Page 74 of His Smile
The unfamiliar scream didn'tseem to register in Roman's mind, but the unfamiliar face of the woman did.Immediately, his brain put together the facts of the ruse and Roman aimed hisgun down at the man on the bed and squeezed the trigger.
Ripping from is loosenedgrip, the naked woman ran screaming past Mosca and disappearing down the hall.Having rolled and hopped from the bed with the perfect amount of speed, Dimitristood naked and staring at the smoking bullet hole in his pillow with a laugh.
"Fuck, that wasclose," Dimitri laughed, his eyes wide with adrenaline.
Roman aimed the gun atDimitri's chest. "Where is she?"
"So, I take it you realizedyou made a mistake?"
Roman said nothing, hesimply cocked the gun.
Giving a defeated sigh,Dimitri raised both hands in defeat and answered. "She is in the penthousesuite."
Roman turned and left.
"You can thank melater!" Dimitri called out with a laugh.
~*~
The room Dimitri got her wassomething she had only seen in travel blogs. Four bedrooms, three and a halfbaths, two living rooms, a private lap pool located on the balcony thatoverlooked downtown Las Vegas, and a private butler. An actual real life,living breathing human being dedicated to her room alone; whose sole purposewas to make all of her needs come to fruition. Granted, the poor man had topass through the inspection of six of Dimitri’s men who guarded the outside ofher room. Dimitri had explained to her that this hotel was now his since hetook over as boss in Las Vegas by command of Vladimir, head of theirorganization, and by Roman’s recommendation. When he explained it, Rahina gotthe distinct impression Dimitri hadn’t been expecting Roman’s recommendation.The funny thing was, Dimitri in her opinion, was actually harder to read thanRoman. One was imposing and terrifying while the other was something altogethercreepy at times. Dimitri’s mood seemingly could turn on a dime, making it hardto tell if the man was ever being sincere. But as they flew in on the red-eyeflight from Boston, Rahina could tell Dimitri’s sincerity in that moment wasgenuine. He assured her countless times despite her doubts about his plan thateverything would work out and to just wait and see. It wasn’t until he escortedher to her room did, she finally believe him.
“Tell me, little sister,” hepaused at the door, as if thinking of an idea suddenly. “I have been thinking.I would like to think I know Roman very well, so let me ask you this. Does heever respond in Russian when you say you love him?”
A pang of hurt lanced throughher chest, and she shook her head, thinking of all the times she confessed herlove and waited desperately for him to say it back.
Frowning, Dimitri stared upat the ceiling for a moment, practically ignoring the silent guards standingnext to him. “He never says anything?” he pushed.
“No,” she sighed wishing hewould move on from the painful topic, it was starting to feel like salt on awound. “Like I said he never…” she paused as she thought of something.
Dimitri looked at herexpectantly.
Feeling a little shy as shethought of it, she spared a glance at the guards and leaned forward, closer toDimitri. “He does whisper a saying in my ear while we…while we make love.”
Smirking, Dimitri lifted oneeyebrow. “Can you repeat it?”
Twisting her mouth into afrown, she did her best to repeat the angry sounding language. Thankfully,Dimitri did not tease her, but he did make her repeat it a few more times untilshe could see the light of comprehension brighten his blue eyes.
Giving a satisfied nod,Dimitri reached out and captured her by the elbow and gently pulled her closeuntil he could lean close to her ear—and whisper.
The whispered words stayedwith her for the rest of that night. They robbed her of sleep and filled herwith anxious anxiety. Dimitri had told her that in order for his plan to work,she must not for any reason answer or make any calls to Roman or Mosca. But thewords, those damn words Dimitri told her fluttered through her head, drivingher mad with impatience and filled her heart until it felt as if it wouldexplode.
She was standing at thebalcony door watching the sun rise over the desert city when the door to herroom opened with an unexpected force. Jumping, Rahina turned around, and herheart clenched at the sight of Roman’s seething figure staring at her withmurder in his eyes.
She didn't jump, however, ashe slammed the door close with such a force, she was positive that brokesomething. She simply watched him as he stomped across the room and stopped afew feet away.
“Why in the fuck…” he beganin a snarl.
“Say it,” she cut him off,ignoring his bewildered look to her interruption. “Tell me that phrase youalways say to me in bed when we make love.”
Roman’s eyes widened for amoment, the murderous gleam that was there seconds ago fading to somethingintimate and warm. Stepping closer, he closed some of the gap between thembefore stopping again. He gave her a long considering look before giving intoher demand.
“??????? ???????????? ????????? ? ????,”He repeated the familiar words, his tongue rolling and enunciating the foreignwords like rough-hewn whispered poetry.
Her heart was drummingwildly in anticipation. “Now say it in English," she demanded.
Again, he stepped forwardthis time, closing the gap between them completely, her body instantlysuccumbing to his presence and leaning into his. “Words cannot describe my lovefor you.”
Holding a hand over hermouth, she willed her legs not to buckle under the pressure. Dimitri was right,he had been saying it to her all along, even before she confessed her love tohim.
