Page 67 of Ruthless Love

“But you still have your name. A lineage that spans hundreds of years. And brought you a prince like Dimitri—a man willing to set aside your lackluster looks or scandalous affair and still take you back. You’re practically American royalty, and with Dimitri, you’ll be in an international class so far above everyone, you’ll need only snap your fingers and your servants, private jets, and luxury escapes will be at your beck and call.” The manic shimmer in my father’s eyes dims as his voice lowers to unleash a threat. “But cross me now, Evelyn, and I’ll destroy you.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt you would.” Anger sours my throat, transforming into an uncontrollable wave of bitter, undenied tears. “God, I’ve wasted all these years, doing everything I could to give you the power and status you craved. Giving up my own dreams to keep you center stage. Carrying Alan’s burdens like they were my own. I spent years erasing every indiscretion from the courts and the press. Is this why Mom left you to pursue her freedom without a dime? Did you threaten her too?”

Tired, he shakes his head with a wry smile. “No, Evelyn. I didn’t threaten your mother. I didn’t have to. She left because she was scared the truth would come out. That I would find out about you. Little did she know I already knew. I’ve always known.”

I have no way of comprehending what he’s saying, or why, but when his bony hands cradle my face, his eyes turn black and cold. “You see, my dear, your mother’s past is peppered with one foul indiscretion after the other. You’re not my daughter. And I’m not sure even she knows who your father is. You’re just some bastard child who got a life of privilege on my dime.”

Stunned, I don’t know if he’s lying or not. Fucking with my head for his own sick pleasure, or making up some lame excuse to force me under his thumb, to do his bidding.

I don’t know, and I don’t care. What I do know is that as I deliver the hardest smack across that man’s face that I can muster, I wish for the first time in months that I was wearing Dimitri’s big-ass ring.

Straightening himself and smoothing the lines of his custom-tailored Saville Row suit, the man I once thought of as my father looks down on me. I stick out my chin, accustomed to the view.

“Oh, Evelyn. Such a typical move from a thick little girl.”

“Enough,” Dimitri says, reminding me that he’s been in the room the entire time. “As arousing as it is watching my future wife slap you around, your time’s up, Garrett.”

“But—”

At the snap of Dimitri’s fingers, Alexei appears from the corridor and lays a surprisingly light hand on my arm.

“Show Ms. Banks to her suite. And make sure she stays there.”

Alexei is firm but gentle with me. I make a feeble attempt to pull my elbow from his hand, but his grip tightens effortlessly. And fuck, my phone is in the car.

“Let go of me,” I spit out, my anxiety skyrocketing as I’m dragged away.

“Get comfortable, Evelyn,” Dimitri says, unconcerned at my new status as his hostage. “We’ll be married tomorrow. Try to rest. If you fuss too much, we’ll have to sedate you.”

Dimitri has never threatened me before, and it kills all the fight in me. I know he’ll carry through. Everything that Margot tried to warn me about him is true.

People get hurt. Go missing.

I do my best to stay calm. Thinking—hoping and praying—that I’ll find some way out of this.

Before I get hurt. Or go missing.

Chapter Forty

EVIE

The sunlight streaking through the windows means that at some point between endlessly searching the spacious second-story quarters for a weapon or some form of escape, I fell asleep, only to wake on what’s threatened to be my wedding day.

Ignoring the wardrobe of couture clothing in the walk-in closet bigger than my living room, I’m still in the clothes I wore yesterday. A consequence I’m grateful for when there’s a knock at the door.

Frantic, I rush off the bed, grabbing the first thing I can. The fireplace poker is cold but solid in my hands, and easy enough to hoist over my head. As soon as the door opens and Dimitri’s head is in view, I bring it down with all my might.

His reactions are fast—too fast.

In a swift move, he slips out of its path and yanks the poker from my hands, tossing it aside, and it clanks to its landing place across the room. Before I can say or do anything, Dimitri slips his arm around me, pulling me against him. Against his sickening erection.

My arms trapped between us, I struggle, trying to resist his tightening embrace. “I don’t know what deal you made with my father, Dimitri, but I can’t help you.”

“Oh, but you can.”

Despite my efforts, my strength is no match for his. The more I defy Dimitri, wriggling to get away, the more he laughs it off.

“You see, Evelyn, I need Banks Multimedia. I’ve got a lot of friends who are depending on me to deliver them first-rate propaganda on a US broadcaster’s silver platter. FCC rules prevent me from buying or owning more than twenty percent. Pure hatred of foreigners. But once I marry you, and your father works on my citizenship, my status is legitimate. No one would question me being the next CEO of Banks Multimedia. Especially after Alan’s tragic accident.”

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