Page 41 of Cruel Promise

This man—Dimitri—doesn’t seemed bothered by Nikolai’s anger as he strolls on in through the front door. I remain hidden in the doorway of the living room to the foyer, staying back. Other than the staff, I haven’t seen Nikolai interact with anyone else.

Dimitri makes a big show of looking around. “I just wanted to finally see where you live.”

“How did you find my house?”

“Nik, everyone in this fucking city knows where you live. You’re kind of famous.”

“Nikolai,” he growls. “Don’t call me Nik.”

Dimitri holds his hands up in surrender. “My bad. I keep forgetting.”

“I know,” Nikolai says in a deadpan voice.

“So, where’s the wife?”

“Did you come here just so you could meet her? Because that’s not going to happen.” For the first time, I get to see Nikolai’s possessiveness of me in action.

“No. I thought I could come over so we could discuss more business ideas. I have this great one about expanding the heroin I bring into the city. With your help, I think we could really grow it.”

“Mmm. We can discuss in my office. Don’t dawdle.” Nikolai turns toward the opposite hallway from where I am. Dimitri follows until he looks over his shoulder …

… and spots me.

I try to duck back into the living room, but it’s too late. Dimitri has seen me.

“Hello there,” he says, stepping into the living room.

I’m frozen solid. This man works with Nikolai, which means he’s probably just as bad as my husband is. At least with Nikolai, I’m starting to get a sense of him, but Dimitri is a complete stranger to me.

Nikolai storms into the room. “I said you weren’t going to meet her.”

“But I already have.” He extends his hand out to me. “Dimitri Ivanov, at your service.”

Nikolai is watching me intently. I know he’ll be upset if I take Dimitri’s hand.

Which is probably why I do it.

Dimitri’s handshake is firm, and he holds on just a little bit longer than appropriate. “What’s your name?”

“Ava,” I answer, pulling my hand away. I canfeelNikolai’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare look at him.

“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

I feel the heat of a blush rush into my cheeks. “Thank you.”

Dimitri smiles in a way that tells me he knows he’s charming. I shouldn’t trust a man like that. “How did you and Nik meet?”

Nikolai lets out a low sound but doesn’t say anything else.

“We just … did,” I say lamely.

“Oh. How wonderful,” Dimitri responds sarcastically.

“We should go into my office to discuss business,” Nikolai says. “Now, Dimitri.”

“All right.” Dimitri lets his eyes linger on me for a moment, making me feel … I’m not sure what. It’s not the strangeexcitement I feel around Nikolai. It’s an uneasiness like his kind exterior can’t fully be trusted.

But maybe he could help me. If anyone is powerful enough to help me escape Nikolai, it would be another Bratva man.

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