Page 78 of Debt to the Mafia King
And kill my baby. I wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“Here.”
I flinched as his arm lashed out, curling my body into the car door. The overhead light flicked on, and I instantly felt stupid. He hadn’t reached out to strike me or even touch me. Instead, he was holding out a thick plaid blanket.
“Take it, Leah. You are freezing.” He moved it closer, and I plucked it from his fingers gratefully, wrapping it around myself.
For several long seconds, he stared at me, with eyes that were the same as his son’s but a lot more lifeless, and then he nodded.
“I was coming to see you and my son when I saw Manda being driven by.”
He waited for me to answer, but he hadn’t asked a question, so I kept my mouth shut. Plus, he was lying. It was after midnight. People didn’t come visiting at this time of night.
“Yes, I think Stephen was taking her home.” I had to keep my voice calm and my anger under control. I didn’t know much about Viktor’s business, but I knew something of his relationship with his dad, and I knew he wouldn’t want our private matters being told to him.
I didn’t owe Viktor anything. He had betrayed me. But I did owe myself something.
“I see.” He steepled his hands under his chin and waited for me to say something else. When I didn’t, he sighed.
“You need to be careful of Manda, Leah. She’s never really been what people call emotionally stable.”
I couldn’t help it. I rolled my eyes. No wonder Viktor was so attracted to her. He wasn’t exactly Mr. emotionally stable himself.
Boris chuckled. “I can see by your face that you know this already. I can also see by the state of your attire that her visit to your home wasn’t welcomed,” his eyes narrowed. “At least by you.”
Still, I said nothing.
“I know what this can be like for ladies as young as you.” His eyes raked over me, but not in the kind of way that a man should look at his daughter-in-law. More like he was peeling back the layers of my clothes so he could sweep his eyes over me.
I tightened the blanket around me and recrossed my arms. He gave that sardonic chuckle again. Almost like he knew his look was making me uncomfortable. That was just the kind of man he was.
“You expect to be loved and adored. It’s what women in your position expect and the reason men like me and my son.”
Viktor was nothing like his dad.
“Why we marry women from good and connected families, and to women who know that we keep mistresses. You have a lot to learn. Viktor should have chosen Manda, and they both know it.”
I flashed him a look, and he threw up a hand. “Now I am notsaying that Viktor doesn’t care for you in his own way, and by all accounts, he has been quite doting on you these last few weeks.” His eyebrows shot down. “Is there any particular reason for that?”
Under the blanket, my fingers skimmed over my stomach. “He’s always been—” I struggled to find the right words, “quite attentive, he chose me after all.”
“Yes, he did, and we both know why.” Throwing back his head, he laughed.
“If you are saying I seduced your son, then you’re wrong. Viktor doesn’t marry the women he sleeps with,” I spat. It was weird because my marriage was over, but here I was still defending him. What was up with that?
“No, he doesn’t. Otherwise, he would have married Manda years ago. She’s a much better fit for his particular lifestyle.”
“You’ve said that before. It doesn’t change the fact that Viktor chose me and not her.” I snapped.
Glancing out the window, I frowned. We had been driving for a while, and I should have been able to see the city skyline by now, but there was nothing surrounding us but darkness.
Coldness settled around my heart. Where were they taking me?
“Well, of course, he chose you, Leah. He needed a wife he could dispose of when he gained control. What did your contact stipulate? One year? Two?” His eyes searched my face.
Shocked, my mouth worked, and nothing came out.
“You didn’t think I knew? Leah, I know pretty much everything. You weren’t even on his radar six months ago, not even four months ago, and then suddenly, there were rumors. My son, the ever-loving bachelor, was seen with you and seen watching you, and then, boom you were married. It didn’t take much to figure out.”
