Page 18

Chapter

Eighteen

EVIE

“ Y ou came for me.”

Dimitri gives me a soft look before turning his eyes back to the road. “Of course, I did. I knew going with Juno wouldn’t be good. I wasn’t sure what she was capable of.”

“Thank you, Dimitri.” I cover his hand resting on the center console. “You’re always saving me. I wish I could do the same for you with Abram.”

He intertwines our fingers together. “I don’t need you to do that for me. All I need is for you to be safe. If you’re safe, then I’m good.”

“I can’t believe I feel for Juno’s antics. I really thought she missed me.”

“You know, if my father came back from the grave and told me he’d missed me, I’d want to believe him, too. I wouldn’t because I know my father was a complete asshole, but I’d want to believe. So, I get it.”

“You weren’t close with him?”

He snorts. “Hell no. I mean, we got along when I was making him proud. Doing Bratva shit, you know? ”

I don’t really want to think about all the “Bratva shit” Dimitri had to do as a boy, but I need to know. I need to know everything there is to know about my husband.

“Tell me,” I say. “What kind of things?”

There’s a shift in him. Dimitri is normally easy-going and lighthearted, but now, there’s a darkness to his eyes I’ve never quite seen before. “I told you about when he made me kill my first man when I was thirteen. At the time, I thought that was that. I thought it was over. That I wouldn’t have to do that again. But, of course, that wasn’t the end. He made me kill again and again.” His eyes get lost as he drives. I know it’s a place I can’t follow.

“All I wanted was to flirt with girls,” he continues. “Not surprising, of course. And I did. Flirt with girls. My father hated that I would get distracted by them and not do my job.”

“So, that was a young Dimitri’s problem, too?”

Some of the darkness dissipates when he laughs. “Yes. It’s always been. I’m a sucker for women. Now, just one woman.”

I roll my eyes, but my cheeks turn red. “You don’t always need to charm me.”

“I’m not trying to charm you. I’m just speaking the truth.”

The sincerity in his voices makes me almost cry. I’ve kept some of my feelings buried due to the loss of my dad. If I’m ever going to live a full life with Dimitri, I need him to know more about me, too.

“You’re the first person to make me feel this safe since my dad,” I admit. “You’re the first person to make me feel this …” Loved . I’m not sure why I hold back on the word. I’m not fully ready to go there yet. But I know in my heart it’s true.

“Thank you, Evie.” No joke. No quip. Just Dimitri being sincere. I love this side of him. “What was your dad like?”

“He was …” I smile, blinking back the tears already forming. “So kind. So giving. We never had the most money in the world, but he would always take me to soup kitchens so we could give back. He always made room to donate, either money or his time, when he could. He knew how to light up a room. His laugh. Oh my god, his laugh. It was the best. It was warm and full and always made me laugh right al ong with him. My mom passed when I was a little girl, so I barely remember her. My dad raised me. He did a good job for being a single dad. I never fully felt like I missed out on anything. But when he met Juno, I remember being excited that I’d finally get the chance to have a mom in my life.”

The tears slip down my cheeks. “But Juno proved herself to be not the mom I ever wanted. She was never overtly mean. She would just … make little comments. Little criticisms here and there. They were so subtle that my dad never picked up on them. And then when he died, it was just Juno and me. I tried to make it work with her, but she started treating me like I was nothing more than the maid. So, when she came to me this morning, telling me she missed me, I so badly wanted to believe her. I wanted to have the mom I’ve never had. But the moment we got back home, she showed me her true colors.”

“I’m sorry, Evie. That sucks never having a mom you could rely on. If it makes you feel any better, my mom popped pills so much that she was barely there. And then she died.”

“That doesn’t really make me feel any better.”

Dimitri smiles a sad smile. “Yeah, I guess not. But the good news was that my dad then met Katya’s mom, and she came into my life.”

“Katya annoys you, though.”

“Oh, she does. But she was the only family I had that I truly loved. When my dad got cancer, he told me on his deathbed to always protect her, and I’ve tried. Though god knows she doesn’t make it easy. But I tried.” He clears his throat, shaking his head subtly. “But now I also have you. I need to protect you both.”

“You’ll deal with Abram. I know you will.”

“Yeah. I just need to deal with him before he hurts someone else.”

“You will. I have complete faith in you, Dimitri.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t,” he admits.

“No. I know you come from a dark life. I know you live in that dark life. But I also know you’ve shown I can trust you. So, I trust you to deal with Abram. I trust you to keep me safe.”

When we arrive back at the hotel, Dimitri turns to me, cupping my face in his hands. “No one’s ever put their faith in me before. Not even my dad.”

“Well, I’m doing it now.”

He kisses me so deeply I feel it all the way into my toes. “I say we go back up to our hotel room and finish what we started earlier.”

My body instantly becomes alert. “Ok.” There’s nothing else for me to say.

Dimitri holds my hand as we walk into the hotel, and I’m blown away by how different our marriage has become from when we first met. I could barely look Dimitri in the eye, and now, I’m holding hands with him freely. It’s a good feeling.

We reach our hallway and pause before we enter our room.

Maxim is standing in front of our door. The moment he sees Dimitri, his eyes narrow into a glare.

“What are you doing here?” Dimitri asks. “And how did you find us?”

“Nikolai told me.”

“Of course, he did.”

“I’m here because he also told me you had a chance to go after Abram and didn’t take it. What the hell, Dimitri? I literally bled so you could go after Abram, and now, you’re just not? How can you be so selfish?”

Something rises up inside of me, and I take a step forward. “Dimitri didn’t go after Abram because he rescued me.”

Maxim looks into my eyes, without saying anything.

“I know Dimitri left you to fend for yourself,” I continue. “And that was wrong of him. But he came to save me once again. That’s not being selfish. He chose me over Abram. He chose to help me instead of getting his revenge. I don’t think that’s being selfish at all.”

When I glance back at Dimitri, I see him watching me with awe.

“You heard her,” Dimitri says to Maxim then sighs. “Listen, I know I screwed you over. And Nik told you the truth. We had another chance to go after Abram, and I didn’t take it because I wanted to make sure Evie was ok. If that makes me a bad man, then so be it. But I promise you, Maxim, I will get Abram. And you don’t have to be involved. You don’t have to put yourself at risk again. I will do this on my own. You can count on me to end this. To stop this war from continuing further.”

Maxim continues to glare at Dimitri. He’s unmovable, like a statue.

And then he finally uncrosses his arms and sighs. “I understand. You chose to save your wife, and I can’t blame you for that. I want to fucking hate you, Dimitri. It would be so easy, but somehow, you make me like you. I want Abram dealt with. I don’t want him coming after the Knights. I’ll offer my services once again, but if you fuck me over once again , then we’re done for good.”

Dimitri nods once. “Understood. I won’t fuck you over. Unless you’re into that sort of thing.” He flashes his cocky smile, and Maxim shakes his head, but there’s a small smile on his lips.

“Just keep Evie safe,” Maxim mutters. “I can’t fault you for that.” He doesn’t give either of us a backward glance as he walks away.

Dimitri opens the hotel door and motions me inside. “What can I say, Mrs. Ivanov? I’m impressed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, how you stood up for me back there.” He places his hands on my hips. “You told Maxim off. I’ve never heard that from you before.”

“Ever since I killed Dima, I’ve learned I don’t have to be so afraid any longer. I can be brave. Bold. I don’t want to be a shy little librarian any longer.”

“Shame. I thought you being a librarian was sexy.” He draws me in closer to him, making me laugh.

“I’m still going to work at the library, don’t get me wrong. I just mean that now I don’t have to live my entire life in books. I can live outside of them as well.”

“Well, speaking of living …” Dimitri traces his lips over my throat. “Now that I have you back in this room, all I can think about is throwing you onto that bed and having my way with you.”

I gasp and grip his shoulders. His strong, broad shoulders. The sheer masculinity of him makes me weak in the knees. “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

“Good.” With a quick motion, he lifts me up around the waist and sets me on the bed. His lips meet mine in a passionate kiss as our hands roam over each other’s bodies.

When Dimitri’s hands move down to my upper thighs, my body flares with arousal. I’ve never felt it this strong before, and it’s all because of Dimitri. It’s intoxicating.

I tug at his shirt and practically rip it off him. The way he smiles—knowing I’m just as desperate as he is for me—makes me blush, which only makes him smile more.

I pull his shirt down his arms, exposing his hard chest to me. Without even thinking about it, I slide my hands down his chest, feeling every muscle. Dimitri sighs. Hearing him sound so much softer and vulnerable makes me feel closer to him.

He grabs my hands and raises them above my head. “You’re not the only one who can have all the fun and games.” Keeping one of his hands holding my arms up, his other hand moves down to my legs. I open them for him.

And then Dimitri touches me exactly where I want him to.

His fingers slide underneath my panties and touch my bare skin. My body is on fire. When his fingers find my clit, my hips buck up for more. Dimitri lets out a low growl as he kisses me and moves his finger around my clit, driving me crazy. My arousal begins to seep out of me. I know Dimitri notices.

I moan as he rolls my nub around. My hips have a mind of their own, matching his pace and grinding against his hand.

“Tell me how much you like this,” he murmurs into my ear.

“Dimitri, please.”

“Tell me.” He rubs my clit harder.

“I like it. I really like it.” I’m sure my face is as red as a tomato, but I don’t care right now. All I care about is the pleasure Dimitri is showing me.

“Good. Now, tell me I’m the only man who has ever made you feel this way.”

“You are the only man who’s ever made me feel this way.”

He kisses along my neck as his fingers drive me crazy. That familiar tightening sensation in my core signals that I’m close. My hips roll around like I’m a madwoman.

Dimitri presses down just perfectly onto my clit, sending me right over the edge.

“Dimitri,” I gasp out, clinging to his shoulders. He leaves a peck behind on my neck.

“I take it you liked it.”

I can only smile as my body calms down.

He stands up and gets rid of his clothes. The sight of his naked body is a thing to behold. I could trace every ridge and nook of him with my eyes.

But Dimitri has other ideas.

He quickly removes my dress and underwear. I lie back down, ready for him to take me, but instead, Dimitri lies down on the bed.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I want you to be on top this time.”

I stare at him, unsure. What if I’m bad at it? It was easy to hide underneath his body before, but if I’m on top, all of me will be before him. I won’t be able to hide at all.

“Let’s try, and if you don’t like it, we can stop.” He grabs my hips, pulling me onto his lap. His erection is so close to my opening.

“Ok. But show me what you like?”

“God yes.” He helps me to angle my hips over his length, and then slowly, I lower myself down.

This new position makes him sink deeper into me. It’s almost too much, but I keep going. I gasp once he’s all the way inside me. My hips on either side of his hips. His hands on my waist. His eyes locked onto mine.

I feel powerful like this. Instantly, all the nerves leave me, and only desire remains.

“Ride me,” he says, making me blush, which makes him smile, and I do as he says. I begin to move my hips back and forth. Dimitri helps me find a pace and rhythm that works for us both: not too slow but not too fast. It’s just right.

My hands land on his chest to steady myself. Meeting Dimitri’s gaze leaves me hot and bothered. For just a moment, I think I might spontaneously combust.

He sits up, bringing our chests together. Every thrust of our hips makes me nipples brush his hard muscles. Goosebumps break out onto my skin.

“God, Evie,” he growls, wrapping his arms around me and somehow bringing us even closer together. Our lips are so close, both of us breathing in each other’s air, but we don’t kiss. We only lock eyes and move.

My hips grind down, moving back and forth on top of him. His erection is so deep within me, and that knowledge makes my inner walls clench around him. Dimitri’s eyes darken as he lets out a low growl. I gasp.

I grip his shoulders. God, he’s so strong. So powerful. So masculine.

I know at this moment, as I look deep into his eyes as we make love, that I love him. There’s no point in denying it.

The only question is—when will I tell him?

I know Dimitri cares for me, but does he love me? I’m a little scared to put myself out there and not receive anything in return.

But for now, I focus on the pleasure Dimitri shows my body. At this moment, we’re in perfect harmony.

Dimitri holds onto my hips, thrusting into me. I let out a soft moan and drop my head back. It feels too good to be true.

“Tell me you like this,” he says, his lips against my throat.

“I love it.”

“Fuck. Evie, I love it, too.” I can imagine him telling me he loves me, and it’s enough to make my second orgasm happen.

I arch my back against his before leaning forward and burrowing my face into his neck. Dimitri thrusts into me, once, twice, and finally a third time before he comes.

I can feel him tremble. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt Dimitri feel so … vulnerable. So human. Not the intimidating Bratva man I once thought he was.

He runs his hands up and down my back, calming me. The words I love you are on the tip of my tongue, but I hold it back. I don’t want to tell him that right after sex. I don’t want him to think it’s the sex that’s making me feel this way.

It’s not the sex. It’s him.

He lies on his back, bringing me down with him so I’m resting on his chest. “I could do that every day.”

“Only if my body allows it.”

He makes a sound deep in his chest. “I’ll make sure your body can handle it.”

“You’re awfully confident in your skills.”

“You loved it. Don’t deny.”

I meet his eyes and feel the smile that breaks out across my face—it’s pure and genuine. “I did love it.”

We continue to look at each other. I feel the words coming. I love you . Dimitri opens his lips slightly like he’s going to say something …

Then his phone rings.

We both startle, and the moment is gone.

With a sigh, Dimitri has to get up and rifle through his clothes to find his phone. “What?” he snaps into the phone. It’s on speaker, so I can hear the other person.

“We have a new lead on Abram.”

“Nik, nice to hear from you, too.”

I don’t recognize Nikolai’s voice, but I know I met his wife, Ava. I remember her from the tea function. Where I killed Tatiana.

“Did you hear me?” Nik asks. “Abram just increased his guards around his house, which means he’s inside. We know exactly where he is. Now is the time to strike. If you want to end this, Dimitri, then no walking away this time.”

He glances at me. He walked away before to save me, but I’m not in need of any saving. I nod.

Dimitri turns back to his phone. “Ok. Let’s do it. Let’s fucking kill Abram. I’ll come over to your place to discuss the details.” He hangs up. “Duty calls.”

“I can feel it in my gut. I think this is it.”

“You do? ”

“Yes. I just want us both to be safe. So, be safe. Please.”

He cups my face and leans down to give me a long, lingering kiss before pulling away. “I always am.”

I want that to reassure me and yet it doesn’t. Dimitri can be a little reckless at times. I just have to have faith in him that he will finally end things with Abram, and we can finally have peace.

“Bye,” I whisper.

“God, I want to stay here with you.”

“As you said, duty calls. I’ll be fine. Katya and I can hang out together. Keep each other safe.”

“Ok.” He gets dressed and starts to walk toward the door when he hurries back to me and gives me one more kiss.

Once we pull apart, I can’t help but feel like it was a final kiss in case we never see each other again.

And the idea of never seeing Dimitri again tears at my heart.

DIMITRI

Nik, Maxim, and I arrive at Abram’s house. We’ve also brought a whole army of men with us. Well, more like fifteen of our best gunmen to take on Abram’s guards.

No more playing games. No more trying to make peace. Abram needs to die.

“Just be careful of the girl inside,” Nik says into his phone, and he talks to the men we brought along. “She’s ten. Don’t fucking shoot her. Just kill Abram’s guards. We’ll handle Abram.”

“I want to fight,” I mutter, watching through the window as our men set off to kill Abram’s guards.

“You’re not as easily expendable,” Nik says.

“My men are not expendable,” Maxim responds.

I shake my head. “That’s something only a biker would say. In the Bratva, guards are expendable. We can always hire new ones.”

“Fucking Bratva,” Maxim mutters.

“Hey, you work with us,” I remind him .

“Only because it’s smarter to. Not because I actually like either of you.”

I smile at Nik, but he doesn’t smile back. He only sighs and stares out the car window.

Our men make quick work of the guards out front, leaving space for me to get out and head straight for Abram’s front door. Maxim and Nik are right behind me.

I kick the door open and come face to face with another guard, but one of my guys shoots him in the head. I step over the newly dead guard and make my way into the living room. But Abram isn’t there.

I check the kitchen. Empty. Except for the dead bodies of his guards.

Next, the downstairs bathroom. Nothing.

The fucker must be upstairs. He has to be.

I hurry to the second floor and check every room, but Abram and Maria aren’t there.

“You didn’t accidently kill them, did you?” I ask my men once I come back downstairs.

“We just killed the guards as you said, boss,” my man James says.

I set my angry gaze onto Nik. “You said Abram would be here.”

“I thought he was. My intel said he was. He must have snuck away without anyone noticing.”

“So, he could be anywhere. That’s just fucking great.” I look around at Nik and Maxim and all our men. “So, where the fuck is he?”

EVIE

Katya and I stay in her hotel room, watching reality TV, which is surprisingly addicting.

“I told you that you’d love The Bachelor ,” Katya says, nudging me. “I’m glad you’re finally giving it a chance.”

“But why does he even like Kendall? She’s nothing but drama.”

“That’s the fun part. It’s insane that he likes her, but he does, and that’s what makes for good TV. ”

I smile. “I missed this, you know. Us just hanging out. Feeling normal again.”

“I missed it, too. You know, Evie, I’m so sorry I brought you to Dimitri’s stupid ‘find a wife’ party in the first place. I never should have.”

“Katya, you have nothing to apologize for. You just wanted me to get out of my shell, and it worked. I’m not as afraid of life as I once was. You’ve helped me with that. So has Dimitri.”

“You actually like my brother?”

“I love him.” I finally admitted it out loud, and I can’t take it back.

Katya’s eyes widen. I’m prepared for her to tell me I’m crazy, but instead, she nods. “Ok. I’m glad. Everything will be easier if you love him. Now, I don’t have to worry about you two breaking up and never getting to see you again.”

“Katya, no matter what would happen between Dimitri and me, we’ll always be friends. That will never change.”

“You better fucking believe it.”

We share a laugh and continue watching the horrible date Eric and Shana are on. I could get used to reality TV and laughing with my best friend and being in love with Dimitri.

Then a knock on the door makes us both sit up straight. Katya turns the TV off and grabs the gun Dimitri gave her.

“Evie, it’s me.”

“Juno,” I say, surprised. I’m not exactly shocked she’s back. She’s never one to give up. I need to end things with her once and for all.

I get up.

“Wait, Evie—” Katya starts to say, but I’ve already opened the door.

Juno is there.

But standing next to her is Abram.