Rage shot through Ted’s body in an instant. Every muscle in him trembled. That miserable Adrian was clearly behind Viktoria’s message—he had no doubt about it! He couldn’t care less why he’d done it or what had driven the Slovak man. Viktoria was pure. Innocent. A true aristocrat—every movement of hers gave it away. The way she ate, the way she lifted her glass… Even her tipsy New Year’s dancing had carried an air of elegance. Others didn’t see her that way, of course, but who cared what others thought? Only the two of them mattered.
He’d expose that pathetic little nobody, and Viktoria would be forever grateful. Maybe the news would excite her so much that, caught in the heat of the moment, she’d crawl into Ted’s lap for comfort. They’d make love—wildly, uncontrollably. Later, when they had calmed down, they’d talk it through. They’d agree that they couldn’t do this to Günter. Well… Viktoria would say that. They’d try to stay away from each other for a while, but the desire burning between them would strike with such raw force that they’d no longer care about anyone else’s feelings. One mild dawn, they’d leave the island behind for good. Run away. Somewhere far, where no one could find them…
Adrian didn’t dare say a word. He didn’t even breathe, afraid a single sound might set Ted off. He feared one wrong move and the man, now looking completely unhinged, would pounce on him with inhuman fury. He had long since regretted ringing the doorbell of the Coke bottle glasses guy. Especially since he knew full well that Ted would never, ever buy a water purifier from him—or from anyone, for that matter.
Heart pounding, he watched as the hate-filled eyes glaring at him suddenly grew distant… and then softened. Adrian’s pulse quickened. Especially when he saw the tension drain from Ted’s face and something strange—almost boyish—take its place: a faint blush. He wanted out of that house. Fast. He counted to forty under his breath, then bolted for the door. He slammed down the handle and sprinted away as fast as his legs could carry him.
By the time Ted realized Adrian had left, the Slovak man was already safe inside his own house. The man with the Coke bottle glasses fumed for a while, frustrated that he’d let Adrian get away. But in the end, he admitted to himself it wouldn’t have made any difference. That sneaky bastard would’ve denied everything anyway. And besides, he didn’t need proof. The guy had probably fallen for Viktoria. If that was true, then the Catwoman might actually be in danger. If someone was capable of such treachery just out of blind infatuation, there was no telling what else he might do. Only one thing mattered: Viktoria had to be protected from that unpredictable creep.
Doubt crept in again. How on earth was he supposed to neutralize Adrian? Could he even do it alone? He shook his head, agitated. Then, slowly—like his legs were made of lead—he climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He sank onto the edge of the bed, then collapsed sideways like a sack of bricks.
Why was he doubting himself? What did “alone” even mean? What other way was there? He had always, always had to rely on himself. He’d never had anyone. Not in any sense of the word.
He was shaking. There it was again—one more thing tormenting him lately. That damn trembling. Sometimes even his teeth chattered from the cold ripping through him. He pulled his knees up and curled into a fetal position. He had to pull himself together. A wreck couldn’t corner a sneaky little worm like Adrian, couldn’t drive him out of where he didn’t belong. And that was the goal. No less. Adrian had to disappear from the complex. For good. And he—Ted—would make sure of it. This trembling, this shivering mess he was right now—this was only temporary. It wouldn’t last. He’d give himself a few hours. After that, he’d lay out a rock-solid strategy. A thorough, foolproof master plan, covering every last detail, so nothing could slip through the cracks. Two weeks. That’s all he’d need to get rid of the bastard. And until then, he wouldn’t take his eyes off Viktoria. Not for a second. From now on, he’d watch her every step. As soon as the trembling stopped and his teeth finally quit clacking. He bit into the blanket to try to pull it over himself, but his body was too heavy to move the duvet. And he was freezing. God, he was freezing. Even his hands refused to obey him, too stiff from the cold to function…