Page 62 of Ensnared
By the end of the night, while Dimitri waited downstairs for her, Andrey had left her one final parting decree as he tied the cloak around her neck.
"Only take this off when you step out of the car at the venue," he ordered with a stern look.
Dimitri's molten gaze rested on her face. "Because I know it's going to ruin me," he rumbled in a low voice, letting the heavily accented words wrap around her. "It will ruin everything tonight. The plan to show my face and do a little networking—it's all gone. I know it," he let out a mumbled curse in Russian and sat back straight in his seat. "I'll most likely need to kill every man in there tonight," he said in a tone that suggested a minor annoyance rather than a declaration of mass violence.
"I bet at least one," Dominic added dryly.
Eve met the lieutenant's gaze in the rearview mirror. "Hush," she told him.
Ignoring the lieutenant's chuckle, she focused on Dimitri. "I think I look good tonight but notthatgood," she reasoned. "Besides, without my glasses, I won’t know what’s going on."
His eyebrows quirked in silent challenge as he took in her perfectly done face and her straightened hair, combed back and held with a glittering gold band. "You do lookthatgood and I haven't seen the damn dress yet."
Eve smiled. Reaching for his hand, her heart fluttered with warmth as he laced his fingers into hers, and placed her hand on his firm lap. Earlier, when she was still getting the final touches done to her makeup and subsequently confined to her chair, Dimitri had stepped out of his closet, donning an all-black suit that exuded an air of dangerous opulence. Eve didn't even want to know what the impeccably tailored suit cost. Whatever it was, she knew it was expensive. The black shirt and the luxurious black silk tie weren't just a simple black, they were a shade of onyx that contrasted perfectly with the slate black suit. Despite his immaculate state, he had taken the time to pick up Mochi where he lingered at her feet and brought the cat up to Eve's face for a kiss.
Could he ever guess what those little actions did to her? Yes, he was wrong in so many ways. He was a sadist and a criminal. A man who carried a gun at his waist and had an army of criminals at his beck and call. Eve had every reason to run from him, yet all she could see were the reasons to stay. Not once did he ever make her feel unwanted or unworthy. Looking out the window on her side of the car, Eve willed herself not to tear up as she thought of the dinner with her grandparents last weekend. She and Ricky had been nervous wrecks as Dimitri, Andrey, and Dominic sat at the table. But nothing went wrong; in fact, it went great. Her grandparents were so happy to meet everyone that neither she nor Ricky knew what to say.
He was the one she wanted. Her heart thumped confidently as the decision settled inside of her. Eve didn’t know where this relationship was going to go but she knew she wanted to give it a chance.
She felt him before she heard him, the slight shift in his body next to her before she was being pulled back into his chest. Leaning forward until his lips were only inches from her ear, he spoke in a low voice. "What are you thinking?
The warmth of his words made her shiver and Eve turned in his arms until she was meeting his glittering sapphire gaze.That I love you and by all rights I shouldn't but I do.Instead, she kissed him and whispered. "Nothing, just how happy I am."
"We're here," Dominic's voice gently cut in and they both turned to see the lights of the venue outside the passenger window.
The vehicle pulled to a stop in the front. It was sort of designed like a red-carpet event with a long-carpeted procession from the street to the entrance and beautiful pedestal lights lining either side. The only thing it was missing was the crowd and the photographers. A man appeared at Dimitri's door and Eve recognized him as Petr. Dominic must have sent men ahead to meet them here.
Petr opened the door and Dimitri stepped out smoothly. Eve wasn't so sure she would be as graceful in her heels.
As she began to shift herself across the seat, testing her luck in the extra-tall stilettos she had previously pleaded with Andrey not to make her wear, Dimitri's hand appeared. Gratefully, Eve took it, comforted by the strength wrapping around her hand as he guided her out. Standing on two feet, she smiled at him and walked inside.
At the entrance, they could hear the music and the heavy thrum of the crowd inside. Eve swallowed nervously. Even in the entrance hall, finely dressed couples were scattered about—some engaged in animated conversation while others were engrossed in their phones.
They stopped at the coat check counter and Dimitri gave her a waiting look that bordered on almost hungry. "It's time to show me the damage you're going to cause, sweetheart."
Eve crinkled her brow and began to untie the knot at her throat. "I think you've hyped this up too much; it may be a big letdown," she murmured, pulling off the cape and handing it to the attendant.
The silence from him made her reach up and quickly check her hair. He didn’t say anything. His glittering blue eyes just traced her from head to toe in a startling stillness. Finally, his eyes snapped up to hers and her breath caught in her throat. That wild unhinged gleam she knew so well was there.
She considered what she was wearing, remembering her reflection in the mirror from earlier. It was a simple black velvet gown that curved perfectly to her figure and flared out delicately at the bottom. With long floor-length caped sleeves and a high neckline, the dress was modest. The large gold necklace at her throat was the only extravagance to the entire look. Admittedly, she never felt more luxurious in her life.
Any words she may have had died on her tongue as he stepped forward and hooked his arm around the curve of her waist. With a few steps, he had her tucked into a corner down an empty hall.
"Twenty minutes," he said with a low almost growl.
Eve frowned, giving him a puzzled look. What did that mean?
"Twenty minutes and we leave."
Eve laughed. "But it took me longer than twenty minutes just to get ready. And aren’t you supposed to be networking?" she chided.
"I would burn this building down if that meant going back home with you right now," he told her flatly.
Smiling, she lifted her hands to his face, enjoying the smooth skin of his freshly shaved jawline gliding beneath her fingers. Eve leaned in and gave him a meaningful look. "There's no rush," she whispered. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here."
The wild edge in his eyes grew brighter. "Say that again."
Her fingers entwined behind his head and she gently pulled him down until he was inches away from her lips. "I'll always be here," she repeated.
