Page 73 of Cruel Promise

“Where is he?”

“I already told you,” he says, standing up and guiding me away from his private booth. “Maxim has him.”

“But you have to know where.”

“Sorry. I don’t.”

I stare at him for a moment. “I don’t believe you. You work with Nikolai. You know. Because how else did you know Maxim has him in the first place?”

“You’re a smart little cookie, aren’t you?”

“Don’t call me cookie.”

He smirks. “For a moment there, you sounded just like your husband.”

I’m not sure to take it as an insult or a compliment. Either way, it makes me uncomfortable.

“Fine,” Dimitri says. “I have an idea of where Maxim would have taken him. But it’s not like you can just stroll on in there and save Nikolai. You’re just one girl.”

“Just tell me where you think he is.”

He scratches the side of his face. “Well, since we blew up their clubhouse, not there. But there are a few other places The Knights tend to hang out. Maxim would have probably taken him to one of those places.”

“Give me the list.”

He makes direct eye contact and doesn’t look away as he snaps his fingers at one of the bodyguards. “Bring me a pen and paper.” The guard walks away.

Dimitri and I look at each other—him smirking and me glaring—until the guard comes back with the requested items.

Dimitri scribbles a list onto it and hands it over. “Good luck.”

“No thanks to you.”

“You’re getting bolder. Braver. Not the scared little girl I met a couple of weeks ago.”

“There’s no time to be scared in this world. That’s something Nikolai taught me. That’s something you taught me.”

He crosses his arms, looking smug. “Me? I’m touched I taught you something.”

“Yes, you did. You taught me not to trust assholes.”

The smirk slips from Dimitri’s face. “As I said, brave. And stupid.”

“I thought I was smart.” I leave him looking dumbfounded as I head back downstairs. It’s a good feeling.

I need another gun since my father stole the one I stole from Nikolai.

“Where does Nikolai store his guns?” I ask Edmund as I walk through the front door.

He stares at me slack jawed. “You’re back. Of your own accord.”

“Just tell me, Edmund. Surely you know.”

“Why do you need a gun?”

“Because Nikolai has been kidnapped, and I’m going to save him, but I need protection. So just tell me.”

“Mrs. Petrov, I have to say, this doesn’t sound like a smart idea.”

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