Page 34 of Cruel Promise

“Woah, slow down. I thought our deal just included us sharing territory so we could both make more money.”

“It does. But it also included blood. And death. I would’ve thought a man like you would enjoy those things.”

He sniffs, tugging on his jacket. “You’re right. I do like those things. I just tend to go about things with a more … delicate touch.”

“Bullshit. I’ve heard about your reputation, Dimitri. You once slaughtered five men at your club because they tried to steal from you.”

“You got me. Fine. We can go after The Knights. I love a little carnage. Just tell me where and when.”

“I’ll be in touch. I expect you to be there when I call. No backing out.”

Dimitri’s savage grin reminds of me Anton for just a moment. It startles me so much that I have to take a step back. “I never back out, Nik. You can count on me to always be there.” There’s a hidden threat to his words that makes me uneasy.

“Nikolai,” I repeat.

“Potato, po-tah-toe.”

Stifling a sigh, I turn away from him.

“How’s that pretty wife of yours?”

“We’ve been over this. Don’t talk about my wife.”

“I was just asking. No need to get upset.”

I glance back at him. He stands there with an innocent expression, but I don’t believe it for one second. “If you try anything with my wife, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

“And I won’t hesitate to kill you if you try to kill me.”

At least we’re on the same fucking page.

AVA

Mrs. Brown is cleaning the dishes.

“Shouldn’t that be Claude’s job?” I ask, leaning against the counter.

“Don’t let him hear you say that. Then he really will hate you forever.”

I laugh as I grab one of the dishes and start washing it.

Mrs. Brown gives me a surprised look. “I’ve never seen any of Mr. Petrov’s women wash dishes before.”

My hands still. “Have there been a lot of women?”

“Here and there. Before he got his scar, they were over all the time. None of them even looked in my direction. I was pretty invisible. Though, some were sweet, none ever helped me with dishes.”

“My mom and I used to do them together. We didn’t have a dishwasher, so it was faster for one of us to wash and the other to dry.”

“You don’t talk about your mother often.”

“No, I don’t,” I murmur, setting the plate down. “You said ‘before the scar’.”

“Mmm?”

“Nikolai didn’t always used to have his scar.”

“I did say that, didn’t I? He was still pretty much himself, the way he is now. Just a little more withdrawn nowadays.”

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