
Hubert parked at one of the few spaces and Ive stepped out first. I was about to grab the door handle but then I saw his hand appear to take mine. I slid my hand into his and each time I touched him, I felt this zap of electricity that seemed to travel up my arm. Every time it happened, I ignored it. I liked it when Ive touched me. He was my husband so at least that was a bonus.
There was a woman waiting at the doors and she opened them to Ive. I saw the smile on her face and the fact she’d opened several buttons of her shirt.
“Ive, I was so pleasedyou could call.”
“My wife needs clothes befitting a woman of her status,” Ive said. “I want you to gather everything that’s appropriate and meet us at the dressing rooms.”
Ive took my hand and we moved through the store. I wasn’t going to getthe chance to see my own wardrobe. Another woman who clearly had the hots for my husband was going to choose clothes for me.
“Do you know her?” I asked as we arrived at a large changing area. There was a long sofa that looked luxurious and Ive sat down. There were several changing stations, complete with curtains for privacy. I also happened to notice there was no one else around.
“I know her,” he said.
“How come no one is around?” Iasked.
“I don’t like company when I attempt to get my wife to look the part.”
Hisjibes were not affecting me. It took a lot to get to me. I guess I had my dad to thank for that. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I looked around the store. It didn’t take long for the assistant to arrive. Her arms were full of clothes.
“Get started,” Ive said. “I need to see every outfit.”
I was pushed into one of the changing rooms. The woman, who had the name”Sophie” on her name tag, lost all niceness behind the curtain. If looks could kill, I’d be dead already. I didn’t like getting naked in front of anyone, so I asked her to put them into outfits, and then to leave.