Page 137 of Dirty Grovel

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SUTTON

This is it.

This is when the beast inside Sutton Palmer is finally unleashed.

Careful, Oleg Pavlov, I think to myself, adrenaline pumping through my veins,I’m coming for your title.

Now, if only I can find a way to get him to let go of my hand.

“We’ve been over every detail of this plan a thousand times,” I remind him. “I know the drill, Oleg. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ve never done one of these operations before, Sutton,” he growls, his hand clenching protectively. “Sometimes being on the ground turns out very different than ‘the plan.’”

“It’ll be fine. Trust me.”

“I do trust you,” he grits out. “It’s the motherfucker you’re going to meet that I don’t trust.”

A new voice interrupts. “It should be me.”

Oh, no. Now there’s two of them.

I whirl around to face my sister, who’s dressed in a spare set of my pajamas, since she crashed with us last night without any warning.

Probably because she’s as determined as Oleg is to talk me out of this plan of mine.

“You should be in bed,” I chide. “Sleeping.”

“I slept plenty. You told me you weren’t leaving until ten,” she accuses. “It’s nine.”

Sighing, I try to pry my hands out of Oleg’s, but he still refuses to let go. “I just didn’t want you to worry, Syd. I figured you’d sleep through most of it and when you woke, it would be done.”

Oleg’s lips purse like he’s trying to stop himself from bursting my bubble. I’m not naïve here. I know it’s not going to be that fast or that simple.

But hey—a girl can dream, right?

I need to go into this confidently if I’m going into it at all. But that’s hard to do when I have my fiancé on one side and my sister on the other, both totally cramping my style.

“Let me go in your place!” Sydney tries one last time.

“Syd,” I sigh, “we’ve been over this before.”

“You didn’t give my suggestion a fair shake,” she insists, glancing towards Oleg like she’s hoping he might back her up. “He’s going to be expecting you. Maybe we should throw a wrench in the works and see how he reacts.”

“I can answer that: Badly,” I say. “He’s going to react badly. And need I remind you that you tried to meet with him several times?He never followed up. The moment I text the asshole, he takes the bait.”

Oleg’s hand tightens around mine.

“He’s showing up today forme, Sydney. I have to be there. I have to make him believe that I’m desperate enough to barter with him.”

“We don’t know what he’s capable of, Sutton.”

Gritting my teeth, I chance a glance in Oleg’s direction. The last thing I need is for Syd to talk Oleg out of this plan. Especially now, when it’s minutes from being executed.

“Maybe not. But you know whatI’mcapable of,” I declare confidently. “Put your faith in me. I can do this.”

“You’re pregnant.”

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