Downgrade?
Definitely a former lover. All of this because he left her?
“Meaning?” I ordered.
“Exactly what I said. You have a name tied to an old family, nothing more. The influence and connections it had are long gone. You’re old, worn out, and unremarkable. Walking away from the power I brought was a huge mistake.”
Well now.
Vik had mentioned lovers, and considering I wasn’t an innocent, I couldn’t care less about who Eli had banged in the past.
Yes, Eli knew how to fuck the hell out of a woman and leave her begging for more, but this level of crazy? Eli sure knew how to pick them.
What the hell was I talking about? According to Cali and Laya, my past choices weren’t much better.
I studied Francesca, giving her no reaction to the barbs.People like her hated when the targets of their ire refused to engage.
She fidgeted, and her face flushed. That’s when I remembered where I’d seen her before—at my wedding. I hadn’t taken much notice outside of the fact Cali had pointed out a brunette who scowled at me every time she glanced in my direction.
Everyone’s eyes were on me and my sisters that day, so curious and dirty looks were par for the course.
“Used up,” she repeated. “Elias will tire of you.”
I sighed. Eli’s stance on fidelity was well-known. There wasn’t a single speck in my soul that believed he’d cheat on me. Plus, he knew I’d cut his dick off if he thought about it.
“He’ll lose interest. I promise you. He’ll want someone young. Someone fun.”
I wanted to say it was the fact she was young and couldn’t see this was a losing fight, a one-sided one at best, but there had to be more. But honestly, I was over it.
Pursing my lips, I said, “Are you done? This tantrum is boring.”
Turning, I nodded to Besa and walked toward the front of the gallery.
“You don’t believe me?” She hurried after me. “I know him. I know how to please him. I know how to drive him crazy and make him come back for more.”
Cali would get an earful for standing me up and making me endure this insanity.
And where the fuck was Eli? I’d rather he handle this fucked-up twat.
I continued to ignore her as I stepped out onto the street. Besa blocked Francesca’s way.
“Stand back,” Besa ordered as two other guards positioned around me. “You need to leave Mrs. Xenos alone.”
“I’m only speaking the truth.”
A headache began to brew at my temples, and I stared at my waiting car. I thought of something Vik had said before we left Prague.
“Your enemies come as men and women. Never forget this. Be prepared to exact your power wherever necessary. Sometimes, it’s in private, and at others, you will make a public lesson of them.”
My hands shook. It was time to shut this gasbag down.
I returned to where the three men blocked Francesca from following me. “Step aside, gentlemen.”
None of them moved.
“Xenos will discipline us if anything happens to you,” Besa stated.
“Get out of my way.”