Page 37 of Deadly Protector
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
“If you hurt Zamira, we will hurt you.” Lyosha’s voice was hard as he watched Dimitri across the table on his patio.
Most of the men were sitting near Lyosha’s pool, but the women were all in the pool with the kids. He’d been invited here with Zamira so she could spend the day with her family, but he’d more or less expected a grilling from Lyosha, who was being overprotective of her.
Viktor simply glanced at his head of security, his expression neutral. Even in a bathing suit, sipping on a beer, the man had a deadly air to him.
Juan’s expression remained stony as he stared Dimitri down. He’d wondered why all the guys had said they wanted to talk to him. Apparently it was to threaten him. Which he respected. Even if he was a bit confused, considering Juan had been giving him tons of unsolicited advice about how to win her over.
“We’ll hurt your face,” Carlos added, his words stilted and awkward as he attempted to threaten Dimitri. Then he winced.
Lyosha sighed, rubbed a hand down his face.
Viktor’s lips twitched.
“You need to work on your threats,” Juan murmured, shooting his brother-in-law a sharp look as he passed Lyosha a beer.
Carlos simply shrugged. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. And I’ve never threatened anyone before.”
“Clearly,” Lyosha murmured. “You’re terrible at it.”
“You better work on it, then,” Viktor continued. “You’ve got two daughters who will bring boys home one day.”
“So? I’ve got a son too. And I’m not going to be threatening anyone they date—I have no idea if they’ll bring home boys, girls, or maybe—”
“Oh my God, we’re getting off track,” Lyosha muttered. “We’re talking to Dimitri about his intentions with Zamira.”
Carlos looked back at Dimitri and held out a hand, his expression apologetic. “I’m sorry I tried to threaten you. It’s clear you care about Zamira. Even with what’s going on, she seems really happy today. And if you hurt her, it’s clear these guys will fuck you up and probably hide your body where it’ll never be found. So I’d advise against doing anything to hurt her. I’m about to grab a beer, you want one?” The man was nothing like the others and Dimitri found he liked Zamira’s brother-in-law—who spoke of her with the affection of a man who’d been in her life now for almost two decades.
Dimitri nodded, fighting a grin as he looked at the others. “So, you will all fuck me up if I hurt Zamira.” He eyed Lyosha and Viktor, men he’d grown up around, respected. “What happens if she hurts me?”
“Then we will take you out and help you get over her,” Lyosha said.
Viktor just shrugged in agreement.
“I would never hurt her.” He looked away from them, their words beyond ridiculous. Which, he was pretty sure they all knew. He’d do anything to protect her.
His gaze was drawn to her in the pool as she tossed a volleyball to Viktor’s little girl, who giggled and slapped at it wildly.
Dimitri shot Viktor a sharp look suddenly. “For the record, I remember when you first started dating Dominique. You…were not smooth with her.” Talk about an understatement.
To Dimitri’s surprise, Lyosha snickered. He was in full-on protective mode today, but that broke his hard exterior. “He was the worst. And now he wants to talk about feelings all the time. He does anything his girls ask of him.”
“You still work for me.” Viktor’s tone was dry. “And you’re no different with Mila.”
“Nothing wrong with talking about feelings.” Carlos—who Dimitri really liked now—rejoined them at the table. “If mi alma and I had talked about our feelings more, we would have had less troubles. Now we talk all the time and things are great. We’re having more sex now than we did at seventeen.” He looked very pleased with himself.
“He never stops talking,” Juan murmured, though it was clear he was fighting a smile of his own. “Always with ‘owning our emotions.’”
Carlos shrugged. “That’s right. I’m going to be the type of father mine never was. I want my kids coming to me with their problems, not just to their mama. And I want my wife to know I’m always there when she needs me. I’m not going to be some emotionally stunted asshole.”
Dimitri held his beer out to Carlos, nodded his thanks as he clinked his bottle against the other man’s. “I’ll drink to that.”
“So.” There was a shift in Viktor’s tone then. “Ryba.”
Dimitri’s amusement about Carlos died as he looked at his friend. “I honestly don’t know if he’s still a threat.”
“We will keep an eye on him, then,” Lyosha said, even as he looked at Viktor for confirmation.
