Page 47 of Dancing With Desire

He opens the car door, and I get in. He slides beside me. “The trip,” he guesses.

“What if they don’t agree and say we can’t marry?”

“They won’t.”

“And aren’t they asking questions about why your father isn’t there?”

“They don’t know he’s not coming yet. I’ll explain everything to them when we arrive.”

“What if they side with him and cast you out?”

He smirks, turning towards me slightly as Marshall starts the car. “Mykrasota, that wouldn’t happen. If they’re not happy with my decisions regarding to my father, they will kill me, not cast me out.”

I gasp. “That doesn’t fucking help,” I snap.

“But they won’t do that because what I’m offering them is something they’ve always wanted.”

“What?”

“London.”

“What’s so special about London?”

“It’s hard to break the criminal underground. I have done that. And once my father and Vivian are . . . gone, I’ll have even more. A cut of London is worth a lot to them. I can offer them ways to make more money and gain more contacts.”

“Why hasn’t your father already done that?” I ask.

“Because London was my idea. I built it. I gained the right contacts, contacts that will only deal with me, not him. They need me.”

“And what about Vivian?”

“What about her? I only ever needed her father. Everything was to keep him sweet because I needed his contacts. I have them now, and we’ve built trust to the point they would rather deal with me over Vivian. I’ve spent the last few months building my empire quietly, Victoria, right under their noses. And they’vebeen too busy trying to get you out the picture in the hope I’d take her as my wife and share everything I’ve built. After this week, I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted. We’ll never want for anything.”

I settle back and stare out the window. His words fill me with fear. Power can turn a man into a monster, and I’ve seen too many of them already.

Marshall pulls straight onto the runway of the airfield, and we board the private plane. I don’t miss the way the air stewardess greets Dmitry, kissing each cheek, or how she blushes under his gaze as he takes a glass of Champagne from her tray. “My fiancée needs a soft drink,” he tells her, leading me farther into the plane.

I take the window seat, and he slides in beside me. Marshall moves towards the back with a few of Dmitry’s security. I’m given a soft drink of orange juice and handed a blanket. “Please let me know if you need anything,” she gushes.

I roll my eyes, and Dmitry catches it, smirking and placing a kiss to my lips. “I love only you, mykrasota,” he reassures me. “Rest. I’ll wake you when we land.” He places the blanket over me and then gets out his laptop to lose himself in work.

We landa few hours later and step off the plane to beautifully warm weather. There’s a car waiting, and as we get in, I notice other small planes lined up.

We drive a short distance to a gorgeous beach house overlooking the sea. I immediately rush up the steps and head inside for the air conditioning. The entire building is made of shaded glass, and when I go over to the sliding doors and open them, I’m hit by the sea breeze. There’s a pool on the balconyand steps leading down to the white sand. It’s breathtaking. Leaning over the balcony, I notice six other apartments just like ours, lined up.

“The families are all here,” Dmitry says as he joins me.

“Staying there?” I ask, nodding to the other beach homes.

“Yes. We have dinner booked this evening,” he adds.

“So, I have time to enjoy this weather?” I ask, grinning.

“Actually,” he says, taking my hand, “I was thinking we should make the most of the peace.”

“It’s only been a few days,” I say, laughing as he leads me to a bedroom on the second floor. “Where are Marshall and your men?”

“Do you want them to join us?” he teases, spinning to face me the second we’re in the room alone.

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