Page 183 of Pervade London
James walked up to me and brushed his fingers through a lock of my hair.
“You speak Russian?”
“Russian, Italian, French, Spanish…” He gave a slight shrug, as though these were just a few.
Somewhere in the far reaches of my mind I remembered Xavier telling me this. It had been in that castle, where James had threatened my life and forbidden me to leave.
I squeezed my eyes shut as his palm cupped my cheek.
“You can’t help but defy me,” he said darkly.
“Patrick Woo is here and he’s—”
“I know who he is.”
“And Diana Zane.”
“I pulled you out of danger.”
His words struck a nerve so deep I couldn’t catch my breath. It was that look of disapproval, the way he towered over me threateningly, and the lingering scent of his rich cigar.
My heart fluttered in my chest. “If that’s why you pulled me in here, then what’s the reason you made me play?”
“Quite frankly, it’s often a struggle to resist asking you to play.” He sighed, and then continued. “Our paths have met at a treacherous crossroads. When we return to the deck, don’t even look my way.”
Those men up there were dangerous…
“Does Xavier know I’m here?”
“Yes.”
Doubt flooded my mind. “Did you change the event from the Russian Embassy?”
“Anything to secure your safety.”
“You’re not Russian, are you?”
James chuckled. “No.”
Moving in, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his chest.
“I need you to do exactly as I say. Will you agree to that?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to return to the cabin where you tuned your violin. Stay there until the yacht docks. Disembark with your friends.”
I nodded.
He tipped my chin up. “I’ll be close.”
“Say that afterwards, it won’t be goodbye.” My heart cracked with his look of uncertainty.
“We’ll talk.”
“Ivor is here,” I whispered.
“I know.”
