Chapter Seven

Samuel

“Sammy, I don’t have time for this tonight. I have plans.”

“We have to do it now. If you’re going to work Wednesday, it’s the only alternative.”

“We can do it another time. I have plans tonight,”

Natalie huffs. “Drop me off at my apartment. If you hurry, we’ll have time for me to show you how good we are together.”

I barely hide my grunt. This woman has sex on the brain. That sounds more entertaining than it’s turned out to be. She’s beautiful, but I swear her brain is empty. If I have to have her tied to me for life, I might slit my throat. That woman is the last person I’d want as a wife. The very last.

“Sammy! Are you even listening?”

“For God’s sake, Natalie. I’ve told you my name is Sam or Samuel.”

“You know, you’re starting to be a drag. I need a man who is fun. There needs to be more than just money and power. I want to live my life to the fullest. You need to watch how you deal with me, or this whole marriage you have in mind is out the window. I have more men in my life than you. You’re going to lose me if you keep it up, and baby, you don’t want to lose the fun I can give you. You and I together would be the things dreams are made of. I’d give everything I have to make sure you’re happy and I do mean everything.”

“I know why I agreed to our marriage, but wouldn’t you like to at least see what we have in common? You must have certain things you want from our relationship.”

I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I guess I’m trying to figure out where things went so wrong. I should have had Natalia checked into. Ivan is going to have my ass over this. At the time, it wasn’t important. I was grieving Angelina. I had the family and our position to worry about. That’s all that mattered. I mistakenly thought that Juan, and even Daniel, would follow the old rules and keep his daughter chaste until she was in my care. Hell, even if she wasn’t a virgin before the contract, I at least thought they would keep her from men after signing it. I seriously doubt Natalie going one day without someone in her bed.

That’s another thing that bothers me. She has a beautiful name, Natalia. Gorgeous. Yet, she shortens it to Natalie. Who does that? This marriage won’t work. I’m going to end it tonight. I keep my attention on the road. I haven’t told Natalie the real reason for being here. I was worried that if I told her, she wouldn’t come with me. I don’t suppose she needed to, but I didn’t want her in my home anymore. Okay, so the Levkin compound. It’s not mine.

I’ve enjoyed my time here in the US, I’ve missed it. Russia is nice, but I don’t want to live there. I need to talk with my uncles. That will happen, but not until I get this marriage dissolved. I’m hoping I can do that without letting Ivan and the others know what an idiot I was.

“Sammy? Did you call Daniel and tell him we’re coming? He doesn’t like surprises. Trust me, I know. There was this one time I tried. I dressed up in a little French maid costume. You know the kind? I decided to dust his office. I was strategically bent over his desk when he opened the door—”

“What the fuck? Jesus, just shut up. What kind of family are you people? I don’t want another fucking word out of your mouth. We’re almost there. When we arrive, I’m giving you back to Daniel. This marriage shit is done!”

Fury rolls through me. I see the fear that hits Natalie’s face, but I don’t give a damn. I want her to be scared. I’m about two seconds away from ripping out her damn tongue.

I drive to the gate, waiting for the guard. I’m glad I drove my personal car. All I need is for my driver to hear this conversation. I’d never live it down. “Samuel Levkin, I’m bringing Natalie back,”

I snap at the guard. He turns away and I can tell he’s talking to someone through his earpiece to get clearance. If Daniel denies me, I swear to God, I’ll ram my car through his front door. The man slaps my hood. “Go on up.”

The minute I come to a stop, Natalie bails out. She starts to run back toward the gate. I can see it. I don’t know where the fuck she’s going to go, but it’s not happening. I clamp my hand on her upper arm, basically dragging her to the front door.

“Not a word from you,”

I warn her.

Her eyes dilate. The fear I saw moments ago intensifies. I should feel like a bastard, but right now, I’m just glad she’s not talking.

A man opens the door, and I drag Natalie through the entryway. “Where’s Daniel?”

I snap. Visions of the woman who was supposed to be my wife, bent over the man’s desk half-naked dance in my head. I don’t know what kind of fucked incestual relationship these two have, but I’ll not be a part of it.

“Samuel? What’s the meaning of this? Our meeting is not until tomorrow,”

Daniel gripes, coming down the stairway.

“We’re going to have this out tonight. Then, you can have your sister back.”

I look at Daniel’s face. There’s something going on behind his eyes. Before I can say another word, however, one of the last women I ever expected to see comes through the front door.

Isabel.

Natalie and I are standing away from the staircase, almost to the area where I assumed Daniel’s office was. So, she doesn’t see us immediately. I’m glad. She must know what kind of woman Natalie is. Hell, she’s probably been laughing at me this whole time. She immediately looks up at him, laughing.

“Daniel, you should tell your latest woman not to be so eager. The car door is open,”

she laughs. Apparently, everyone here is fucked-up. If Isabel is having a sexual relationship with Daniel, it’s clear that it is an open one. I shake my head. “I’m going to go up and pack a bag. I’ll be working at the hospital for the next two days and staying there. You can have the house all to yourself, brother dear,” she laughs as she starts jogging up the stairs.

I just stare up at them—not quite sure I believe what’s happening. Is she Natalia? What the actual fuck?

“Izzy,”

her fucking brother mumbles.

“Daniel?” she asks.

“We have guests,”

he says, and she turns around, finally seeing us.

Suddenly, my mood improves exponentially. I watch as the color drains from her face. I even smile as I look into the eyes of my wife. She’s going to pay for this and I’m going to enjoy every damn second of it.