Page 40 of Cruel Honor

She flushes even more as she shakes her head. “You’re such a …”

I lift an eyebrow. “A what?”

“A barbarian.”

“Nice one. Wasn’t sure which direction you were going to take that.” I lean over her, pressing my hands into the mattress on either side of her. Our faces are so close, I could just lean in and kiss her. But I hold back. “You’re not going anywhere, Evie. I said I would protect you, and I will. Running back home will only put you into Dima’s path, and he will kill you. And then he’ll keep on killing other women once you’re gone. The only way to stop him is to kill him myself.”

“Is that what you’re going to do?”

“Yes. But I need to find the little fucker first. Once I do, he’s dead. Until then, you’re going to remain here where it’s safe.”

Her lips part and her cheeks are flushed and she looks so fucking cute, I desperately want to kiss her.

My eyes flick to her lips and it takes everything inside me not to consume her lips with my own.

I stand back. “Stay here, ok?”

“I can’t be a prisoner.”

“Understood. But I can’t trust you not to run again.” I give her a sympathetic smile then leave the room and lock the door behind me. Does it make me an asshole? Sure.

But as long as Evie remains safe, I’ll be an asshole for as long as I need to be.

EVIE

My butt is too sore to sit down.

I can’t believe Dimitri. First, he locks me up, then he forces me to marry him, and then he spanks me! Just the word makes me blush. His hand on my behind. It was so large and strong, but that’s what made it hurt.

Yes, it did snap me out of my panic attack, but it was still rude of him to do so. He’s just so …

God, there are no words for how Dimitri drives me crazy. No one has ever gotten under my skin like he has. I want to shake him and make him leave me alone.

But when he was leaning in close to me, I thought we were going to kiss for a moment.

And I’m not sure I would’ve stopped him.

This is insane.I’minsane.

Everything was just easier when I worked at the library and all I had to worry about were late fees.

I wonder how Juno is doing without me. She’s either living her best life or struggling to do even the most basic things. I’ve been cookingand cleaning for her ever since she married my dad. Strangely, I miss her. She could hurt my feelings, but she was also familiar.

This world that Dimitri has dragged me into is so far removed from my own reality. I don’t know how to act.

What I do know, though, is that Dima cannot continue to kill other women. If there’s a way I can stop it, I will, but first, I have to get out of this room.

I try the door, but of course, it’s locked. I have no idea how to pick a lock, and even if I did, I have nothing to use.

I wander over to the window and look down. I’m on the second floor, and even a drop from this height could cause serious damage.

I’m stuck.

Eventually, with nothing else to do, sleep takes me over.

I wake up to Dimitri sitting on the bed. He’s not even looking at me but his phone in his hand. I jerk. “What are you doing in here?”

“This is my bedroom, remember?”

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