Page 51 of Cruel Honor

“You actually mean that?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Tatiana,” Abram says, but she shushes him.

“Just let this go, father. Let it go.”

Abram gives her a hard, long look before nodding. “Fine. I’ll let it go.”

Dimitri hesitates then slowly lowers his arm, the gun down at his side. “If you try anything ever again, Abram, I will fucking kill you.” He rushes to my side and kneels beside me. “Evie?”

I groan, my head killing me.

“Let’s get you out of here.” He picks me up in his arms. The fact that he can be so attentive is mind-blowing. One moment, he was ready to kill Abram and Tatiana, and now, he’s nurturing me. It’s clear Dimitri is a man of hidden depths.

But it’s also clear this world is not one I want to be a part of.

The constant fighting and blood and guns and potential death. It’s all too much.

I let myself sink into Dimitri’s strong arms as he carries me out ofthe house. If I’m going to say goodbye to him, then I might as well enjoy being comforted by him for the time being.

Dimitri gets both Katya and me back to the house and sets me on his bed. “I’ll call for my private doctor. Have you looked over.”

He steps aside to make a phone call while Katya sits on the bed with me. “You almost died, Evie. All because of my stupid idea to confront Tatiana. What was I thinking?”

“You were thinking you wanted to make things better. So was I.”

“I’m just glad you’re not dead.”

I grab her and don’t let go.

Dimitri looks between Katya and me with an expression I don’t fully understand. It’s anger and confusion and worry all mixed into one.

“The only good thing about you being hurt,” Katya says, “is that Dimitri can’t berate us for leaving.”

I actually manage to smile.

Dimitri rolls his eyes and motions Katya away from the bed. “The doctor is on his way. God, Evie. I don’t want to lose you. Not when I just got you.”

“You never had me,” I admit. “You forced me into this relationship.”

His eyes widen and shame crosses his features. “Damn. You know how to make a man feel good.” He squeezes my hand. “Just rest until the doctor gets here.” He leaves the room, taking Katya with him.

Despite my complicated feelings for Dimitri, I do know one thing: I would’ve liked him to stay next to me.

DIMITRI

“She can’t stay here,” Katya tells me once we’re in the hall. “You know it, Dimitri. Since knowing you, she’s been hurt more than she ever has been.”

“You were the one who introduced her to me.”

Her eyebrows go into her hairline. “So, this is my fault?”

“It’s not mine. Abram is a possessive father, and Dima is a psycho.None of that is my fault. I’m not letting Evie go. Not for anything. So, you can just keep your mouth shut on the matter.”

Katya looks like I hurt her, but I don’t fucking care.

Apparently, I’m a possessive bastard when it comes to Evie, and because of that, she’s not going anywhere.

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