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We laughed. Ruby was back.
“There are so many hunks here, it’s hard to choose.” Her laughter quietened. “On a more serious note, I cannot wait to find out. Congratulations, sweetie. I’m so happy for you. You deserve only the best things,” she squealed when she pulled away from our embrace, and I finally took a good look at the exceptional décor that surrounded me.
Every detail was meticulously thought out. The rooftop was bathed in a soft, lilac hue, courtesy of the numerous balloons that floated gently above, their delicate sheen catching the light. The acrylic chairs, sleek and modern, added a touch of sophistication, while the tables were adorned with an array of delectable food and an exquisite cake that seemed almost too beautiful to eat.
So, that was what this was: a gender reveal party.
I touched the red highlights on her smooth, dark bob. “Girl, I love what you did with your hair.”
“I know, right?” Her pale cheeks reddened with a blush. “Hopefully, that guy over there will notice. Gotta go now. The early bird gets the biggest dick, or is that not how they say it?”
Before I could throw back a response through bubbles of chuckles, she waltzed away with her little black dress and nude stiletto heels.
The rush of emotions that came with seeing loved ones after a long separation was indescribable. It was as if the very fabric of my being was infused with an electric sense of joy, relief, and love. Every fiber of my soul vibrated with excitement, like the hum of a harp string plucked to perfection.
With a happy skip, I turned around, craning my neck to see the man who brought me here, when I walked head-first into a solid chest covered with a leather jacket and black t-shirt. His scent hit my nose before our eyes met.Sauvage Elixir.
A tidal wave of feelings crashed over me, threatening to overwhelm my senses, and his name left my lips in a shocked whisper.
“J-John?”
To say I was shocked to see him here, on the rooftop ofEgor’srestaurant, at my gender reveal party, would have been the understatement of the year.
He raked his guarded gaze over my appearance in one sweep and slid his hands into his pockets. Tension rolled off his shoulders; he clamped his jaw and narrowed his eyes at me.
“You look beautiful, Freya. You always do.”
The way he said my name…was different. Different from the hundred times he’d said it back in the office or joked around when he called me Detective Fox. Now, it sounded heavy, burdened with unveiled emotion that expressed nothing and a lot of unspoken things at the same time.
Another lump formed in my throat, and I recognized it. Guilt. I reached for his arm but didn’t hold him.I couldn’t.
My arms fell back to my sides, and the apologies began tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop myself. “John, I swear, I’m so sorry that—”
“Apologies will only make me feel worse. So, please don’t. Besides, you have nothing to apologize for. Your husband, though….”
He sucked in a deep breath and shut his eyes. When he opened them, he looked like the John I recognized—the happy John, without the hate and unexplainable emotion residing in his eyes.
“You know who sold us out?”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “I heard.” I swallowed. “It was Mila, wasn’t it?”
He laughed, but it sounded like an empty echo from a void. “Found out she was fucking a Yezhov, too. Funny, huh? I told you she wasn’t my type, didn’t I? And the person who was my type is now married and seven months pregnant for the son of a bitch who had his brother break my ribs.”
Tears stung my eyes, and I reached for his arm again, but I felt nothing when I held him. Like no emotion could pass through. I flinched, withdrawing my fingers.
“John, I’m really so—”
“He’s a jerk, Freya. Your husband, I mean. He’s a fucking asshole. But he is crazy about you.Literally.Enough to kidnap you and marry you.”
I froze. I felt like I’d been slapped with a wet fish. My eyes widened to saucer-like proportions, and my jaw dropped so low it almost dislocated. My brain struggled to process the information.
Egor? Crazy about me?Has the world gone mad?
I mentally rattled while trying to maintain a semblance of composure, almost laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.Almost.But John didn’t give me time to explain before backing away with a sad smile.
“John, wait. It’s not what you—”
“Be happy, Freya. I’ll see you around.”
