Page 65 of Diamond Don

The brunette looks at the small bag for a second and then at Nik’s face, frowning slightly. Her delicate fingers retrieve a gold ring from inside it. Her mouth widens, and her eyes blink violently as she holds on to it as if it were her very own lifeline.

Nik nods before turning his back to her and walking back to where I stand.

Bemused, I glance between him and the mysterious woman, growing even more concerned as I notice her brush away tears. She is still profoundly entranced by the jewel my handsome Russian just gave her.

Nik reaches me, and I stare at him, stunned, as he slips his arm around my waist again before asking, “Are you hungry? Because I’m starving. God, I hate these ridiculous parties. All the champagne and canapés you could want, but not a single hearty meal in sight…”

He politely waves to someone across the room, but I can’t be bothered even to pretend to care at the moment.

“What the hell was that?” I ask, realizing he has no intention of explaining what I just witnessed.

Nik looks at me, confused. “What the hell was what?”

“That,” I say, pointing toward the unknown brunette as discreetly as possible.

“Oh,” he says, a certain smidge of darkness coloring his tone. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Oh, no. Don’t give me that. You have to tell me what the hell I just saw.”

“It’s nothing. Really, Kat?—”

I cut him off. “I’m not going to drop this, Nik, so you might as well save yourself some time and tell me.”

He closes his eyes and clutches the bridge of his nose tightly. After a wordless moment, he sighs. “If you really must know, that was Erin.”

“Erin? As in Erin McGuire? As in Maxim’s lover and your arch nemesis’s daughter?”

“Shh. Will you keep your voice down?” he mutters through gritted teeth, glancing around to ensure no one’s heard me. “Yes, that Erin.”

“Wow,” is all I can think of to say. After a moment, I add, “What did you give her?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I mean, I know it was a ring. I saw that much. But why would you give Erin McGuire a gold ring?”

“What part of ‘this is none of your business’ do you not understand?”

“What part of ‘I’m not going to drop this’ do you not understand?”

Nik sighs loudly and grunts out something in Russian.

“What does that mean?”

“It means may God deliver me from nosy women who can’t mind their fucking businesses to save their lives.”

“Cute,” I say, crossing my arms. “Hey, if you won’t tell me, maybe I’ll just ask her.”

Nik grabs my arm very tightly. “I don’t think so. Did nobody ever tell you about curiosity killing the cat?”

“Ha-ha,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I get it. Because my name’s Kat. Like I’ve never heard that one before. Now, spill the beans, or I will cause a scene.”

Through gritted teeth, he says close to my ear, “Once upon a time, Maxim and Erin had this stupid idea of running away together. He proposed to her with that ring you just saw. Just as they were about to make their escape, word of their affair and plan got out. McGuire took her to Ireland, and I was forced to banish Maxim to Russia. Somehow, Erin had the ring returned to Maxim, and he kept it throughout all the years he was in exile. After his death, I found it with his belongings. I figured he’d have wanted her to have it.”

Stunned, I stare at him, processing all the information he shared. I remain silent for a long while, thinking of the senseless heartbreak and regrets that will forever remain unfinished business for the pretty girl across the room. Suddenly, Nik’s fingers tighten almost painfully around my arm. His whole body goes rigid next to me. A split second later, he noticeably forces himself to relax before his arm snakes around my back until his right hand rests possessively over my stomach.

Nik’s abrupt change in behavior astonishes me until I spot a distinguished-looking middle-aged male approaching us. An insincere smile contorts his lips. It doesn’t take me long to recognize him as the man Nik identified as Patrick McGuire when we watched the museum gala’s surveillance feeds.

“Nikolai,” the man says in greeting.

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