Page 95 of Dirty Grovel

I have half a mind to storm into the kitchen and end this conversation once and for all. The only thing that stops me is the fact that I haven’t heard Sutton’s response yet.

“I… I don’t know what Oleg has in mind,” she admits, her voice dipping so low that I have to really strain to hear her. “We aren’t together. Our old contract no longer applies. He is free to be with whomever he chooses.”

“As are you,” Oksana points out.

“Technically, I guess. But… men are messy. So are relationships,” Sutton says. “I’d rather just keep to myself and focus on my baby.”

“Will you still feel that way when Oleg is out entertaining his women?”

I’m grinding my teeth so hard that I might be in danger of being discovered from the sound of shattering enamel. But neither woman so much as glances in my direction.

“I have no hold on him,” Sutton murmurs. “He’s not mine to make demands of. Nor to keep.”

Oksana shakes her head, a soft smile playing across her lips. “Oh, dear. It’s too late for you already, isn’t it?”

I have no fucking clue what that’s supposed to mean. But before Sutton can answer or Oksana can clarify, my phone starts ringing, revealing my position by the door.

Both women jerk towards me.

I reject the call and stride into the kitchen as though I’ve just arrived. Wiping my face clean of emotion, I address them bothlike I haven’t spent the last fifteen minutes eavesdropping on their conversation.

“We’re leaving tomorrow morning for Palm Beach,” I announce.

Oksana raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Boris is in the ICU. Signs indicate that he was attacked in his home, beaten to a bloody pulp, and then hit across the back of the head.”

Sutton claps a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God…!” Her sweet eyes turn immediately sympathetic despite everything Boris did to her.

Oksana’s cheeks are hollowed and taut, her skin pale. “Is this real?”

“By all accounts, it is. I have to go home and deal with this. The cops are sniffing around.”

“Are you okay?” Sutton asks, her fingers twitching towards me.

She doesn’t actually reach out. She doesn’t touch me. No matter how bad both of us want exactly that.

“Are we taking the jet out?” Oksana asks.

“You will be,” I tell her. “Along with Artem and his family. I will be piloting the yacht back to Palm Beach with Sutton.”

Sutton’s eyes widen. “Won’t that take longer?”

“It will. But there are things you and I need to discuss.”

Her lips tighten. She nods slowly but she doesn’t ask any follow-up questions.

Except for one.

“Tomorrow, did you say?”

Her eyes are welling with tears already and I know exactly why.

“You’ll have to say your goodbyes tonight, princess,” I murmur. “There’ll be no time tomorrow.”

“E-excuse me,” she stammers, a tear rolling down her cheek. “If you need me, I’ll be at the cottage.”

She heads off, hiding behind her waterfall of hair. Oksana and I both stare after her, watching her silhouette get smaller and smaller as she follows the garden path to the cottage. The lights are still on in the main living room, so at least she’ll be able to say a proper goodbye to Jesse, if not Teo.

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