Ultimate Vengeance (Wanted Men Book 4) (18 page)

His open palm presented Eva.

“And don’t get me started on the lack of green and all the sharp edges constantly pointing outward,” he went on, indicating the corner of the sofa table a few feet away. “Or how all the bedrooms ooze masculine Chi which is choking theirs.” He pointed at each woman, all of who were now listening intently. “Or maybe it’s the lack of air-purifying plants doing that.” He shrugged. “If you want an easy fix that won’t cure but will help; change the headboards on your beds. Get something padded and soft.” His hand touched Eva’s shoulder. “Yin Chi. But make sure it’s in a warm shade of a masculine color of your choice.” He put his other hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “Yang Chi. It will make for a harmonious exchange of energy between partners.”

Gabriel wasn’t buying it. He stroked his big hand over Eva’s belly. “I think the shape of my wife’s body is a direct testament to how harmonious our exchanges already are, Mahatma,” he said as he walked away.

Laughter came from every corner.

Grinning, Alek shifted his study to the final pair in their crowd. Vincente and Nika were playing pool on the red-felt table in the corner. As V lined up a shot, Nika slid off a stool and went over to put a file folder under his nose. They now matched because she’d changed into jeans and a Harley T-shirt. Charlie was pressing his big body into her knees and staring up at her because she had the ginger kitten cuddled under one arm.

“If he’s anything like his uncle and cousin in Seattle,” Nika said. “We’ll never have to worry about workers screwing around on site.”

Vincente barely glanced at the paperwork. It must be from ROM Construct. “Who’s the cousin and uncle?”

“Neil and Braden O’Byrne.”

That had V lowering the file so he could look at Nika. “Neil O’Byrne. He’s the former president of the Seattle chapter.”

Nika nodded. Her brother was the vice-president of a biker club, so she didn’t even blink.

“Braden is the current president,” V pointed out.

“Yeah. So they’re like family,” the redhead said with a hopeful look. “It says here Sean was in the service the same time Braden was. See? He’s the one applying for the position.”

Vincente gave her the stink eye. “Yeah, I got that, babe.”

“Braden O’Byrne was dishonorably discharged for beating a man almost to death,” Jak said as he wandered over. “Lost his focus one too many times and they kicked his ass out.” Jak was a military information whore. Guy had a brain like a computer. But if you asked him what he ate for lunch, nada.

Nika gave Jak a look that said he wasn’t helping. “Well, Sean finished his tour, and he’s the one we’re considering for the foreman job, so…”

“If he’s anything like Braden, I’d hire him.” Jak, who looked apologetic, went down to the floor and patted his leg for Charlie to come for a visit. The dog danced his way over and started head-butting Jak’s arm before rolling onto his back and panting through a happy grin. “I liked the guy despite the bad temper. I hear he had a rough homecoming and is now singularly raising his five-year-old boy.”

Nika turned to V. “See? Likable family. Can I set up an interview?”

“Does he ride with your brother?”

She looked shifty. “Yeah.”

“Does Caleb like him?”

“He says he’s a good guy, and he’d vouch for him. Said Sean has two little girls and a wife just as tough as he is. But I told you that already.” She smiled.

“Fine. Set it up.” He grabbed the file before she could walk away with it and pulled out what looked to be a photo. “I want to be there,” he muttered as he handed it back.

Nika went over and slipped the file into her briefcase. Her smile was satisfied. Familiar. Alek wore the same one when he got his way during a business transaction.

“Quan,” V said as the Asian went to leave with the laptop tucked under his arm. “You been in mine and Nika’s room lately?”

Quan turned and gave Nika, then Eva a disapproving look. Both girls looked guilty. “You said you cleared it with him.”

Nika went and wrapped her arms around V’s midsection. She rested her head between his shoulder blades. “He was talking about bed placement affecting mojo so I thought he could give us some advice. You were in New Jersey, and I didn’t want to bother you.” She patted his chest. “I think it worked. I haven’t had a nightmare in three nights. Pretty sure that’s a record.”

Vincente and Eva exchanged a look. When Eva mouthed “Lie.” A muscle in V’s jaw ticked. He sent a hand back to stroke Nika’s hip. “It’s no big deal, babe. I like the changes.” He gave Quan a nod as Samnang came to the entrance.

“If anyone is hungry,” the Cambodian announced. “The table is ready.”

Seemed everyone had their issues, Alek thought as he joined the queue and headed for the kitchen. He didn’t think he’d be able to eat much, but he sat, and as everyone filled their plates with perfectly grilled steaks, mashed potatoes, and a variety of veggies, Alek looked around at his family and couldn’t help but wonder if he had a fighting chance at making this picture perfect. He was the odd man out as he sat here without a woman at his side.

One more chair filled. That was all he wanted. One less empty space and he’d be happy.

Sacha blinked her eyes quickly to dry her lashes and slipped the mascara wand back into the tube. She stood away from the mirror and looked at herself. She didn’t wear makeup like this anymore. And she hadn’t worn it this heavy since the beginning of her pregnancy when she’d attempted to hide how tired and sick she’d been. The morning sickness had only lasted a few weeks, but the heartsickness, the absolute exhaustion? That had stuck around. It had settled into her soul and hadn’t lifted until…

Last night.

Her stomach turned over as she closed the bathroom door all the way and got into her only formal dress. It was pale gold and clung in all the right places, and a few she’d rather it didn’t. On those final ten pounds of pregnancy weight she hadn’t lost, to be specific.

Alekzander would enjoy them.

Heat spread outward from her middle, warming her body. It was true. With Alekzander, she’d never had to worry he found her too heavy and wished she worked out more—or at all. He’d given her the freedom to feel beautiful and sexy just as she was because that was the way he’d liked her.

Just as she was.

She checked herself out in the full-length mirror on the back of the door. She’d borrowed Angela’s flatiron and straightened her hair so that it fell in a thick curtain to the middle of her back. Now she smoothed it down with an uncertain hand and met her eyes in the reflection.

He was the reason she was feeling like this. Her body, which had been in hibernation since they’d last been together, was waking. It had been reacting to thoughts of him all day, going from tingly to ferociously hungry.

“You saw him having sex with someone else, you stupid woman. Nothing will ever change that,” she muttered unhappily. “He couldn’t possibly justify why he did it unless the woman had a gun pointed at…him…”

She blinked, paling. Oh, God. That wasn’t something she’d ever thought of. Not even once.

I didn’t do it. What you saw that night in my office was fabricated.

His words echoed in her mind, making her frown. Okay. He hadn’t been forced. He’d been a willing participant. Fabricated…what did he mean—

No. She wouldn’t be this person. Someone who overlooked cheating because she was in love. For whatever reason, he’d done it. Period. And there was no excuse for that. So that meant her only two options were to get rid of him, or leave her new life. She couldn’t allow herself to linger and risk him finding out about Lekzi simply because Alekzander was Sacha’s greatest weakness.

She straightened her spine. The next time she saw him, she would make it clear there was no reason for him to pursue this. If it seemed he was going to do so anyway, she would leave.

Hearing Angela singing a Maroon 5 song to Lekzi and Tanner out in the living room had Sacha’s heart aching. She didn’t want to give up her life. She didn’t want to start over with nothing and no one. She didn’t want that for Lekzi.

Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Justin had spoken to their family lawyer today. What if there was another option she could live with?

“Hello in there! You gonna walk the catwalk for us, or what?”

She almost smiled at Angela’s shout but didn’t quite make it because she was once again wondering how Alekzander would react if he found out about their daughter. His fuse was a long one, but once it ran out, one was smart to stand clear of the shit storm that normally ensued.

Smoothing her dress over her hips, she went out so Angela and the kids could rate her choice of date clothes. Or, at least that’s what she thought Angela had said earlier. Maybe she’d been mistaken, and her friend had said they would rate her
dated
clothes.

Angela whistled like a construction worker. “Well, damn, girl.” Her friend was drying her hands on a towel as she stepped away from the sink. Tanner was hammering at something in the playpen and Lekzi was happily kicking her feet in her high-chair after just having finished some fruit.

“You look like Kim a couple of years ago. Remember when she went caramel. Shiiit. You have the hair and the ass. And don’t tell me those thighs didn’t drive that gorgeous man wild at one time. Did I tell you I think he’s gorgeous? That smolder? Come on. It’s too bad he’s a delusional, disloyal, cheating ass. Anyway, look at these puppies.” She flustered Sacha by reaching out and pushing a finger into the side of one of her breasts. “You lucky beotch.” She cupped both her own much smaller boobs. “What the hell? I’m breastfeeding, too, and I look like a damn boy.”

“You do not look like any boy I have ever seen.” Angela was much thinner than Sacha, but she was gently rounded and was clearly a woman. “You are perfectly sized for your body type.”

“Uh-huh. Is this the only formal dress you have?”

Sacha looked down at the elegant sleeveless dress. It had no plunging neckline or open back, but it was still lovely. “Yes.”

“Thought so. Why didn’t you buy something new? You wore this to the last three benefits I dragged you to.”

Angela was often sent by her boss to stand in for her at charity dinners. Sacha suspected the friendly woman was secretly sharing the fancy meals and formal dances with her employee. And, in turn, Angela shared them with Sacha when Steve wasn’t available.

Feeling emotional all of a sudden, she turned away to get her wrap from the closet. “I have more important things to do with my money than spend it on clothes.”

“Oh, really?” Angela looked around her unit, then frowned. “Hey, where’s all your stuff?”

“I put it away before Alekzander could see it.”

“Oh, yeah. Guess he’d have wondered about the billion photos of baby girl, here.” She got Lekzi out of her chair and put her on a blanket in front of the couch. “So, what’s this important stuff you spend your money on? Shit must be invisible, ’cause I don’t see it.”

“I do not spend it, I save it. Some of it goes into an account I set up for Lekzi’s college fund, and the rest I put away in case I have to leave.”

“Well, since me and the boys aren’t going to let that happen, we’ll go shopping soon.”

Sacha gave Angela a regretful look as she laid her wrap over her arm. She was briefly distracted and became breathless when she remembered doing the same with Alekzander’s coat today. Up close his lips had looked velvety and firm, and she knew for a fact they were.

“Steve was accurate about one thing last night,” she said. “Alekzander will not take it well if he learns what I did. I cannot sit here and wait for that to happen.”

“Uh-huh.”

“What does that mean?” She unplugged her phone and put it in her evening bag that held only lipstick and some cash. She didn’t carry a debit or credit card because she had neither. No bank account and no extra money made that easy enough.

“It means I’m sort of jelly over the way your Russian looked at you this afternoon. I know it pains you to hear it, but I’m going to say it anyway. That man may have been unfaithful, but he is living to regret it. He looked at you like you were life.” She grimaced as if in apology for what she said next. “You must know he isn’t going to give up without a fight. He’s going to try to convince you to forgive him. I don’t know how, but I saw the determination in him. You must have, too.”

“I did, and I do not understand it. What is the translation for ‘fabricated?’ Created, yes?”

“Yeah. Made up. Fake. Phoney. Why?”

“He said what I saw in his office that night was fabricated. He wants me to give him the opportunity to explain.” She’d have told Angela this after Alekzander had left this afternoon but Steve had texted for a ride.

Her friend frowned as she took Tanner out of the playpen to put him with Lekzi, who babbled a greeting. “To explain or lie? It’s hard to guess one’s motives once you don’t trust them anymore. What does your gut tell you?”

Sacha bit her lip. “To keep him away from my baby. But I also feel I should tell him about her. I have never felt like such an awful person.”

“Aside from that.”

Sacha sighed. “To get naked and ride him as if I am the star of the rodeo?”

Dark brown eyes popped wide, and then Angela was laughing uproariously. Sacha’s face steamed, but it was the truth. When Alekzander was around, her head was full of Lekzi, sex, or his betrayal.