But it isn’t. It’ll never be the same again.
I would never share you. Not with anyone.
Oh, my God.
How have we gone from declarations of love to this? Is he really that man? The kind of man who would allow his brother to screw his wife? Take part in it? And—I release a sudden, hiccupping sob—what about me? Didn’t I use his brother as ammunition, too.
Maybe I do deserve to be in this clusterfuck.
“How sweet, Sandy. Here I was beginning to think you’d never get over me.”
“You must know finding you missing from the yacht was almost a relief.” Alexander’s growling response makes my chest ache, but when I try to sit up, he applies a little more pressure, so I stay there.
Breathe. In. Out. In. Out. I try to relax into his touch as his hand moves over my back in reassuring circles.
“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Things weren’t right between us.”
So why not divorce like a normal couple?
“But then you never remarried and,” she continues, “as far as I could tell, you’ve never been interested in anyone since. Well, perhaps until now.”
“I’m touched you’ve been keeping tabs on me.” I’ll credit his words as sounding less pleased than they might.
“Just lately. Needs must, you see. My circumstances have changed, and I am in need of money.”
“So that’s why you’re here?”
Relief floods my chest. She’s not staying. Should it matter? Shouldn’t we call the police? My breathing becomes a little more even, my shock a little less immense
“Actually, I was on my way to see Griffin in London. To tighten the thumbscrews, as it were. But now I don’t need to as another opportunity has presented itself.”
I sit up as he steps toward her quite threateningly. And then I notice why. The way she’s looking at me.
“And let me guess,” Alexander begins, “you thought, what the hell, I’m passing, I’ll pop in and say hello to Alexander. Why not?” He throws up his hands. “I’m in the area, and I’m not fucking dead!”
His voice reverberates off the walls so hard, I’m surprised they don’t shake. They might’ve been built to withstand siege warfare, but I doubt they’ve ever witnessed this man’s temper.
“I was in the country certainly,” she replies serenely, crossing one tanned leg over the other. “Though I had little expectation of seeing you again. Sorry, darling. I hope that doesn’t hurt too much.”
“Not at all. I’d hoped the next time I’d see you, you’d be in a coffin.”
“So you didn’t pine for me?” Her mouth becomes a small moue.
“Not unless we’re talking about pine boxes. And you?” Alexander’s attention swings to his brother.
“If I’d thought she was alive, do you think I’d be here?”
“It never stopped you before,” the woman murmurs, examining the buff-coloured polish on her nails. “Sometimes your car was barely down the drive when Griffin’s was on the way up. Not here, of course. We conducted our little affair out of the London house.”
“Is it an affair when your marriage is a sham of an open relationship?” Alexander folds his arms across his chest. “Or when you don’t care who your wife fucks?”
“You are a first-class bitch,” mutters Griffin. “I know I was in the wrong,” he says, his attention swinging to Alexander. “I shouldn’t have gone anywhere near her, and I’m not sure it makes any difference, but I’ve hated myself for it since.”
“Sandy, it wasn’t his fault, she murmurs, all sulky-lipped. “He was just young and impressionable.” She makes as though to stand.
“Sit back down,” Alexander growls. “Don’t come near me.”
“He couldn’t say no,” she says, lowering herself again. “At least, not to me.”
“I really don’t care who you fucked or when. Any kind of emotion around you is wasted, Leonie. Besides, it’s not like either of us felt the need to share who we were screwing. No doubt she pursued you relentlessly to get back at me for some perceived slight,” he says, his attention touching Griffin. “If only I’d know known guilt was the reason for your bitterness, we could’ve laid the past to rest long ago.”
He glances meaningfully Leonie’s way. Some things just won’t stay dead, his look seems to say.
“Oh dear, it looks like he’s been tying himself up in knots for nothing. Actually, that might be might fault,” Leonie adds with an evil-sounding titter. “I told him you’d kill him if you ever found out. And, of course, that you were better in bed. Did you find that out, too?” Her malicious question is directed my way.
“Leave her out of it.” Alexander’s voice is soft. Frighteningly so.
“She’s not quite who I imagined you’d be with,” she says, ignoring him. “She’s very young. I would’ve thought more like an entrée not a main course.”
“I guess that makes you the remains of a buffet that nobody wants to touch.”
Griffin barks out a laugh as Alexander’s gaze finds mine. I see pride there, I think. Maybe warning, too.