Truths and Lies Duet

“Kostas, can I talk to you for a minute?” I ask.

“Of course.” He turns his attention back to me.

When Fowler doesn’t take the hint, I add, “Alone.”

Kostas’s brows knit together. “What’s the matter, Talia? If there’s an issue, Fowler needs to know as well. Did something happen?”

“No, nothing happened.” I glance over at Fowler, who’s still standing there, with his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes roaming my body. Is this guy for real? “Well, actually something did happen.” I look pointedly at Fowler. “This guy keeps checking me out, and it’s making me uncomfortable.”

Kostas’s brows dip further. “Is this true?” he asks Fowler. “Are you checking out my wife?”

“Sir, it wasn’t like that,” Fowler sputters. His back goes straight, and finally, his eyes are no longer on me.

“Either you did or you didn’t check my wife out. It’s simple.”

“She’s wearing a skimpy bikini, sir, and I might’ve noticed. I didn’t mean any offense.”

I scoff at the way he’s downplaying this. He was totally perving on me.

“Where’s Greg?” Kostas asks him.

“In the security room,” Fowler says.

“And Kip?”

“Guarding the front.”

Kostas steps toward Fowler, and since Kostas is a good half a foot taller, he looks down at him. “I don’t give a fuck if my wife is naked, you don’t ever look at her in any way other than to make sure she’s safe. Understand?” His voice is calm, but I can see it in the way his jaw is ticking, he’s about to lose his shit.

Good! Serves that asshole right.

“Yes, sir,” Fowler says like the good soldier he is. Gag.

“Go take over for Kip and tell him to get back here.”

What? That’s it? He’s just assigning him to a different location?

After Fowler leaves, Kostas’s eyes swing back over to me. “Talia, is that the only bathing suit you have?”

Oh, no, he didn’t.

“No, but—”

“Go change into something more appropriate, please.”

I glance over at my mom, who is lying on a chaise lounge with Zoe in her arms. I can tell by the look on her face she can hear everything that’s happening.

“I’m not changing,” I tell Kostas, crossing my arms over my chest in defiance. “This is my home, and I’ll wear whatever the hell I want.”

Kostas’s brows rise in shock. “Talia, it wasn’t a suggestion. Go fucking change. I’m not going to have you prancing around here so my men can ogle what’s mine.”

What’s his? Like I’m a goddamn piece of property!

“You’re a chauvinist pig, and if you don’t walk away right now, I’m going to push your ass into that pool.” I walk around Kostas and over to Mom. I take Zoe out of her hands, so I can lay her down for a nap.

“Talia,” Kostas growls, but I ignore him, because if I don’t, we’re going to fight. And I’m choosing to chalk his dumb ass remarks up to stress because of Aris.

“I’ll see you tonight!” I call out behind me.

“So, that’s it?” he shouts back. When I keep walking, he says, “Real fucking nice, Talia. I’m so glad I came home to see my family for lunch.”

Too pissed, and afraid I’ll say something I might regret later, I don’t bother answering him. And the smart man he is, doesn’t follow me.

While I’m laying Zoe down, I think about everything he said. While he’s in the wrong, he also made a valid point about being appropriate in front of his men. Not wanting to fight with him over something so trivial, when I get back downstairs, I look for him to apologize, but he’s already gone. Great, now I’m going to need to make sure this dinner is extra perfect because if I know my husband, he’s going to come home cranky as hell later.

Chicken Parmesan-check.

Pasta and sauce-check.

Salads-check.

Wine-check.

Oh! The bread.

Remembering I placed it in the warmer, I run back into the kitchen to grab it. Since my mom has Zoe, and I’m making this dinner for Kostas, I frosted Zoe’s cupcakes and put them away. I figure we can make our wish tomorrow. One day won’t make a difference. Plus, with Kostas being all growly, I figured the best way to calm him down will be to ply him with his favorite food, since I’m on my period and can’t have sex with him. If he’s extra cranky, I’ll give him head. That always softens him up.

I hear the door open then slam shut, and then Kostas’s voice booms throughout the house.

Great, just as I thought…he’s cranky.

“I don’t give a fuck what he said,” he barks into the phone. “I’ve had enough of this back and forth bullshit. I want answers!”

With the bread basket in my hands, I’m stepping into the dining room, when I see Kostas already in there. He yells some more at whoever he’s on the phone with, and then, like it’s happening in slow motion, his fist comes out and swipes at the items on the table. The wine glasses shatter, the chicken parmesan splatters, and the salads fly through the air.