Page 157 of Dance of Devils

The little bitch scrambles from his seat andliterally hides behind Dimitriwhen I jump to my feet.

“Kir,please,” Dimitri growls. “Sit. I have a daughter the same age as the girls at his club. Believe me, I don’t work with pieces of shit like him willingly.”

Lou scowls at Dimitri as he takes his seat again.

“Let’s talk about the girl you’re living with, Kir.”

I stiffen. “I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Dimitri. It’sdefinitelynot his.”

“Well…” Dimitri clears his throat. “Unfortunately, Kir, it isbothof our concerns. This dancer…aballetdancer, I’m told… You are…involvedwith her?”

“I’m not answering that.”

Dimitri smirks. “She’s living in your house, Kir.”

“It’s a large house.”

He eyes me and sighs. “Regardless, Mr. Cassavetti would like his dancer back.”

I bark a cold, mirthless laugh. “I’m sorry, are you being funny?”

Dimitri sighs even more heavily. “Mr. Cassavetti performs an important service for me, Kir. And again, he and his business are under my protection. What you stole from him ispartof that?—”

“He has an inability to hear the wordno. What I took out of his grabby little hands is aperson, Dimitri. Not a cog in someone’s business. Aperson.”

He exhales, nodding slowly. “I understand. But, Kir, it would go a long way with me if you were to?—”

“She’s ahuman being, Dimitri,” I snarl. “She’s not being returned like a piece of merchandise. If you push on this, I’m getting up and walking away right now.”

He holds his hands up. “Okay, okay. I hear you.” He turns to look at Lou with contempt. “It’s off the table.”

Lou scowls. “But?—”

Lou yelps when Dimitri slaps his face.

“I said the matter isoff the table.” Dimitri glares at him. “If I hear anything more about you mistreating those girls, I’ll kill you myself. Understood?”

Lou nods miserably, slumping back in his chair.

Dimitri turns back to me. “Now, this ballerina… I’m told she’s quite good.”

I say nothing. Dimitri’s jaw sets a little.

“So good that I hear rumors of her auditioning for theBallet Imperiya Korona.”

Shit.

He clucks his tongue. “Imagine that. A pretty girl, living in your house. You, with your close personal ties to Ivan Yelchin. Which—and stop me if I’m wrong—this girl of yours is almost certainly aware of.”

I stand from the table and calmly button my jacket. “If your intentions were to invite me here for a chat about my personal life, you could have said so earlier, Dimitri.” I level an icy look at Lou. “And you probably could have left this motherfucker in the urinal where you found him.”

Lou glares death at me. But it’s Dimitri who actually looks angrier.

“Do not make the mistake of confusing my friendly disposition during our negotiations as weakness or stupidity, Kir,” he growls. “I know you’ve been coaching Ms. Ellis. I don’t think I have to tell you that you doing so makes medoubt the future of our arrangement.” He levels a cold look at me. “Should it be anyone but my Inessa who is offered that apprenticeship, wehave no deal.” He drums his fingers against his glass again. “In fact, Kir, we’ll havewar.”

I tilt my head. “And here I thought we were moving past the violence and stupidity of our fathers.”

“Deals require a sacrifice on both sides to be equitable, Kir. You’re getting New York. Apparently, you’re getting the girl, too.Take them. If you push back on theImperiya Koronaquestion, I can promise you…” His eyes turn icy. “Youwilllose.”