Page 68 of Wicked Villain

I look at Lev. He hasn’t even stirred.

As I stare at my husband, I see flashes of our short, turbulent time together.

The kiss he gave me that first night. Our wedding day. The vows we took. The way he defended me against Danillo. That was the best thing he did for me.

Then there were the small mercies that felt enormous because they made me feel like a person.

He’s a person, too. A person with a life.

When Gabrielle killed those men, it was self-defense. This would be different.

I would be different.

My hands shake.

I can’t do it. I feel dirty for even contemplating it.

“Oh no, no, malyshka.” Lev’s stern voice suddenly fills the space between us, and my eyes widen. “Don’t you dare disappoint me now.”

He opens his eyes one at a time. As I watch him, I realize he wasn’t sleeping at all.

At that moment, I remember he’s a better actor than me.

Chapter

Fifteen

Allegra

Those Nordic eyes pin me in place, his gaze sharp and piercing, his expression neutral.

I stand there before him, frozen, and I can’t see past his stare.

Did he lure me into another trap?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

But given that we’ve played this game before, I’m leaning toward the affirmative.

Lev sits up and breathes out a slow sigh, then he reaches down the side of the chair and, to my horror, picks up the very file I’m after.

He holds it up and takes out the defaced picture I found of my parents and me. “Is this what you came for?”

Bastard.

This was a damn trap. And I walked right into it. Again.

He shoots me that insolent smile when he notices the disgust on my face.

“A few words of wisdom.” He cocks his head. “A man like me would never leave an important file lying around in an unlocked office, a place anyone could walk into. What does that tell you, malyshka?”

Jesus, I’m so stupid. “The file… wasn’t important.”

“Not just a pretty face, then. But given the fact that you keep landing yourself in my traps, I’m starting to wonder if I give you too much credit.”

“You are such an asshole.”