Page 67 of Tarnished Reign

“He’s scared of ghosts.” Nataliya tosses me a cheeky wink.

“More like scared of men with guns.” Dimitri holds her gaze, and she flinches.

“Dimitri, don't frighten your sister.” Vera wipes her hands on her napkin and fixes her son with a stern look.

“You know I love her to bits,” Dimitri says as if she's not in the room, “but sometimes she needs scaring. The girl lacks common sense.”

“The girl is right here,” Nataliya snaps.

Dimitri crosses over to her and kisses her forehead. “I love you, sis, but just be careful right now. It’s not safe, and I need you to take that seriously.”

“I know,” she says. “I am. I swear. I haven’t gone out in days because Daddy says it isn’t safe. I’m not going to put myself at risk again. Not after … not after last time.” She looks down at the tablecloth.

“Okay. Good. I just worry.” Dimitri kisses the top of her head again and then kisses his mother’s cheek.

I observe him like this. A little softer. A tiny bit more human. But then he straightens and his inscrutable mask is back in place.

“Come, Adriana. We need to be going.”

I sigh but take his hand and let him lead me out of the room. When we reach the door, I pause, tugging on his hand slightly to make him slow down. I turn back to the room. “It was lovely to meet you all.” I try not to forget my manners despite Dimitri’s lack of them. “Thank you for the food, Vera and Jacob. And thank you for keeping me company, Nataliya. I had fun. I'll make sure to return the dress to you tomorrow.”

“Keep it,” she says. “It looks way better on you than it ever did on me.”

We speed walk down the hallway, Dimitri still holding my hand and walking so fast that I struggle to keep up in these heels. I stumble, pitch forward, and can’t recover.

I hurtle toward the floor, barely having time to think and brace myself for impact when a strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me upright. My back is flush to his chest, and his arm is a tight band around my middle. “Careful, Littleblue,” he whispers in my ear. “Don't go taking a tumble now.”

I catch my breath and smooth the dress down, trying to compose myself. “How about you don't go galloping off at one hundred miles an hour when I'm wearing heels. I'm not used to walking in these damn things.”

His gaze runs down the length of my body. “They suit you,” he says.

“Don't get used to it,” I snap. “I much prefer my sneakers.”

He laughs. “Of course you do.”

When we reach his car and climb in, I turn to him. “What's the plan now? What did you find out? Why were you so angry in there? Was it your sister, or is there something else going on?”

He ignores my questions, guns the engine, and rolls off down the drive.

Finally, after a long beat, he speaks.

“My sister is a pain in my ass sometimes, even though I love her dearly. My mother was giving you googly eyes, and I don't want her planning our wedding in her head. Jacob and Virgil need to talk. And I want you back on the boat before it gets dark. Does that answer your questions?”

All I can focus on is that he said he doesn't want his mother planning our wedding. Not that I want to marry this arrogant man, but the idea that he doesn't see anything like that in our future at all, well, it kind of gets to me. Before I have a chance to really examine why that might be, he glances over at me.

“You look fucking incredible in that dress.”

His words are complimentary, but the tone is angry.

“Why does that bother you? You sound as if me looking nice is something that I should be ashamed of.”

“It's not something you should be ashamed of, but I can't help getting the feeling that you're tempting me.”

Oh my God, the arrogance!

I swivel in my seat to face him.

“Listen to me, buddy. I had no idea your sister was going to dress me in this getup. She basically dragged me out of the kitchen and upstairs to her bedroom. She threw her clothes at me and then decided she was going to put this makeup on me. It wasn’t for you. Not everything I do is for you, or any man for that matter. None of it was my choice. And frankly, when she gets going, your sister is just as overwhelming and forceful as you are.”

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