Deceitful Vows (Marital Privileges #2)

26. Zoya

26

ZOYA

“ T hank you so much.”

For the first time in the history of hitchhiking, my savior dips his chin in gratitude for my praise before he signals to veer back into the heavy flow of traffic on I-25.

I can’t recall the last time I wasn’t expected to hand over a sexual favor for a two-minute trip, so to say I’m shocked he drove me over twenty miles without a single innuendo exchanged would be a major understatement.

I’m flabbergasted.

It isn’t like it would have been a hard feat. The driver is sexy, and I’m hyped up on the endorphins my stomp over Andrik’s manicured lawns didn’t deplete in the slightest. They’re thrumming through my body like I wasn’t rejected like a broken toy, and not even the fury I feel when I lock eyes with a familiar pair over the roof of my savior’s car trumps the knowledge that only Andrik could douse the flames his presence ignites.

When Mikhail smirks like he knows none of the redness on my cheeks is from embarrassment, my first thought is to run.

It’s a pity for him I’m hormonal all year round instead of twelve precise weeks.

Gravel kicks up around my feet when I make a beeline for the man who dumped me in the Pacific Ocean’s equivalent of shit creek without a paddle. It dusts my shoes with dirt. I’m not bothered. The sooty coating protects the velour material from the droplets of blood that drip from Mikhail’s nose when I sock him in the face.

“Whoa. What the fuck?” Mikhail stammers as he staggers backward.

My hit didn’t drop him to the ground as I’d hoped, but I get mammoth satisfaction from the red ooze dribbling from his nose.

“If this is about your dilated eyes and sweaty neck, you need to step the fuck back, Sunshine. I didn’t know he was going to be there.”

When I rear my arm back for another punch, my stance showing I’ll accept nothing below a knockout this time, he partially backtracks on his lie.

“ This time. I didn’t know he was going to be there this time.”

“You sent me to his home! Of course he was going to be there.”

“He has hundreds of homes. A dozen in this state alone. How was I to know—” His words cut off when I attempt to strike him for the second time.

He catches my fist seconds before it collides with his nose and then uses his grip on my hand to spin me away from him and yank me back until I’m cocooned by his body.

If he thinks our difference in height and build will protect him from my onslaught, he’s dead wrong.

I headbutt him before stomping on his foot. Then I bob low, bump him back half an inch with an ass nudge, before slamming my elbow into his crotch.

Now he drops like a bag of shit.

“Jesus… Christ… Sunshine. You got me in my left nut.” His face reddens more with each word he speaks, growing along with the painful glint in his eyes.

It almost has me feeling sorry for him.

Almost.

As I race for the closest trucker, I say, “Stay out of my life, Mikhail.”

He wheezes, coughs, and sputters before he shakes his head. “I… can’t… do that, Sunshine.”

I whip around so fast my hair slaps my face. “Why? Because you get pleasure tormenting me?” When he remains quiet, guilt stealing his words, I thrust my hand in the direction I came from. “He’s married, Mikhail, so why do you keep dangling him in front of me like that doesn’t matter?”

“Because it doesn’t.” For someone with one nut now larger than the other, he talks remarkably fast. “She doesn’t mean anything to him. He doesn’t love her. He?—”

I jump the gate with my reply to ensure he can’t try to convince my heart that any of its foolish notions over the past month are plausible. “Then he should leave her.” I get two steps away before the man-hating devil on my shoulder demands the chance to be heard. “Or better yet, she should leave him. Even if there is a prenup, they rarely protect adulterers. She could take him to the cleaners, and I’ll be more than happy to testify on her behalf to make sure she gets every penny she deserves.”

Mikhail smiles, and it instantly conjures up memories of the man I’m endeavoring to hate.

Bastard!

“You don’t mean that, Sunshine.”

“Wanna bet?”

After hitting him with a scorn hot enough to burn, I recommence my travels.

I barely get two steps away when four short words immediately end my campaign to escape. “Zoya. Is that you?”

I crank my neck to the voice so fast that I almost give myself whiplash. Unfortunately, the platinum-blonde locks and unblemished face I am seeking don’t belong to the voice’s owner, but she is a very close second.

“Shevi?” I murmur, unsure if my rummage through the tumbleweeds in my head is up to the task so soon after a near orgasmic eruption and mental meltdown.

Shevi has been Aleena’s best friend since kindergarten. The last time I laid eyes on her, she had braces and pigtails. She wasn’t the exotic beauty standing across from me now.

“Yes.” She gleams. “I can’t believe you remember me.”

I’m taken aback when she races for me before throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tight. The only female affection I’ve received in the past twelve years is from Nikita, and she’s stingy when it comes to friendly PDA.

After embracing me long enough for Mikhail to make a full recovery, Shevi inches back until we’re eye to eye. “I’m sorry we missed you at the fitting. Aleena…” Her pause gives my heart time to recover from the mention of my baby sister’s name. “Gosh. Not even those handful of times we managed to sneak out tainted how angelic she looked in her dress.” She bumps me with her hip. “The dress fitter didn’t even ask if she should consider an ivory gown instead of the pure white Dina demanded.” She rolls her eyes like I do anytime I mention my mother’s name. “Even though I despise her more than chicken strips with no ranch dressing, I couldn’t disagree with her decision. The dress she picked for Aleena is perfect. She is going to be the most beautiful bride.”

“Aleena is getting married?” The words shoot out of my mouth before I can stop them. I’m too shocked to play the cool cucumber I’m meant to be when associating with my little sister’s best friend.

“Yeah… ah…” Shevi’s sigh rustles the hair clinging to my neck. It isn’t hot. I just haven’t cooled down enough from my exchange with Andrik just yet. “I’m sorry. I assumed you knew. It’s new. Her fiancé is…”

I wait and wait and wait for her to continue.

It is a very long thirty seconds.

“He’s handsome,” she eventually settles on. “And rich. And?—”

“Is she happy?” I interrupt, more concerned about Aleena’s well-being than a stranger I will most likely never meet.

Shevi’s eyes flick past me for the quickest second before she faintly nods. “Yes. She’s happy. Very happy.”

The weight of a mountain shifts off my shoulders, and tears prick my eyes. Those last two words are all I’ve ever wanted. They bring so much closure and make up for the horrible things I had to endure to achieve them.

“I’m sorry, Zoya, I have to go.” Shevi signals to a man at the end of the lot that she won’t be a minute before she gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “But we will talk more soon.” She smiles. It is full of hesitance. “We have a heap of wonderful events coming up, so I am sure we will bump into each other again.” After a final squeeze, she murmurs goodbye before hotfooting it to the dark-haired man waiting for her.

I’m so stunned by her confession that my sister is getting married that I don’t object to Mikhail butting shoulders with me to watch her exit. We stand in silence for several long minutes, the quiet only ending when a truck driver sounds his horn, requesting we move from the middle of the dusty lot so he can exit without running us over.

“Can I?—”

“Nope,” I answer before Mikhail can finalize his question, walking away from him.

“He’ll—”

I silence him with an action this time instead of words. I hold the dirtbox he gifted me last month in the air before clicking the button.

I told myself I was being neurotic when I put it in my purse. Andrik hadn’t made a single effort to find me.

Now I realize it was the smartest thing I’ve done all month.