Page 92 of Scarlet Secrets

“Ah, you fit, Erin.”

I look at him. “Why am I back here with you?”

If he was a lesser man, he’d run a finger around the edge ofhis collar. “Demyan has business to attend to, but there are some you should talk to for him.”

“I’m not part of his business.”

He mutters something in Russian into his drink as his gaze sweeps the room. The upscale bar is closed for this event. “A part of doing this is making small talk. Those people over there, he’s looking to do business with. A friendly, pretty face does wonders, as does intelligence.”

“Are you pimping me out?”

His gaze cuts into me.

And I bite down on a smile. They were talking about someone in the car here. Maybe it’d be good to get my mind off Sasha as well as the billion questions Kara’s going to fire at me tomorrow, not that I have a phone of my own. The one I’m using is very much something Demyan’s given me to use. But she’ll call since she has that number now.

What was the name? “Sergio?”

Ilya goes still. “No. Sergio isn’t here.”

“Who is he?”

“He’s an ally. Of sorts. I’d never point you toward him. These are businessmen looking for a dash of notoriety and increasing their worth. They’ll probably bore you with cars, golf, and badly aimed compliments. American men.”

I don’t point out he lives here and sounds American. I just hide my smile. “Wish me luck.”

I head over to the bar and one of the men catches my arm, asking if I came with Demyan. I just smile, trying to remember how certain meetings were run where I did all the work and was treated like the coffee girl. Men like this like their own voice. And, apparently, the cut of my dress.

Their flirt is annoying and harmless, and I go along for about five minutes before Demyan turns up. “If you’ll excuse us, gentlemen. Ilya will see if I have appointments.”

His tone is cool and emotionless, and they basically fall allover themselves to win him over. But it seems from that moment on I’m kept at his side until finally, we head back.

“Demyan—”

“Not yet.”

Is he mad at me? My head spins as we go up to his penthouse, and his sister, Kara, and Olga are not only dismissed, but taken to their respective homes.

I stand in the huge living room with the glittering lights of the city below.

“Get Sasha.”

“No, I?—”

“Get Sasha.” For a moment, he softens. “I want him to wake at home with all the familiar things. This is an adventure, nothing more.”

“It’s not like I can do anything else, can I? I can’t insist on staying here.”

“Erin—”

But I stop listening and collect our son and the things I brought over for him.

Ilya and a guard are waiting and Demyan takes Sasha, giving me no option but to follow him down.

The ride back to the mansion is quiet, with Sasha waking once but falling back to sleep from the motion of the car.

At the mansion, I tuck him in and I get up to go to my room when Demyan drags me into his. “From now on, you stay in here. We’re getting married, remember? Time to start acting like it.”

“Well, how can I resist with your amazing, romantic moves?”

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