“Too busy sleeping. Thank God for pain medication.”
Pascal appeared amused at their hostility. He leaned against the side of the house to enjoy the show. Luc must like the idea of his wife and mistress interacting, because Pascal saw no need to separate them this morning.
Nicola took a huge guzzle of her coffee, as though she were downing a shot of tequila. “Pascal, darling, could you be a dear and get me another cup of coffee with cream.”
Alex tipped her own cup toward him in a toast. “I’d ask, too, since I’m the invalid and not simply lazy, but I’d rather you not poison me today.”
Pascal walked over to Nicola and ignored Alex.
Alex pushed. “Perhaps Nicky here would like to eat with the kitchen staff. She is paid by the hour, isn’t she?”
“Take your time, Pascal. I find this minger quite entertaining.” Nicola lounged in her chair and rested her elbow on the table.
Pascal chuckled and left for the kitchen.
Alex dropped the smile, her focus turned serious as though she were appraising a painting. She hoped her assessment of Nicola was in the ballpark of her real worth. Humans, however, rarely provided as much value as anticipated.
“Are you Simon’s Nicola?”
“I’m not owned, possessed, or enslaved by anyone. I may, however, know a Simon or two.” A nonanswer. The sexpot had transformed into a corporate shark with negotiating skills. “Are you Henry’s Gabe?”
Bingo. She had to be Simon’s Nicola, or she’d never have known about Gabe. Hearing Henry’s name, however, stunned her, but she held her face emotionless. She wanted to trust her, but chickened out to protect Henry. “Gabe? Never heard of her or Henry for that matter.”
“Interesting.” Nicola tapped her hand on the table as if she were bored. “If you want a friend, contact me. I can help.”
She couldn’t risk Nicola getting hurt. “I don’t need help, just some time to recuperate.”
Nicola raised an eyebrow after glancing toward Alex’s cast. “You’re in way over your head.”
“I have my reasons for staying.” She looked over at the door to make sure Pascal hadn’t returned. “Why are you here? Luc doesn’t let his girlfriends walk away without bruises or a body bag.”
“Luc’s amusing and useful to me right now. And the sex with him is even worth tolerating your presence.”
“I see my two ladies are enjoying each other’s company. How disturbing.” Luc, speaking in English, stood by the open door. Had he heard their exchange?
Alex glared at her captor’s approach. “If I’d known you already had a housemate, I would have asked for my own place.”
Nicola laughed. “As long as he comes to me at night, I’m not complaining.”
Luc rubbed Nicola’s shoulders and kissed her. Deeply. Nicola moaned. Did he think Alex would be jealous watching him stick his tongue down Nicola’s throat? Au contraire, it made her thankful for Nicola’s presence.
“It’s amazing how disgusting kissing sounds when you’re not actually involved. Perhaps it’s your technique, Luc. You never were that good with your tongue.” She watched them pull apart after her comments.
He shifted from Nicola to his wife. His hands were positioned with his thumbs on the softest area of Alex’s neck. “I’d watch what you say. You don’t want me to be widowed too soon.”
“Don’t harm the witch, sweetheart. I prefer being a mistress to a girlfriend. It has more cachet. Besides, maybe we can convince her to join us after her cast comes off,” Nicola purred.
His hands loosened, and he stepped back to Nicola. “I like how you think.”
“Perverted and slutty?” Alex asked.
“Sexy and alluring,” Nicola replied and leaned into Luc’s embrace.
Pascal returned with Nicola’s coffee and placed it in front of her.
“Nicola, I must speak to my wife for a few minutes alone. I bought you a present during my last trip. It’s hanging in the west gallery. Enjoy.” Luc then turned to Pascal. “You can leave as well.”
With a stiff nod, Pascal disappeared into the house. Luc pulled Nicola’s chair out and kissed her good-bye. His hands lifted under her dress. How charming. Groping the girlfriend in front of the wife.
After Nicola left the patio, Luc went over to the door and shut it. He strolled back to Alex with his phone in his hand and switched to French, his preferred language with Alex. “You’re not a very obedient wife. In fact, you’re turning into quite the liability. If I were you, I would try harder to obey me and show me proper respect in front of others.”
“It’s hard to respect someone I loathe.”
“You’ll need to get over this dislike of me sooner rather than later. Physical punishment hasn’t been effective to tame your tongue. You don’t seem to care if we beat you to death.” He tapped on her cast. “You’re tougher than I gave you credit for, but you should think of others when deciding what toxic words will exit your mouth.”
The images of Danielle and her boyfriend’s brutal death flashed into her mind, the sound of bullets taking down Matt, and the red light signifying the security guard’s last moment. Alex felt light-headed. She didn’t want any more violence around her unless it involved Luc. She remained silent, removing all emotion from her face as well.
Luc’s fingers caressed her cheek. “You give me instant compliance when I reach out to your bleeding heart. How pathetic. Too bad you didn’t shut your mouth sooner.” He placed the cell phone with an internet news story in front of her eyes. “Tragic about your niece.”
“My niece?” The bottom fell from her stomach, and her eyes betrayed her fear by filling with tears.
Daughter of Northrop heiress hurt in hit-and-run accident. The driver has not been located. The four-year-old child was listed in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Rachel? Bile burned her throat. Anna must be going crazy with worry.
“Alive, but who knows for how long.” He smirked.