Page 6 of Diamond Don

She is strolling about the garden, holding a glass of champagne. Her full lips are stretched into a pleasant, casual smile.

Maxim disrupts my reverie. “Who is that?” he asks.

I reluctantly tear my eyes from her to glance at him. To my utter dismay, Maxim is unabashedly studying her from head to toe. Like me, he seems to like what he sees—a lot.

“As far as you and any other men at this party are concerned, she is out of bounds.”

Still shamelessly eyeing my attractive brunette, Maxim shoots me a look, not bothering to hide his shock.

I tried to sound as calm and unaffected as possible, but maybe I came off as a little too possessive about someone who is, after all, a stranger.

I can understand why my childhood friend is surprised to see me act so territorial about a woman when I have never done so before tonight. Not in all our many years of friendship.

I can’t pretend to fully understand this perplexing behavior of mine any better than he does. But somehow, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I couldn’t handle seeing her in another man’s arms.

Mine. For all intents and purposes, she’s mine.

Luckily, few men on this earth would dare stand between me and what I want. Even fewer would have the audacity to try to take what is rightfully mine.

And she is mine. At least for the night. I won’t tolerate anything else.

“Okay,” Maxim says in a peculiar tone. He stares at me as if I have grown a second head. “If you want her so bad, what are you still doing here with me? Why don’t you go get her?”

“That’s the plan. I’m leaving with her tonight. It’s as good as done.”

Soon, I will inform her of the same.

“Is that right? Well, I guess we’re drinking to your good health then, my friend. Godspeed and God bless you, Nik. Vashe zdorov’ye!” Winking at me, he cheerfully drains his glass at once.

I finish my drink, too, before setting the empty crystal tumbler down on a nearby table.

She walks among the guests, skirting around the edge of the dance floor. To everyone else, she most likely seems to be merely strolling around the party, but it’s obvious to me she’s gradually making her way to the back of the gardens.

Perhaps for an illicit encounter with a lucky bastard who managed to get to her first? If so, I feel sorry for the man. He stands no chance. I will happily destroy him if that’s what it will take to get this beauty all to myself.

A moment later, it becomes clear that she’s moving towards the service alleyway.

Leaving so soon? I don’t think so.

So I quickly shorten the distance between us, dodging politicians and movie stars who try to get my attention in vain. I almost have to jog to catch up to her.

She suddenly stops by an empty table a few feet away from me. I can’t see her face as she turns her back to me.

Up close, I notice things that had escaped me earlier tonight. Her glossy dark hair, for example, has a distinct warm chocolate hue, and her long nails are blood-red.

Distracted by these details, I take too long to realize we are on a collision course. Before I can move out of her way, she runs into my chest. As a reflex, my arms shoot out to hold on to her, ensuring she won’t fall.

Her skin is so incredibly soft. She glances up at me, looking right into my eyes.

Fuck me.

Finally, I have an answer to my question from earlier.

Blue. Deep, dark blue.

Fuck. Me.

I’m a goner.

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