Page 28 of Darkest Love
It’s clear to me that Adrien will hunt me down no matter where I go so I might as well try having a little bit of fun.
I’m going back into the city whether he wants me to or not.
I storm out the front door and approach one of the guards on duty. Gabriel looks me over with a wariness. All of Adrien’s guards know I’m trouble.
“I want to go into the city. Take me there. I’m not stupid enough to go without a guard. I know I’m going to be brought right back home otherwise. So guard me will I go have fun.”
“I have to get Adrien’s permission.”
I roll my eyes. “Sure. Since you’re his little lackey. Get his permission.”
Gabriel calls Adrien on the phone so I can’t hear what Adrien says but after a moment, Gabriel hangs up and nods. “We can go.”
“Great. So, let’s go.”
The moment we get into Paris proper, I get out of the car and head to the nearest clothing store. Gabriel follows, looking uncomfortable in a room full of women’s clothing.
I try on dress after dress, shirt after shirt, pants after pants, until I have two bags full of clothes. I motion at Gabriel. “Buy these for me.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“No. But Adrien does.”
Gabriel sighs and buys the clothes for me and then we head out. I can tell it’s taking all of his energy to guard me today. Maybe having a guard around isn’t such a bad thing.
I go into more clothing stores, buy more clothes that Gabriel has to pay for. I tell him that Adrien will pay him back which eases some of his tension slightly.
I’m feeling like a real woman shopping around a large city, having some sense of freedom, when a car approaches me on the sidewalk. Gabriel stands in front of me, though I don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s just a car.
Until a man steps out of it and sizes me over. He’s dressed in a nice suit with slicked back hair. There’s a sense of power about this man.
A sense of danger.
“You’re Anastasia, Adrien’s wife, yes?”
“Get back in your car,” Gabriel warns, his hand on his hip where his gun is.
The man doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I’ve heard he’s been keeping you prisoner.”
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Don’t,” Gabriel says to me. “Don’t talk to him. Just keep walking.”
“If you ever want to have some fun,” the man says, “then feel free to have fun with me.”
Gabriel nudges me forward and we walk away. The man doesn’t try to follow us.
“Who was that?” I ask.
“Remy Allard. One of Adrien’s enemies. Steer clear of him. He’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?”
“Just dangerous.”
I scoff. Will no one tell me anything around here? “So, he knows who I am?”
“This is why Adrien wants to keep you safe. From men like him. So don’t do anything stupid, you got it?”
