Russian Mobster’s Blackmailed Bride by Bella Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

sliding glass door that led to the terrace. Had he lost his mind? What would possess him to even think such a thing?
    The day seemed to lose some of its shine. Anatoly scowled and sat down in his usual spot. The breakfast was suddenly less pleasing. His eggs appeared runny, and the toast looked burnt. He picked up his coffee and realized that it had cooled to an unpleasant temperature.
    “David!” he shouted to get the waiter’s attention. “Get me some fresh coffee. And why is this toast black? Do you really think I like my breakfast half runny and half burned? Seriously! It’s not that hard!”
    David raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He never would. And really, why was Anatoly yelling at the man anyway? Groaning, he put his head in his hands and wondered if he was really losing his mind.
    “Are you all right?”
    Trisha’s soft voice was almost his undoing. After everything that had happened between the two of them, why would she even care? Or was she just pretending to care because she needed him in order to have her little vacation and get away from her overbearing father?
    “I’m fine,” he said curtly.
    She drew back, her brow furrowed and her expression confused. Then he felt bad. There was nothing calculating about Trisha. She wasn’t at all like Bianka. She didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of his temper even if he was uncertain about her motives. It was time to take a step back and be cautious without making her overly suspicious. Discovering people’s true motives was always so much easier that way.
     
    TRISHA COULD NOT figure out what was up with Anatoly. The guy had epic mood swings. One second he was charming, and the next he was a total ass. Now he was smiling, and she was almost afraid to say another word lest she tip him in the other direction.
    She sat down at the table and gingerly reached for the carafe of orange juice. The sweet scent of the juice put her in mind of home. She felt a pang of nostalgia and a hint of doubt. Was she doing the right thing? Not that she really had any choice. For all that Anatoly appeared to be relaxed, Trisha had a feeling he would be back to the domineering overlord if she even mentioned leaving.
    “So what would you like to do this morning?” he asked with an expression of indulgence.
    Trisha tried not to gape at him. Was this guy unbalanced? “I suppose telling you that I’d like to go catch my flight at the airport would be pointless?”
    “Completely pointless, especially now that you’ve shared that you don’t particularly want to go home.” He sat back in his seat. A uniformed waiter set another breakfast tray in front of him, complete with coffee. Anatoly picked it up without even acknowledging the man. “So I believe we can dispense with the lie of your wanting to go home.”
    “How about if I say that I’d like to go retrieve my stuff.” Trisha gestured to the little black dress she was still wearing. The garment was in need of attention, and she was in need of her clothing. “It would be a real pleasure to wear clean clothes.”
    “We can just shop for new things.” He gave an airy wave of his hand.
    “I don’t want new things,” she said quietly. Trisha sipped her juice and picked at a thin pastry they called blini . “I have other personal items along with my luggage. Not to mention all of my books and things from my study abroad program. I would like to have that stuff. And I’d rather wear my old clothes than buy new ones.”
    “You don’t like to shop?” He was eyeing her as though she were a creature from another planet.
    “No.” Trisha shot him a dirty look. “Why is it that men always assume a woman likes to shop? It’s really rather annoying. I hate shopping. I hate trying on clothes. I buy most of my stuff online and avoid malls like the plague.”
    “You are right.” He placed his palm over his heart. “I will cease and desist all stereotyping.”
    “Thank you.”
    “But you have to quit thinking of me as