Page 29 of Beautiful Secrets

I storm into the bathroom and press the door closed as silently as I can.

She’s worth nothing if I destroy her. And as much as I just want to fuck her, I can’t allow myself to touch her.

She’s Dimitri’s daughter—but she doesn’t deserve that. Mika was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Somewhere I’ve been plenty of times before.

I go to wash my face, and glare at my reflection. I’m looking a bit peaky, but it’s not surprising if you take into account the past twenty-four hours.

My phone rings.

“Da,” I answer, giving myself a rictus grin in the mirror.

“Ten million,” Dimitri says.

The cool metal edges of the phone bite into my fingers as I tighten my grip. “I don’t want your fucking money.”

“Nine million.”

“Iwillkill her.” I push the words through my teeth.

“Eight million.”

“She’s got such pretty little fingers and toes. Which shall I start chopping off first?”

“Five million,” Dimitri says through a laugh. “And I’ll consider leaving your brother and his precious family out of this.”

I hold the phone away from my ear, my hand shaking so much with rage that I only end the call on the second attempt. I slam my fist into the mirror, turning my flushed reflection into a thousand fun-house versions of the original.

That fucker! I’m not surprised he wants to drag Kill into this—after all, he probably thinks my brother’s gone soft.

The problem is, he’s right.

The right thing to do would be to take Mika back. Get the five mill, move on with my life.

Or I could send a message to Dimitri. Make him understand just how serious I am.

A toe should do the trick.

I turn, a cruel smile lifting my mouth as I open the bathroom door.

Or maybe even that video.

11

Mika

The instant Cole closes the bathroom door behind him, I am on my feet. My mind races, my heart thumps, but I am only focused on one thing—the bedroom. That is where his suit is. That is where the elevator key is. Also—God, I hope—where I will find my passport and money.

How could I have thought he wouldn’t hurt me? Kidnappers are notoriously cruel.

When I was little, my elder sister, Zaneta, told me plenty of horror stories about kidnappings gone wrong. What those savage men would do to their captives if the money didn’t come soon enough—or at all.

I know I haven’t seen enough of the world to be considered worldly or wise, but I’m genuinely kicking myself for being so damn naive.

Cole is not special.

He is just like any of those cold-hearted men. The way he touched me back there proves it.