Page 39 of Bloody Lace

I grab the robe, throwing it on and belting it as I hurry down the stairs. I smell coffee, which momentarily distracts me, but only for a second as I see Dimitri get up from the couch, heading for the door. I scramble down the stairs, reaching the last step just as he reaches for the doorknob, squeaking out his name just in time to have it covered up by a flurry of barking.

“What thefuck?” Dimitri takes a step back, which his delivery man takes as an invitation to come in with the first of my bags—and Buttons.

The moment Buttons sees me, he yanks on his leash so hard that he drags it out of the man’s hand, barreling towards me in a cloud of white fluff as he flings himself at me. I grab him, wrapping him up in my arms and squeezing, before I look up at Dimitri’s thunderous expression.

One of his eyebrows raises. “I assume there’s an explanation for this?”

“That I have a dog?” I venture.

Dimitri’s eyes narrow. Behind him, I see the delivery man bringing in boxes of my things, carefully avoiding looking at Dimitri. From how quickly he’s moving, I can tell that he wants to be out of here as soon as possible, and I don’t blame him.

“You didn’t think,” he says slowly, “at any point in the last two weeks, that it might have been a good idea to tell me about this?”

I bite my lip as Buttons presses closer to my legs. “Considering how you’re looking at me right now, no. I didn’t.”

Dimitri frowns. “And Gus didn’t tell me, either. Despite spending the last week with you, in your apartment, and undoubtedly seeing…this.”

“I asked him not to tell you,” I admit. “I was worried you’d react exactly like this,” I add, narrowing my own eyes at him. “And Buttons is non-negotiable.”

“Buttons.” He rolls the name over in his mouth. “I don’t have pets, Evelyn.”

“You own the building,” I point out. “You’re the heir to theBratva. Who’s going to tell you he can’t be here?”

“Me.Iwould say that he can’t be here.”

A shock of anger runs through me, and I straighten, a protective hand on the top of Buttons’ head. “Really? You’re going to tell me he has to go? Because if he goes, so do I.” I press my lips together, staring my new husband down. “Remember how you said Gus was non-negotiable? That he had to stay or you were calling the whole thing off? Well, this is my line in the sand. Buttons stays, or I’m leaving. I’ll get an annulment.”

“He’s more important than your shop?” Dimitri crosses his arms, and I see a look pass over his face, one that I can read surprisingly well. He can’t believe that he’s standing in his own home, arguing with me about this. I feel sure, based on every conversation we’ve had and my interactions with him so far, that everyone askshow high, whenever Dimitri Yashkov saysjump.He can’t believe that I’m not terrified of his anger. That I’m not bending to his clear desire to not have a dog in his house.

But I’m not afraid of him. I don’t know enough about his world to know why I should be, and frankly, I like it like that. Because it lets me face him and not back down.

“If you have to ask, I know you’ve never had a pet.” I rub the top of Buttons’ head, glaring at Dimitri. “I’m not backing down on this.”

He stares at me for a long moment. “You should have told me.”

“You should have told me that I’d have a bodyguard,” I fling back. “I guess we both left some things out until it was absolutely necessary.” I smile sweetly at him. “Should I have put it in the contract?”

Dimitri glares at me, running a hand through his hair, tugging at the roots with frustration as he does. “I have work to do,” he says sharply, pivoting on his heel. “You can spend the day figuring out where to put all your things. My housekeeper will be by, so make sure your dog is friendly to her. And Gus will be back, too,” he adds. “He’s your permanent bodyguard for as long as this marriage lasts.”

The look that he throws me tells me that he’s hoping it won’t be all that long. He looks pissed, and I suppose, if I look at it from his perspective, I can understand why. But I don’t really care.

I’ve been uprooted. Thrown into this deal, forced to live in the same house as Dimitri, to share his bed. All because his business happened to coincide with mine, and my shop was targeted as something that could be threatened. He’s spending money to make it right, but I’ve adjusted my whole life to hold up my end of the deal.

He can manage to share space with my fucking dog.

Buttons whines as Dimitri leaves, slamming the door behind him, and I scratch him behind the ears. “He’ll get used to you,” I promise, and I go to find coffee.

An hour later, caffeinated and having eaten, I explore the penthouse a little more. As much as I miss my home, I can’t deny that Dimitri’s living space is gorgeous, and luxurious beyond anything I ever imagined. His kitchen is state-of-the-art, the view is stunning, the entertainment room at the back of the penthouse has a television that takes up the entire wall, and when I bundle up and venture outside to the balcony, I can imagine sitting out here in any other season, drinking a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, reading a book or just taking in the view.

Will I be here that long?It’s a reminder that I don’t actually know how long this marriage will go on for. My half of the deal is contingent on how long Dimitri’s father lives. Our marriage is up when Dimitri officially inherits, and his father can no longer strong-arm him into an arrangement that he doesn’t want. But Dimitri hasn’t been very clear on how long he thinks that might be, only that his father isn’t in very good health. It could be years.

I knew that when I agreed to the marriage. But now that I’m here, in Dimitri’s home, remembering last night and how hard it was to sleep next to him, I can’t help wondering if I made the right choice. If the deal that Dimitri offered me was really the miracle it appeared to be at first, or if I walked into a trap.

I still don’t think he lied to me. I think he’ll let me go, when the clock on our marriage is up. But what happens in the meantime—it all suddenly feels much more uncertain than I want it to.

When I walk back into the penthouse, Gus is in the kitchen. “I won’t be hanging around in here,” he reassures me, as Buttons bounds over to his side. Whatever Dimitri thinks of him, my dogand my bodyguard became fast friends within just a few days. “There’s enough security in this building that I don’t need to watch you twenty-four/seven. I’ll need to go with you when you leave, though. Wherever that is,” he adds firmly. “Doesn’t matter if you’re just popping out for a second or taking this guy to go pee.” He pats Buttons on the head. “Make sure I’m with you.”

Frustration wells up in my chest, but I nod. I know that fighting it isn’t going to do me any favors, and I’m not going to win that particular battle. I’m stuck with a bodyguard for the duration of this marriage, and I’m just going to have to get used to it.

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