Page 66 of Cruel Honor

But then I remember he’s the reason I’m in this mess to begin with.

“I can’t,” I whisper back.

“Evie, god. I’m so sorry. I am. I can’t stop fucking up. What’s wrong with me?”

I can’t give him an answer because my vison starts to go black. The last thing I hear is Dimitri saying my name over and over again until it all disappears.

Chapter

Ten

DIMITRI

Icarry Evie into the house and place her on the couch. Seeing her passed out because she was drugged enrages me. I killed those fuckers Boris and Arthur, but Abram still got away.

So did Tatiana.

I know she’s the reason Evie was almost raped and killed tonight. I know she drugged Evie. There was no one else. She was at the club, not her father.

Even though Tatiana annoys me, I always gave her the benefit of the doubt. She’s a young woman who I did screw over; I’ll admit that. But now, she’s taken things too far.

She’s just as dangerous as her father and needs to be dealt with.

But the thing is—I’ve never killed a woman. In all my years as a Bratva man, I’ve never been in a position where that needed to happen. The only reason it’s happening now is because I married Evie and put a target on her back, and Abram and Tatiana want their revenge.

I know the solution. Let Evie go. If we’re not married, then Abram and Tatiana will stop going after her. There’s still the problem of Dimabut I can always place a guard on Evie to keep watch over her. I can still keep her safe …

… just not with me.

“What happened?” Katya asks, appearing in the living room. “She had too much to drink?”

“No,” I growl. “She was drugged.”

Katya’s eyes practically bug out of her head. “What!? How did that happen?”

“Tatiana.”

“Oh, Dimitri. That bitch is becoming a problem.”

“She already is a problem. I thought I could control her and Abram. I thought if I just married someone else, then Abram would drop the issue. But he hasn’t stopped, and now, Evie is in danger.”

“She’s been in danger ever since she met you.”

“You brought her to my club,” I snap at her. “I told you not to come to that party, and yet you came anyway.”

“I never thought you’d set your sights on my best friend. I thought we’d just dance and then leave. But then she was freaking kidnapped. Which, fine, I’ll admit, I put her in that position, and you saved her. Thank god for that. But I never asked you to marry her!”

“You didn’t seem bothered by the idea.”

“Because I thought I would have my best friend here all the time. But, Dimitri, Evie has been hurt and kidnapped so many times since she’s met you. She’s not a Bratva girl. She’s just a girl who’s dreamed of being a librarian her entire life. One who lost her dad. One who just wants to be happy after everything she’s been through. But you don’t make her happy.”

I give her a sharp look. “How do you know? Has she told you that?”

“Well … not in so many words. But I know, Dimitri. She’s not happy. She’s scared and restless, and you’re not protecting her like you claimed you would. You’re the reason she’s in danger.”

I run a hand down my face and sigh deeply. “You want me to let her go.”

“Yes.”

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