Page 7 of Tattooed Vow

The tenderness in the gesture nearly breaks me. I step back, away from his touch.

Something glimmers in his eyes. Disappointment, maybe, or understanding. “I’m not a patient man,malyshka. But for you…” He pauses. “I’ll wait.”

I nod, unable to trust my voice. Then I leave before I change my mind and beg him not to let me go.

Back at the party, I smiled and hugged Talia goodbye. She says something sweet about staying safe, but I barely hear it over the pounding in my ears. I need out. I need space. I need to breathe.

“Are you okay?” she asks, concerned. “You look flushed.”

“Just tired,” I lie. “And maybe one glass of champagne too many.”

She doesn’t look convinced. “Did Dimitri find you? He was looking for you earlier.”

My heart skips. “Yes. We...talked.”

Talia’s eyes widen slightly. As my sister, she knows me better than anyone. “Just talked?” she smirks.

I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. “Yes.”

She smiles knowingly but doesn’t press further. “Text me when you get home, okay?”

I nod and make my escape.

The drive home is quiet. My little beater car rattles over every bump. It’s a far cry from the sleek black vehicles parked outside the Avilov estate. But it’s mine.

I think about the guys I’ve let in before. The losers and liars. The ones who wanted to fix me or break me. Nick had been charming at first, but underneath, he was just another man who couldn’t handle a woman like me. He wanted control. I wanted freedom. We were doomed from the start.

Dimitri, though…he doesn’t try to tame me. He just meets my fire with his own. And that scares the hell out of me.

At home, my orange tabby cat, Whiskey, greets me with a loud meow and a flick of his tail. I scratch his ears, toss off my heels, and grab a beer from the fridge.

The apartment is small but cozy. It has one bedroom and a tiny balcony overlooking the canal. It’s not much, but I worked hard for every piece of furniture and every painting on the wall. My independence is everything to me.

I sink onto my worn-out sofa, curl up with Whiskey, and let the alcohol dull the ache Dimitri leaves behind. My phone buzzes with a text from Talia.

Home safe?

Yes. Thanks for checking on me.

Another buzz.

Dimitri asked for your number.

My heart leaps. I stare at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.

And?

I told him he’d have to work harder than that.

I smile despite myself. Talia understands my boundaries. But Dimitri is determined to cross them.

Thank you. He is...

I delete the words. How do I describe Dimitri Popov? Dangerous? Intoxicating? A complication I can’t afford?

Persistent, Talia finishes for me.But he respects strength. And you, sis, are the strongest woman I know.

I set the phone down and lean back, closing my eyes. Whiskey purrs contentedly on my lap, oblivious to the chaos in my heart.