Page 92 of Shatter Me

The raw honesty in his voice makes my chest ache.

I take a shaky breath. "And how do I know this isn't another manipulation?"

"Because I don't have a plan for the first time in my life." He meets my gaze. "I just know I can't lose you."

My body yearns to close the distance, but my mind screams warnings about the danger he represents. Everything about him is a risk—to my safety, career, and heart. Yet, watching him stand there, finally letting his walls down, I wonder if some risks are worth taking.

I take a steadying breath, my fingers still gripping the edge of my desk. "We can talk, Dmitri. But not now. I have to finalize the Monet exhibition layouts and three donor meetings this afternoon."

His shoulders relax slightly at my words. It's so subtle that most people wouldn't notice, but I've learned to read the micro-expressions that crack through his perfect control.

"When?" His voice holds none of its usual commanding tone.

"Soon." I shuffle the papers on my desk, needing something to do with my hands. "But I need you to talk to me. No calculated responses, no carefully crafted explanations. Just you."

"You want the monster beneath the suit?" His jaw tightens.

"I want the truth. All of it." I meet his gaze. "Even the parts you think will make me run."

He studies me for a long moment, and I force myself not to look away. Finally, he nods. "I'll text you."

"Okay." The word comes out softer than I intended.

Dmitri moves toward the door, his hand pausing on the handle. For a second, I think he might turn back, might say something more. Instead, he straightens his shoulders and walks out, leaving me with the lingering scent of his cologne and the weight of everything unsaid between us.

I stare at the door long after Dmitri leaves, my heart racing. The truth is, beneath all my anger and hurt, I miss him. I miss how his eyes soften when he looks at me, how his touch lights me on fire, even the commanding presence that used to drive me crazy.

Running my fingers over the smooth surface of my desk, I remember all our encounters here. Each heated moment, each whispered promise. Despite everything he's done, despite the darkness I now know lurks beneath his perfect exterior, my feelings haven't changed.

"Damn it," I whisper to the empty office, pressing my palms against my eyes.

I love him. The realization isn't new, but it hits me harder now. I love the calculating businessman, the dangerous crime lord, and the vulnerable man who just stood in my office asking for a chance—all of him—the light and the dark.

My phone buzzes with a text. It's from Sofia:

Did Dmitri talk to you?

I type back.

Yes. We're meeting soon.

When he tells me everything and finally lets me see all of him, what excuse will I have left? The truth is, I've been using his secrets as a shield to keep my distance because being vulnerable is exactly how people get their hearts broken. But if he opens up completely...

My stomach flutters at the thought. I already know we belong together—I’ve felt it from that first heated encounter at Sofia’s wedding. The chemistry between us has always been undeniable and electric. But it's more than that now. I understand him in ways I never expected to, and I want all of him—the businessman, the brother, the criminal, the lover.

39

DMITRI

Iadjust my tie in the mirror, ignoring the twinge of pain from my healing wounds. The last few weeks without Tash have been hell, but I needed time to get my shit together and prove I'm worthy of her.

"Everything is set up exactly as you requested, sir," Akim says from the doorway.

I nod, checking my appearance one final time. The museum's Egyptian wing has been transformed into a private wonderland just for her. I've arranged for her favorite pieces to be spotlit, creating an intimate gallery experience that speaks to her passion for art and history.

My phone buzzes. Right on schedule, she's entering the building for her "emergency curator meeting."

I position myself by the Hatshepsut statue, her favorite piece in the collection. The soft lighting catches the ancient stone, casting dramatic shadows that remind me of the first time I watched her give a tour here.

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