Page 13 of Dmitri

“Please don’t. Please I’m all she has,” he pleaded.

I’m about to attack the fucker when Stefano holds me back.

Maurizio chuckles. “If that’s the case she’s better off alone. Look, I’m going to give you one more chance to get out of my face and get my money. You don’t harm a single hair on your stepdaughter. Understood?” I glared at him like he was crazy to make that offer. I’d blow this motherfucker’s brains out as soon as I didn’t have eyes on me. Then it strikes me that maybe it’s Maurizio’s game plan as well.

“Yes. Yes. Thank you.” He tries to stand, but his hands are tied.

Stefano drags Trainor to his feet and then gets in his face. “Come on. I want you the fuck out of my hotel and if I ever catch you here again, I’ll kill you for my brother.”

Two men in suits come into the room and it’s clear they work for Maurizio when they say, “Hey, Boss. Sorry it took so long, but there was a problem with the valet. What do you want us to do with him?”

Trainor’s eyes go to the men, looking even more fearful.

“Hey, fuckoff, don’t worry about my men. This is the fuck you have to worry about. I don’t know if you had a proper introduction, but this is Cora’s protector. I heard he’s an excellent hitman for the bratva, so if I was you I’d get my money before he takes matters into his own hands.”

His eyes widen as he stares at me. “You bet your ass that if I ever catch you near my future wife, I’ll end you in a creative fashion.”

“I won’t, I won’t,” he promises as he shakes, but I don’t believe a word out of his mouth.

“Get him the fuck out of here and on the next plane back to the U. S.,” Maurizio tells the two men that are waiting on the side. Maurizio stares Trainor in the face and adds, “You make a scene, and I’ll have them drag you away and end your life. No one here is going to touch my men, so it would be foolish to go to the police.” They untie his hands and drag him out.

I snatch up Cora’s things and found the tracking device, so I toss the hidden air tag at Maurizio. “This is how the piece of shit knew where to find her.”

“What the fuck is this?”

“An air tag from Apple. It allows for tracking. Some people add it to their suitcase just in case their luggage gets lost, but she doesn’t have any Apple products.” He hands it back to me.

“Well, I’d toss that just in case he gets stupid.”

“No, I have an idea,” I tell him, tucking it in my pocket. Now it’s time to go home. I have a woman to see. Only I’m not sure how I’m going to explain her stepfather’s deception.

“Gentlemen, I am leaving. If you let that bastard live, and he comes after my woman…”

“Calm down, Volkov. I am not letting him live long. I want my money, and he does have a nice insurance policy. Soon he’ll have an accident, and I’ll take a cut of that check.”

“Fine with me. We’ll find a way to invest it and then transfer the proceeds.” He nods and we all walk out. I carry her luggage to my vehicle and leave.

The drive back is uneventful and faster than my drive in, but my mind is racing. Before I stop in the house, I drop the air tag inside one of my other vehicles in my garage.

When I step through the door, Cora is waiting. “Hey, how long were you waiting by the door for me?” I tease.

“Whatever, I heard your vehicle, and I was worried that it was someone else.” Damn, I don’t care for that. She shouldn’t be afraid of anyone.

“Relax. I promise you’re safe. Now did you eat? Because I’m hungry.”

“Um no. Dinner is actually cooking right now.” A blush steals over her face as she grins.

“Did the chef arrive?”

“Yes, and he and I were making dinner.” A low rumble of distaste comes from my lips. “What’s wrong? You don’t trust my cooking?”

“No, I don’t trust another man around you.” I can’t fight the possessive rush shooting through me.

“You had Mikhail around me all day,” she says with a huff as if I’m being ridiculous.

“Yes, but he’s a brother to me.”

She rolls her pretty ocean-colored eyes. “Well, then you need to relax because he was checking in every ten minutes like something was going to happen.”

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