And, with my fucking luck, Addy will wander into the wrong place because she mistook tension for an invitation.
I turned back to him. “She stays out of this.”
Kyrill studied my face for a long moment. “You can try telling her that.”
“You think she will listen?”
We both snorted, because even he knew the answer was no. I just had to fucking go and fall for the most stubborn, open woman on earth.
Sighing, I looked at the marina again and made a decision.
We would have to respond. There was no point in dragging it out any longer. It would be a measured and controlled strike, not brutal enough to invite war, but hard enough to remind them we were here to play ball.
And I would need to tighten security at the villa … discreetly.
Addy didn’t need to know the extent of the upheaval unfolding around her. The only thing more dangerous than a rival challenging my authority was that I had already identified the one pressure point capable of undoing it.
Chapter 34
Addy
Elenahaddoneexactlywhat she said she would and introduced me to her close-knit group of girls, most of whom were her sisters, cousins and other extended family. They had also accepted me into their fold and it felt like I was a long-lost cousin who had finally returned to the family.
We even had a weekly gathering at one of the local restaurants or cafés. It felt as though we had known each other for years rather than just a few weeks. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed that until it happened.
My guards would usually drop me off and then park down the street. The only way to stop them from hovering awkwardly nearby was to send them status updates via text every fifteen minutes.
It was slightly annoying, but better than having to explain their presence to my friends.
By the time I pushed open the glass doors of the marina café, the familiar sounds of laughter and conversation drifting out onto the terrace loosened something in my chest in a way I still wasn’t quite used to.
“You’re late!” Elena announced immediately, lifting her sunglasses onto her head and squinting at me across the table.
“I’m three minutes late,” I protested, sliding into the empty chair beside her.
“Still late,” she sing-songed.
“You already ordered wine?” I surveyed the glasses on the table, some of which were already filled.
“Correct.”
“It’s noon.”
“It’s Thursday,” Carmen chimed in helpfully, pushing a glass toward me with a grin.
“Of course.” I nodded like it being Thursday actually made a difference.
“Now she gets it.” Elena giggled.
I joined in her laughter and picked up the glass. The cool stem was slick against my fingers as I glanced around the table.
Carmen was leaning forward over her margarita, exuding the bright, mischievous energy seeming to accompany her wherever she went. Beside her sat Sofia, calm and elegant, idly tearing pieces of bread from the basket while listening with the quiet amusement of someonewho had long ago accepted the chaos simply following this group around.
Elena radiated effortless poise, her dark hair twisted into a loose knot and her linen dress catching the afternoon breeze. I still didn’t fully understand how I had ended up here, but I was grateful for it.
Carmen leaned closer. “What’s that face for?”
“I’m just thinking,” I replied with a smile, though I had absolutely no defense against my mind wandering.