5

Awakened by the harsh sun beating directly on my face through the huge window, it took me a few quiet moments to realize where I was.

On the eventful day one could have thought that it was all a dream, but that was not the case.

I was still married and I probably lived in the most beautiful villa of them all.

Still slightly exhausted from my almost sleepless night, I got up yawning and first stroked Nero's fur, which was right in front of my bed and looked like he had to urgently.

"We'll go right away," I said to him with a smile and in the same moment I realized that he didn't understand me, but I loved the way he cocked his head and listened to my voice.

Grinning at my faithful companion, I got up and walked with him to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water. I would have loved to brush my teeth or at least take a shower, but I had to go shopping first.

I then carefully padded down the stairs and only stopped when I arrived in the living room and saw Rian through the long window front.

He stood there frozen, gazing out to sea, wearing only black boxer shorts, which gave me my first glimpse of the many tattoos that made his body so special.

Very quietly, I walked closer to the window across the dark wooden floor to take a closer look at the lines. I've always had a passion for art. Painted and drew every free minute I had, and as much as I resisted, the sight of those lines on his tanned skin magically fascinated me...

"Apparently you like it," Senan tore me out of my rigidity and shocked at his sudden appearance, I grabbed my heart with wide eyes and turned to face him.

He was standing behind the kitchen island in a white tank top, mug in hand, his brown hair falling in a mess about his face.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, nervously walking towards him.

"Long enough to know you think that block of ice out there is hot," he grinned stupidly, and I rolled my eyes and took a seat on one of the tall stools directly across from him.

"Certainly not. I was just admiring the tattoos," I explained, slightly irritated, suddenly watching him take off his tank top with a skillful grip.

"And?"

I looked confused into his dark eyes and didn't know at that moment what he wanted from me. Senan was really inscrutable with his slightly provocative manner.

"So what?" I wanted to know and looked around behind him to see if there was any coffee left for me somewhere.

"Fascinating," he then laughed and got dressed again. "My tattoos are much more complex than his and yet you seem to be attracted to his. You didn't even notice mine."

"That's a difference too!" I defended myself, although I shouldn't really care what he thought. "You're standing right in front of me and watching me. He's standing with his back to me and I'm allowed to take a look."

Senan grinned so stupidly that I wanted to smack his cup out of his hand. Now I even understood Rian, who yesterday had knocked a champagne glass away from me.

"Does that mean you're secretly watching me, too?" he suddenly breathed seductively and leaned forward a bit to get dangerously close to my face. He let his gaze wander over my neckline and as great as I thought it was yesterday, it was all the more uncomfortable for me now.

"Senan!" Luckily for me, Rian interrupted this funny mood and immediately Senan turned away from me to give his brother a provocative look while the oxygen slowly found its way back into my lungs. I hadn't even realized that I had inadvertently stopped breathing.

"Just kidding, so calm down. I'll let Nero out so you can have some alone time."

You could almost hear how funny he was about everything, but I didn't pay any more attention to him because I suddenly saw a coffee pot in front of me, which he had previously kept hidden behind his body.

I got up in a hurry and wanted to look for a cup, but before I could even open a cupboard, I felt Rian's presence behind me and turned to him hesitantly.

Leaning casually against the island, he eyed me so intently that I felt the warmth in my cheeks and the pounding in my chest to the fullest.

"Upstairs on the right," he said casually, averting his gaze from my eyes to take a quick look at my butt before he turned around and disappeared back outside.

Is everyone crazy here?

The question answered itself when Odran came down the stairs, yawning. At least he was fully clothed.

"Morning," he murmured, stepping next to me to put two mugs on the counter in front of me for both of us. Before he could reach for the pot, I got ahead of him and poured us both some of the fragrant, black pick-me-up.

"Tell me-"

"No," I immediately replied, giving me a quick look. "No conversations before my first coffee," he then added seriously and I looked deep into his blue eyes while he must have been waiting for my reaction.

"Got it, boss," I then raised my eyebrow and watched him sit over on the leather couch and turn on the TV.

Great morning. One provokes, the second ignores, and the third would probably put a bullet in you if you talked too much before the first coffee.

When I no longer thought about these crazy people here and was already thinking about what else I would have to buy to survive here, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Odran looked at me questioningly as if I lived here and when he then nodded towards the door, I just shook my head stupidly and ran to the front door.

Could they do anything on their own?

"You!" a redhead suddenly yelled at me, who stared at me angrily and immediately stormed past me into the living room.

I looked at Odran, who rolled his eyes annoyed and drank his coffee in one gulp. Apparently he knew her and wanted to get the first cup over with quickly.

"So you're the bitch that stole the man from me!!!"

She narrowed her eyes at me while I didn't really know what to say to that.

"First of all, he's my husband," I tried to calmly explain the situation, briefly looking at her getup.

Tight black jeans, a yellow top and that fiery red hair. She was really pretty, but surely all women who had anything to do with Rian were like that.

At my testimony, she bared her teeth like a maniac, and when she pulled a pistol out of her small purse and pointed it at me, shakily, I knew this day was about to get even crappy than it already was.

Great vacation!

***

RIAN’S POV

Taking a deep breath, I stood at the edge of our patio and watched Senan walk along the deserted beach with Nero.

He knew perfectly well that I could hear him from outside. Knew exactly how he could provoke me and it really took all my strength not to just punch him in his fucking face.

But then he would know immediately that I liked the little one, and I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

Nobody was allowed to know that and I didn't want to admit it myself either...

Getting involved with someone was letting your heart go and the other person was in total control of you and in my position to lose control could cost me my life so no matter how cute I found her bitchy ways I had to definitely avoid.

Then, suddenly, when my mind wandered to last night and that shy look in my mind again, I felt that fucking tingling in my stomach and cursed not having had her sister.

I had seen her in the white dress and there was nothing. I didn't like her and this arranged marriage would have been perfect.

Now I had this bundle of energy around me who even managed to chase Blondi away yesterday without batting an eyelid.

"Fucking shit," I cursed under my breath, ruffling my black hair. I needed to clear my head, but at the moment I didn't know how I would ever do it with her presence.

Never before had a woman managed to capture my mind in such a short time. I used to only take women I knew I wouldn't burn myself on because they were either totally stupid or totally interchangeable, but Keeva wasn't that.

Although she was shy, she was also strong and courageous. Was pretty but not conceited and although she certainly didn't feel comfortable here, she didn't let it show on her own.

All in all she was perfect as a sham wife, but unfortunately I already had the feeling that I was losing my control with her...

When a ringing at the door snapped me out of my thoughts, I turned curiously and walked slowly around the pool, then watched as Pirina aimed a gun at Keeva, who even now seemed perfectly calm.

Either she was suicidal or gypsies had more balls themselves than we did in the mafia.

"You lousy asshole!" Pirina then turned to me and without showing any emotion I walked towards her step by step while she pointed her pistol at me.

I felt Keeva's worried look on me and Odran also got up from the couch nervously, but what struck me most was how Pirina's hand holding the gun was shaking.

Someone who looked that nervous wouldn't pull the trigger. Also, she loved me after I shagged her mind more than once, and that's when I had an idea of how to nip my budding feelings for Keeva in the bud once and for all.

"Pira, sweetie," I addressed her with a mischievous smile, and glancing at Keeva, I saw her bewilderment at my words. There was no need to control myself. It would be enough to get Keeva to stay away from me.

Pirina's gaze lingered on my lips and as I stopped right in front of her, gun trembling against my chest, I cupped her neck and pressed my lips to hers fiercely while my gaze drifted to Keeva, who looked less than thrilled about it .

It hurt, but it was for her good... and mine, too.

I quickly broke away from her and looked deep into her poisonous green eyes, which were already covered by a veil of lust, but it wasn't them that drew me under their spell, but rather the fawn-colored eyes of the woman who were in this moment turned away from us and stormed out to the terrace.

A pang of guilt washed over me, but I swallowed the bitter feeling and stifled it to focus on Pirina.

"Let go," I whispered to her soothingly, wrapping my hand around the gun, which she immediately let go.

"Rian," she breathed almost tormented, putting her trembling hands on my chest. "Please don't tell me you traded me for that."

She said those words with such contempt that I immediately put my hand around her neck and squeezed hard, her eyes widening and sheer panic flashing in them.

"One more bad word about her and that gun will be pointed at you and now fuck off and don't come back here!"

Actually, I wanted to have fun with her to put Keeva away, but I didn't like her using such words towards her at all.

Did she seriously think she was any better with her makeup-covered face and fake tits? On the contrary, she was just one of many.

"Rian," I then heard Odran's voice and only now noticed how Pirina was already gasping for air and then let go of her to put the gun away and turn away from her.

"Throw her out and tell John not to let her in here again!"

Pirina howled, Odran nodded and already he grabbed her arm and led her out of our villa.

My gaze immediately went to the window front, but I didn't see Keeva. She was probably down to the beach and now she was thinking of something else.

She should be quiet. It was my intention to turn her against me and I just hoped she would really stay away from me.