Page 118 of Scarlet Sins

“I get power and money and… her?” Vince asks.

“She’s nonnegotiable.”

Vince smiles. “Good.”

And Stefina squeals, throwing her arms around Vince.

“You’re good with this?” Ilya asks me, sidling up.

“As long as he sticks to the deal and keeps the fuck out of my way.”

“He will. And he’ll be an asset.” Then Ilya smacks me on the back. “We did good. Now I’m back.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on, we’ve got that new flight to catch.”

Chapter Thirty-One

ERIN

It doesn’t matterthe reports are in that Demyan and Ilya are arriving tonight. I can’t wait and my nerves won’t die down until he’s here, in front of me, safe. Until I can touch him and make sure it’s real.

“Calm down,” Kara says to me.

“I’m calm.”

“No, you’re not. And it’s not good for you or the baby.” She gets up and starts pacing with me.

Alina and Olga and one of the guards are playing hide-and-seek with Sasha in the house as, while we’re not to leave, the risk level has gone down. A little. Which also makes me nervous. If it’s all over, then why?—

“Hey,” Kara says brightly, “remember when we were going to open up our own agency? But you had to meet a sexy man and get knocked up?”

“Kara—”

“What do you say to us revisiting that after the baby’s born? You’re financially stable now, and it’ll take time to set up, so when we’re ready to go, we can launch. It’ll give you time with the baby, too.”

“It’s a great idea.” I stop pacing. “I’m just worried.”

“He’s on his way.”

“I know. I’m happy this ordeal’s over and the whole Sergio and Stefina thing is done, but I’m not going to relax or have it feel real until I’m in Demyan’s arms again. Until I can touch him.”

“You got it bad, girl.”

That makes laughter bubble free. “I’m marrying him.”

“Which is probably good that you got it bad.”

Suddenly, one of the guards presses a phone to his ear and heads to the door. Kara and I rush to the window in the front and pull back the blind. A car’s pulling up.

“Ilya!”

“Dino!” Sasha cries.

The moment the guard has the door open, we pour out. Me, Sasha, Alina, and Kara. Demyan gets out, too. I wobble and almost fall at the sight of him, and he sees me. And then he starts hurrying to me, but something small hits his legs, wrapping tight.

If Kara didn’t grab me, I’d have hit the ground.

Sasha screams, “Daddy! I missed you!”

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