Chapter Fifteen
Leo
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I’D TOLD HER I’D BEright outside the door, but the truth was, I couldn’t handle it. The thought of her in there, naked and wet and soapy, had the power to turn me into an even bigger monster than I already was. My head was filled with images of me throwing the door open fully and shoving her up against the cold tiles and fucking her fast and hard from behind. I didn’t trust myself not to do it.
I went into the living area and stood at the window.
My stomach lurched.
Someone was out there.
A bearded man in a brown overcoat stood by the edge of the lake looking up at the cabin.
Who the fuck was that?
I picked up my gun from where I’d left it on the table and tucked it into the belt at the back of my trousers. Then I grabbed my jacket from the chair and threw that on to cover it.
I wasn’t exactly dressed for a holiday by a lake in Estonia. Thick jumpers, jeans, and boots probably would have been more appropriate. But I’d left on a whim and hadn’t thought to pack anything like that. I’d only brought clean shirts and some underwear. Oh, and the gun, too, of course.
I debated my next move. Should I stay hidden and hope the man just went away? I didn’t want him poking around. I thought of Kaja in the shower. She’d be unaware of our visitor, but if he went around the side of the cabin, she might spot him and bang on the window to get his attention. Then I’d be forced to shoot him.
Making the decision to intercede before it came to that, I went to the cabin door, unlocked it, stepped out, and locked it again behind me. I had to hope Kaja would make the most of her shower and would take her time. She was washing her hair after all, and I knew from experience with Jodie that when women washed their hair, they were in the shower for-fucking-ever.
I walked out onto the porch, and the man spotted me. He lifted his hand to shield his eyes in the morning light and then raised that same hand in a wave. I forced a smile and lifted my hand in return. Leaving the porch, I trotted down towards the lake. I didn’t want him coming too close to the cabin because of Kaja.
The man strolled up to meet me and said something in what I assumed was Estonian.
“I’m sorry, I’m English.” What was it about us Brits always feeling the need to apologise?
The man instantly switched to English. That was another thing that always filled me with shame. Everyone knew how to speak English, but I could barely manage more than a few words in another language.
“Hello, neighbour,” he said. “I saw smoke coming from the chimney and realised someone must be staying at the cabin.”
“Yes, just a short break. I was told this place was private and secluded.”
My hint clearly went right over his head as he continued to talk. “Are you here alone?”
I couldn’t lie. If he spotted Kaja, it would be harder explaining my lie away. “No, I’m here with my wife. We’ve been through some...stuff recently and needed some time away from other people.”