Page 61 of Shatter Me

"How many properties?"

"Six galleries. Three auction houses. His wife's antique shop." Nikolai tosses back his scotch. "All carefully timed to overwhelm emergency response capabilities."

The scale of it sinks in. This isn't just retaliation—it's a declaration of our own. Igor will have no choice but to respond in kind.

I nod slowly, weighing the implications. "Do it."

"Already happening, brother." Nikolai's lips curl into that familiar predatory smile. "I wasn't asking permission."

He moves toward the door, then pauses. "One more thing. Your little curator?—"

"Leave her out of this."

"That's exactly my point." He turns, fixing me with a hard stare. "The moment Igor discovers your connection to her, she becomes a target. And unlike Katarina, she has no protection."

The truth of his words hits like a physical blow. I grip the edge of my desk, knuckles white.

"Keep your distance," Nikolai continues. "At least until this plays out. Unless you want to explain to her why she needs armed guards following her to work."

He leaves, the door clicking shut behind him. I spot the first plume of smoke rising against the skyline through the window. Lebedev's flagship gallery, no doubt.

My phone lights up with a text from Natasha.

Still on for dinner tonight?

Such a simple message. So ordinary. Yet, it carries the weight of everything I stand to lose. Every moment of peace with her comes with escalating risk. Every soft morning could end in violence.

I close my eyes, remembering how she felt in my arms this morning. Safe. Trusting. Completely unaware of the monster she's let into her life.

My fingers hover over the phone. The smart move would be to cancel. To create distance. To protect her from the war that's about to engulf this city.

Instead, I type a reply.

I'll pick you up at eight.

Because I'm selfish. Because even as smoke rises and empires burn, I can't bring myself to let her go.

24

TASH

Icheck my reflection one last time, smoothing down the silk of my emerald Halston dress. The vintage piece hugs my curves perfectly. My heart skips when the doorbell chimes at seven fifty-five exactly.

"Right on time," I say as I open the door to find Dmitri looking devastating in a charcoal suit.

His arctic blue eyes darken as they trail down my body. "That dress is a work of art."

"I thought you might appreciate something different." I step closer, drawn into his orbit like always.

His hands slide to my waist, pulling me against him. "I appreciate everything about you."

When his lips meet mine, the kiss is deep and consuming. Heat floods through me as his tongue teases mine. His fingers dig into my hips possessively.

I break away with a breathless laugh. "We'll never make dinner at this rate."

"Would that be such a tragedy?" His thumb traces my bottom lip.

"Yes, because I'm starving." I grab my clutch and nudge him toward the door. "Some of us worked through lunch today."

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