Page 69 of Ruthless Love

Snarling, he says, “Call him now.”

How Alexei got my phone, I don’t know, but he has it. He swipes the screen, then holds the phone to my face as it rings.

When Austin answers, I don’t have time to say much. Steadying my voice is impossible, so I go slowly. Calmly. Until each word comes out. “Aus-s-stin. Come over. Right now.”

“Where are you?”

The concern in his voice makes me tremble. Makes me wish I could warn him. Tell him something. Anything. That’s just for us.

“I’m fine,” I say, slamming my eyes shut. “C-c-come to Dimitri’s.”

Before I can say more, Alexei’s monstrously big finger hits the button to kill the call. Like he knows what I was about to do. To say.

I love you.

My gaze darts to Dimitri, and though every part of my expression should be filled with venom and hate, it probably comes across a thousand times more pathetic, insignificant, and weak.

“Please don’t hurt him,” I say, unashamed to beg.

Dimitri finally releases me. A fire rises behind his eyes, as if he holds out hope for the possibility. “That’s entirely up to you,” he says before he and Alexei stroll casually from the room.

Chapter Forty-One

EVIE

In the twenty-five minutes it took Austin to arrive and practically bang down Dimitri’s front door, I managed to clean up. After carefully covering the now bruising bite mark on my shoulder with concealer usually reserved for the dark circles under my eyes, I used it there too in a desperate attempt to hide the swelling.

Depending on how I turn in the light, my reflection in the mirror reveals the gashes in various stages from mildly noticeable to what the fuck happened to you. I pull my cardigan as high up as possible, calm my nerves with half a Valium from my purse and a cognac from the bar, prepared to lie my ass off. After using several drops of Visine to cool the redness in my eyes, I suck in a deep breath and fill my mind with visions of Gaby, reminding myself why I’m doing this.

When I meet Dimitri in the foyer, my father is beside him. After several more loud bangs on the door, Alexei lets Austin inside. The two men exchange a narrowed glance, seeming to take a renewed interest in sizing each other up.

When Austin’s steel-gray eyes meet mine, I have to look away, doing everything I can to keep from running to his arms or collapsing on the floor.

Austin doesn’t step toward me. For the long eternity of a minute, he stares at me. His voice is low, controlled, and commanding as he says, “Come here, Evie.”

I don’t hesitate, though a part of me nearly looks to Dimitri for approval. A second later, I’m standing before Austin, fixing my eyes on his chest as a tremble takes hold of my body.

Without a word, he lifts my chin, forcing my eyes to his. But it’s his turn not to make eye contact, focusing instead on the throbbing between my neck and shoulder.

Swallowing the dread lodged in my throat, I tug my cardigan a little higher and meet his gaze with a confidence I’m not sure I possess. “Go, Austin. You have to know I could never marry you. Never love you. I need someone in my life who can give me all the things I want. That I deserve.”

With my sleeve, I wipe away the hot stream of tears and pray he doesn’t hold me. Just having him this close is too much.

His eyes bore into mine, searching for a piece of my soul that’s barely alive. I suck in a breath, relax into the lull of Valium and booze, and say what I know I need to say. “I deserve more than the likes of you.”

His gaze floats to my lips, then my eyes, before dropping to my hand. He takes it and holds my ring high. “Well, nice to see old habits are hard to break.”

“Austin, plea—”

“Don’t, Evie. I get it now. I was a good time. A distraction. A way to get what you wanted from your fiancé. But I got something I wanted too. A lukewarm body on a cold night. An expensive whore, ready and willing to spread her legs, letting me see how the other half lives. Just another fuck until the next one comes along.”

When he tosses my hand aside, I curl my fingers, digging my nails into my palm.

Helplessly, I watch him bolt for the door, bumping into Alexei with so much force, it looks like all three hundred pounds of the Russian bouncer might topple from the assault. When the door slams shut and an engine roars before vanishing down the drive, I can’t move. I can’t breathe.

I startle as Dimitri’s hands smooth over my shoulders. “You did good, Evelyn. And he’s right, you know. You’re not just any whore. You’re a very expensive one. Will you be ready and willing to spread your legs for me like you did with him?”

More tears stream out, and my arms cross tight over my chest as his finger tugs down the cardigan, letting him admire his marks on my skin.

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