Page 71 of Wrapped in Perfection

"What if I'm with a friend? Say Harper and I want to go shopping after lunch. Do I tell Viktor? Do I have to text you and ask permission so you know my every move?" Her face is slightly red, but her voice is calm. I'm not sure if she's angry or not.

My pulse increases. She's asking a fair question. And I've not thought that far ahead. I curse myself. I don't want to worry Anna, but I also don't want her to be unaware. I pull her onto my lap. "Do you remember how I told you we were trying to buy a piece of property for our development from Lorenzo Rossi?"

Her eyes darken. "Yes."

"It's not going so well. It has morphed from him selling us his one plot, to us giving him the seven pieces we have for practically nothing. It makes me nervous. He hasn't made any threats, but I don't want him to ever catch any of us off guard."

"You think he'd hurt me?"

"I want to be proactive with your safety."

She taps her fingers on her thigh.

"Are you angry with me?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Honesty doesn't anger me, Dmitri. Lies and keeping me in the dark does."

She still doesn't know who I really am.

She can't ever find out.

I will protect her from it all.

"Go wherever you want with Harper today. You will probably need to explain who Viktor is to her when you get in the car. He will stay out of your way until it is time to leave."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

She strokes my cheek. "If I have your car and bodyguard, how will you stay safe?"

"I know how to protect myself, kotik. You don't need to worry about my safety."

She traces her finger over my biceps. "Do you have a gun, Dmitri?"

"Not on me."

"But you have one?"

"Yes. It's in my safe."

She takes a deep breath. "Do you have your knife on you?"

"How do you know I own a knife?"

"It was on the dresser."

"Ahh. I see."

"Is it on you?"

"Where are you going with this?"

"Can you answer my question?"

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