Page 8 of The Hunted Wife

Adam cleared his throat and the swung his arm out to take in the entire room. “This is our room. I hope you like it.”

“It’s beautiful.” This is where I’ll be sleeping with Adam. Am I ready for this? I don’t even know this man. Well, as the old saying goes, you’ve made your bed now lie in it.

He placed her suitcases on the bed. “I’ll leave you to unpack. If you need anything, just call out. I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Millie nodded. “Okay, will do.” She moved to the bed and opened both suitcases.

Adam left the room.

She unpacked and, by moving his parents clothes to one side of the closet, found room in there for her things. The same happened with the drawers on the bureau. She moved the contents to the left side and middle of the bureau until she had created enough room for not only her clothes but Adam’s as well. When she was done she headed down to the kitchen.

Adam was sitting at the table with a mug of coffee.

“I hope there’s some of that coffee left. It smells wonderful.”

He turned and smiled. “Just made a fresh pot.” Adam stood and headed to the cupboards, where he pulled out a mug and filled it for her. “Come sit.” He waved his arm at the table. “Do you take anything in your coffee?”

“Nope. Just black. We never had the money for cream and sugar when I was growing up, so when I sipped from my parents cups it was black coffee and I learned to like it.” She sat across the table from him. Of course, now her father was a Pakhan in the Bratva and money was no longer scarce.

“While you were unpacking the brothers and I brought in the groceries and put them away.”

Millie looked at the sink, stove and counters. “Before I can do any cooking this kitchen needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom.” She sipped her coffee. The drink was rich and the flavor delighted her tongue. “You make pretty good coffee.”

Adam wrapped his hands around his mug. “Thanks. It’s the one thing that all of us are good at.”

“I’ll finish this coffee and then get after cleaning. I can get something ready for dinner in probably two hours. Have any requests?”

“Steak. We always have steak on grocery day.”

“Okay, steak it is. But if you want them grilled someone else will have to do it.” Millie cupped the mug with her hands.

“I do it, and yes, we do have them grilled.”

“Good. One less thing to think about.” She took another sip of coffee, looked into the mug and was surprised to find it nearly gone. She obviously was drinking it faster because she was nervous. “I thought I’d start a load of laundry while I clean the kitchen.”

Adam reached out and placed his hand on Millie’s arm. “You don’t have to do everything at once, Millie. You’ll be here for a long time.”

“Yes, and I want that time to be pleasant. I don’t want to ever see this house in this condition again. It’s much too beautiful to be mistreated the way you all have since your parents passed.”

Adam furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes. “It’s not for lack of trying. We simply don’t know how. Which is why I married you, or have you forgotten already?”

She stiffened her back. “I’ve forgotten nothing, Adam Sullivan. Absolutely nothing.”

“Good. If we stick to our agreement, all should be well.”

She hoped he was right, and that Sokolov wouldn’t find her. If he did, then all bets were off, because she would run the first chance she had. After all she had no desire to die.

Chapter 3

Millie had sliced, fried potatoes, crisp green beans, fresh baked dinner rolls and corn-on-the-cob on the table and ready for dinner. For drinks, she’d prepared iced tea and had a glass at each plate.

Adam grilled the steaks outside on the barbecue.

Suddenly she heard the most god-awful sound which she recognized as a triangle being rung.

Her brothers-in-law entered from both doors to the kitchen…talking…laughing and generally having a good time. They were covered in dust, had smudges of dirt on their faces and tracked muddy footprints on her clean floor, which ticked her off. Would it have been so hard to wipe their feet before entering. None stopped at the sink or headed to the bathroom to wash up. They sat and started eating before Adam even entered the kitchen.

Millie had had manners drilled into her growing up. She swore she still had marks on her elbows from when she’d been poked for having them on the table. The more Millie watched their boorish behavior, the angrier she became. She finally got a pan and a metal spoon. She went back to the end of the table where she sat and started banging on the pot with the spoon. The sound was deafening.