Unwilling Pawn by Measha Stone

Chapter 25

Amelia

“Who are you glaring at?” I pinched Maggie’s hip. The Millstein Hall of the Natural History Museum was filled with hundreds of people I didn’t know. My father hadn’t bothered showing up, nor my uncle. Maggie was the only family, the only friend I had in the room.

Maggie shook her head. “No one. Are you having any fun? Did you eat something?” She peppered me with questions only when she wanted to turn my head from the real topic. I looked through the crowd of people to see who might have caught her attention.

“Is that Gregor Romanov?” I asked, my heart pausing a beat. “What’s he doing here?”

“From what I was able to wheedle out of your husband’s brother, the Romanovs have been invited out of respect.”

“Respect? Christian said they were dangerous.” He’d said my conversation with Gregor could have started a big problem between them. What did having them at our marriage celebration mean?

“Yes, well, about Christian.” Maggie grinned. She’d been trying all day to get the details of my evening with Christian the night before. I wasn’t about to tell her anything. How do you explain to your cousin that your husband was hellbent on punishing you, but then decided to fuck you two ways from Tuesday instead?

“Leave it alone, Maggie.” I folded my arms over my stomach and sighed. “I suppose at some point I’m going to have to make my way through this crowd, thanking everyone for coming.”

“Eh. Wait until Christian comes for you. He’ll want to be at your side while you do that.”

“Yes, that’s right.” I smiled. “I wouldn’t be much of an ornament without the limb off which I dangle.”

Maggie frowned. “What are you talking about? Have you seen the way that man looks at you?” She sipped her wine.

“He looks at me the same way anyone else does. Right through me.”

“You’ve lost it, cousin. That man looks at you like you walk on water.”

I stared at her a long moment. She couldn’t be right.

“I think you’re the one who’s lost it.” I forced a laugh.

Maggie plucked a crab cake from a passing tray of appetizers. “Have you tried these? So good.” She popped the entire thing into her mouth then washed it down with her drink.

“I’m not hungry.” I pressed my palm to my stomach. The dress I’d been stuffed into the for the occasion left little room for breath much less a crab cake or two. “Besides, if I ate, I’d probably bust a seam.”

Maggie looked down the length of me. “It’s not that tight, Amelia. You’re just used to much looser dresses. This looks beautiful on you.” She ran her fingers over the beading on the bodice. “The full skirt makes you look like a princess.”

I rolled my eyes. “Princess. Right. I should have fought harder to wear one of my own dresses.”

“One with pockets?” she teased.

I laughed. “Yes. One with pockets.”

“Oh, give it up, you’re gorgeous tonight and I think it’s pissing your husband off how many eyes keep turning your way.” She gestured with her glass toward the far corner of the room, next to one of the pillars.

Christian stood with three other men facing him, but his attention was set on me. Even with the distance between us, I could make out the tension in his jaw. The little spark of annoyance in his gaze.

“Is it wrong that I’m glad he’s pissed?” I whispered.

Maggie wrapped one arm around my waist. “Not at all. The man deserves to feel a little threatened now and then.”

“I can’t imagine him feeling threatened by anyone.”

She patted my hip. “I think when it comes to you, it’s different.”

“You’re seeing things that aren’t there.” I sighed. “I’m still not sure why all of this happened, but it wasn’t because he cares for me.”

Maggie sighed and pulled her arm away. “I think you’re just scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Scared to believe he cares about you the same way you care about him. You’re afraid to let yourself really believe the man loves you.”

“Afraid,” I scoffed. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you’ll start believing it.” She finished her drink. “I’m going to the bar. You want something?”

I handed her my glass. “No. I’m fine.” I glanced back toward Christian. The two men who’d been with him had wandered off and been replaced by Igor Romanov. Gregor and another man stood to the side, hands in their pockets, listening intently as Christian spoke to Igor.

The music of the chamber orchestra wafted over the crowd of people in the room, mingling with the background noise of their chatter. I wouldn’t be able to hear anything if I didn’t get as close to Christian as I could. Slowly, I edged my way around the room making sure Christian didn’t see me. If he knew I was coming toward him, I’d lose my chance.

I evaded as many well-wishers as I could. I was probably being rude, and Christian would have my ass if anyone accused me of insulting them, but it didn’t matter.

As I walked along the exhibits outlining the room, I kept my eyes on Christian. They were standing in front of a walrus exhibit and beside them was one of the white rounded pillars. I fell in step with a small group of people who were headed in the same direction as myself and used them as a shield until I was able to slip behind the pillar directly beside Christian. Hopefully undetected.

“This isn’t the place.” Christian’s voice was low, but I’d become an expert in understanding his tone. He was getting annoyed.

“Then when? I’ve waited like you asked. I was respectful and now you’re pushing it further.”

“There are three hundred people in this hall, Igor. Do you want them all involved in your family’s dirty laundry?”

My ears perked.

“My brother’s actions are not my sin. And you deny me my rights as her uncle to give her the celebration that is due the daughter of Romanov family member.”

His words washed over me like a bucket of ice water. I froze. Every muscle locked; every beat of my heart barely pushed blood through my veins.

“Your rights? She’s my wife. Don’t forget that. She’s a Kaczmarek. She has my name, my ring, and my loyalty.” Christian’s voice was hard, unyielding.

“The longer this pretense goes on the more danger she could be in. Gorecki has sent a message that if I do not interfere here, he will tell her himself.”

Sebastian? What the hell did he have to do with anything? My mind reeled as the information poured from their conversation.

“Sebastian Gorecki is a flea. If he has threats, he should bring them to me,” Christian said.

“He’s an annoyance, yes. He’s gone into hiding, sending his little messages from whatever hole he’s dug for himself. As soon as I find him, he’ll be taken care of. But in the meantime, if he can get to Amelia, he will tell her everything. And he will use her against us both.”

“He’s desperate,” another voice, dark and heavy, chimed in. “He’s lost everything in Chicago. All his connections have severed ties with him and he’s down to his last penny. Desperate men do desperate things.”

“He’s a pathetic old man who should have been wiped from the face of the earth years ago.” Christian’s voice nearly shook with hatred. “I was denied the opportunity, though.”

“Agreements made between another generation get in the way sometimes, I understand that,” Igor stated. “And you’ve won, Christian. You took the last bit of hope he had to salvage his reputation, his livelihood. But we have to protect her now. And the truth will do that.”

I leaned against the pillar, taking in Igor’s words. I knew Christian wanted to stop Sebastian from getting an alliance with my father, but it was deeper than that. Once more, I was reminded of my true place on earth—his pawn. He wanted revenge, and he’d used me to get it.

I would never mean anything to him other than an object for him to move around at his will to gain whatever he wanted.

“Amelia deserves to know. We need to tell her everything, let her take her place in my family.”

“And give her up?” Christian asked. “Never.” One single word dropped among the sounds of the cello and violins, the white noise of chatter, but it came through crystal clear.

“Even if it means finally getting vengeance?”

I held my breath. Would Christian toss me aside to get what he wanted? There wasn’t a thing in the world Christian wouldn’t take if he wanted it, and here he was being handed the demise of his enemy on a platter.

“Amelia, here you are! I’ve been looking for you.” Maggie bounded up beside me. I put my hand up, trying to hush her, but it was too late. We’d been found out.

Christian took a step forward around the pillar, locking our gazes. Shock and surprise floated across his expression.

“Amelia,” he took a step toward me, but I put my hand out. “You need to listen.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve already heard everything I needed to.” My heart hammered against my ribs, bounding off my lungs. Air was hard to find, but the blinding pain in my heart caught me off guard.

“Amelia.” Igor Romanov came into my view, worry in his eyes. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”

I covered my mouth with my fingertips, unsure if words or bile were going to come forward.

“Let’s go somewhere private. Away from the party,” Christian reached out for my arm, but I yanked it from his grasp.

“No.” I took an unsteady step back. “Don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t…” I blinked back the tears threatening. “Just don’t.”

“I was trying to protect you—”

“No. You were using me.” I swallowed hard, keeping the sob from escaping. I needed to be alone. The room spun around me, the sounds of the music, the people, all melded together into a heap of noise. “And you had to keep the truth from me so you could keep using me.”

“No. That’s not true. Let me explain.” Christian’s voice hardened. He was taking his authoritative tone now.

“I’m not interested.” I turned my attention to Igor Romanov. “I don’t want to speak with you either. Any of you.” I turned on my heel, miraculously not falling on my face, and hurried away from them.

Maggie was quick to stay with me. “Amelia, wait! I’ll come with you.”

As I approached the front doors of the museum, Anthony stepped out from the crowd.

“Stay away, Anthony,” I called out and pushed my way through the doors. The town car I was used to being carted around in pulled up quickly to the curb and Anthony jogged in front of me.

“Take the car. We’ll go straight to the penthouse.” Anthony brought his eyes to mine. A sincerity there eased some of my panic. “I promise.”

As one tear escaped and slid down my cheek, I nodded. “Thank you.”

Maggie climbed into the back with me, grabbing my hands immediately and squeezing them. The back door shut, and Anthony climbed in the front with the driver. I bowed my head, letting the tears roll down my cheeks and stain my dress.