Page 19 of Immaculate Corruption (Romanoff Bratva)

Part of Dima still cares.

I can’t deny that I feel the same about him. My body is drawn to his. It’s the same way bubbles are drawn to the water’s surface. It’s science, nature, physics.

It’s irresistible.

“Time to go,” I croak quietly to break the tense silence. I take one look back over my shoulder. I can see Ernestine giving Lukas a bottle through the crack in the blinds.

She asked a lot of questions when I came back to the room and told her that Dima had found us. I didn’t have great answers. I still don’t. So I just told her we had some things to take care of. That everything would be fine. That I’d be home tonight and we’d be on a plane somewhere beautiful by the end of the week, just like I promised.

I hope to God that all comes true.

For now, this is the only path forward, though. So with a gulp, I turn and follow Dima Romanoff—on our way into the lion’s den.

Dima

The Lady Fortune

“You know what you have to do?”

Arya nods. “I think so.”

“And you know what’s at stake.”

She bites her lower lip and nods again. “Yeah. I know.”

“If you fuck this up—”

“I won’t.” She raises her gaze from her lap to meet mine. I can see fear in her eyes. But I can see bravery, too. The same intoxicating mixture that drew me to her in the first place.

“Alright then,” I rumble. “I’ll be here.”

Arya scowls as she unbuckles her seatbelt, opens the door, and starts to slink out of the car.

I can’t help staring as she goes. She’s mesmerizing in that dress. I like her better with her natural dark hair, but something about the blond dye job keeps my eyes riveted to her.

I’m supposed to hate her.

I’m supposed to destroy her.

But, fuck me… all I want to do is bend her over and taste her instead.

She’s almost all the way out of the car when I move. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I’m already lunging halfway across the seat. Until my hand seizes her wrist and freezes her in place. It’s just an automatic instinct. An impulse I’ve never been able to control.

She looks down at my hand clamping on her wrist and then up to my face.

I know what I want to say. What I ought to say.

Don’t get yourself killed.

Our son needs you.

Hell…Ineed you.

The words are right on my lips. It’d be so easy to say them. To forgive her for all her lies and take the first step towards a different kind of future with Arya at my side and Lukas in my arms.

But I can’t. At the last moment, I falter.

“Hurry the fuck up, okay?” I snarl.

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