Page 86 of Hidden Empire

“Ready to go?” I ask, playing coy just like she did.

She nods eagerly, taking a step toward her door, only halting when I shake my head. “We’re not going that way, love.”

Jade gulps, wide eyes shooting toward the window. “You don’t mean…”

I grin, taking her hand and leading her over to it. “It’s only three floors, and besides…” Nodding at the ground below, I prompt her to do the same. “Look who’s there to catch you.”

My brother emerges from the shadow of the building, looking up so that Jade can see his face under the moonlight.

“Ivan,” she says, a smile blooming from her lips, teeth flashing and all.

“Trust us?” I ask, lowering my mouth to the shell of her ear.

Her head dips in a nod. “Always.”

Seeing Ivan flash the signal that he’s ready, I help Jade move through her window. I have her hold tightly onto my arms and anchor myself against the wall before leaning down, lowering her to a more comfortable drop point. A whistle pierces through the air, and I know Ivan is angled to catch her.

“Let go for me, baby,” I instruct quietly.

Without a glint of fear in her eyes, Jade’s hands release me, and she falls. She strikes me with the mesmerizing action, dropping right into Ivan’s waiting arms with a woosh.

“Fuck yeah!” I can hear Ivan cheer. “Good job, brave girl.”

Jade laughs with him, and my heart warms.

I get myself down easily, closing her window on my way down. Using the exposed brick and window siding, I descend quickly before dropping to the ground.

“I’m sorry you had to beat someone up for me,” Jade says softly as I find her. She’s on her feet now, hugging Ivan around his middle.

My brother chuckles but hugs her in return. “Don’t be sorry, I enjoyed it.”

“You’re not just saying that?” she asks, pulling back to watch him answer.

He shakes his head. “No, I very much liked seeing him bleed.”

Releasing him entirely, she giggles and nods to say that she believes him. “I’m sure Armani enjoyed it too. I could tell he wanted to hit him so bad. Hopefully, beating him up after the semester is over will be incentive enough to tide him over.”

Oh, she’s still so innocent.

Armani wouldn’t have settled for a few broken bones and some light internal bleeding. He’d have hunted him down like a dog, tortured him, and put him into a permanent sleep. There isn’t anything to tide him over with, though, that dirtbag was mine to dispose of, and I don’t have any restraint when it comes to my woman.

At least in regards to her protection and honoring her name.

Ivan walks with us back to our building, but he doesn’t stray once we get to my room. He’ll go to his own and keep an eye on things while we’re occupied.

“This is where I leave you,” he tells Jade, lips lifting into a lopsided grin. “Enjoy your date, and I’ll see you soon, brave girl.”

“Bye,” she says, offering a small wave as he disappears.

Unlocking my door, I open it for her and wordlessly follow her inside. She’s seen my space before, but not quite like this. This time I’ve prepared for her presence.

Candlelight flickers, filling the room with a warm orange hue. My bed is made, and every available surface is littered with tall white candles that perfume the room with the light scent of vanilla. I don’t have sweets to offer this time, mostly because I doubt she’ll be feeling snacky when she was just trying to sleep a few minutes ago.

Surprise lights up my girl’s face, her blue eyes sparkling as she looks around, a hand covering her mouth.

“Dmitri,” she whimpers, stunned as she takes a full turn, scanning every bit of the room in one go. “This is… wow.”

“You like it?”

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