Page 70 of The Payback

That kitchen is dangerous.

“Your relationship is still new,” he says. “Sometimes, these things take time.We’ll discuss other options if nothing happens within the next few months. But for now, Dimitri knows the importance as well as you do.”

“What other options are there?” I wonder aloud as I focus on my food again, inviting him to take the bait. Sergei is still holding one of my hands, and his thumb brushes the back of mine in a decidedly sensual gesture. My breath catches, and I look up.

He grips my hand harder. “We will not talk of this now, but it’s something to remember in the future. If there is one, the problem may not be with you but with Dimitri. And should that be the case, there are ways around it. Ways to ensure an heir he never needs to know is not his by blood. But without an heir, you will become useless. I would hate to see what happens if that time comes.”

Sergei nods his confirmation of my suspicions while noting my discomfort. He’s talking about fucking someone else to help ensure I get pregnant.

“But who?” I ask, hoping for words, not just gestures.

“Nik is an option. Is he not?” Sergei asks, letting his gaze drift over my shoulder to focus on the man at the other table. “He looks to you for orders instead of blindly following my own.”

“He is disgusting. Not to mention Dimitri’s trusted bodyguard,” I say. “Besides, they look so different.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Sergei muses. “But Dimitri is the spitting image of my brother and me when we were younger. Though, with your genes, it would disguise any parentage.”

I let my mouth fall open in shock. “Bu-but what about your wife?” I whisper-shout. I know they were somewhat distant at the dinner we’d had with them, but surely Sergei would expect me to put up an argument about Oksana.

Sergei chuckles dryly. “Oksana knows better than most the things we do for duty—for the family. And it’s not as if I haven’t turned a blind eye to her misdeeds. At least this would be in the name of the Bratva instead of carnal lust.”

Sergei releases my hand, and I look over my shoulder at Nik taking in the conversation from afar. Surely he can’t have heard any of the words, but his eyes are focused on the hand Sergei had been holding.

There’s a simmering rage on Nik’s face. His brow is scrunched, and his hand is gripping the fork like he wants to stab it in someone’s eye—hopefully Sergei’s and not mine.

The older man moves closer to me, sliding into the chair Nik tried to use earlier.

“Come now, Elsa,” Sergei says, returning my attention to him. “This is Oksana’s favourite salad, and she recommended it when I told her I was taking you to lunch. I’ll need to report on whether you liked it. Dig in.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

Nikita

I watchfrom a distance as Sergei leans towards Ellie and whispers something in her ear. My heart rate increases as I strain to hear their conversation, leaning so far out of my seat that I get up and move closer while they’re distracted. He pulls away, and Ellie’s fist clenches at her side. His voice continues, not as quiet as it was a moment ago. What I hear shocks me to my core.

“I’ll give you what Dimitri won’t,” Sergei says with a lecherous grin. “I’ll lie with you and give you a child. Dimitri will never know.”

My blood boils as I step forward, ready to confront Sergei. But Ellie speaks up before I can wrap my hands around his throat.

“But that’s treason. Or do you call it that in the Bratva? That’s how we refer to it back home.”

“Don’t be coy, Elsa. It’s for the good of the family.”

“Have you ever done anything like this before?” she asks, batting her lashes at him as her cheeks go pink.Fuck me; she’s a good actress.Her fingers dance across Sergei’s sleeve, trailing back and forth and creating contact between them. “It’s so risky,” she breathes, acting like this turns her on.

Fuck, maybe it does.

“What Dimitri doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

Elsa shivers at Sergei’s words, drawing his attention to her low-cut neckline. It’s modest by modern standards but put that little plunge on someone you can’t have, and it’s downright indecent.

“What else doesn’t he know?” she asks.

“Elsa, I can’t give you all my secrets so early in our friendship,” Sergei chides with a smirk.

I step back and turn towards my table, keeping my ear to the conversation but not hovering behind them anymore.

“Oh, Sergei. This is all just... It’s too crazy. What if we get caught? Dimitri doesn’t seem like the type to take things lying down. He’ll kill us, and he’ll have every right.”

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