He didn’t miss a beat. “If I were in your room, it wouldn’t be because I sneaked in there, but because you let me in. And I certainly wouldn’t be prioritizing moving a phone around.”
He seemed to do that a lot—appear to answer a question without actually answering it. She tapped her toe against the trim on the bottom of the wall. “Well, knock that shit off. It’s creepy.”
“It’s probable that you drank too much and misplaced the phone.”
She glared, tapping harder. He had a point. When she’d gotten drunk last night, she seemed to remember wantingthe phone on her in case he decided to call again.Reckless.“What do you want? I’m busy.”
“Out to lunch with your treacherous sister.”
Hewouldthink that. Carrigan breaking her word to him was the catalyst that had turned Dmitri Romanov into the bogeyman that the O’Malleys feared. Keira froze, feeling sick to her stomach. Of course. This had all started with Carrigan.Of courseDmitri wanted Carrigan. He always had. “Don’t call me again.”
“Keira.” He spoke sharply enough that she knew she’d surprised him.
If she was smart, she’d hang up and throw the damn phone in the nearest trash can, but she’d already proven that she was too reckless to live when it came to Dmitri Romanov. “If you want Carrigan, that’s your problem. I’m not interested in being sloppy seconds, or a younger, meaner version of the woman you really want.” It hurt far more than it had the right to for her to say those words.
And, goddamn him, he laughed. “Is that what you think?”
“You’re answering a question with a question. Again. I hate that.”
“You didn’t ask a question. But let’s pretend for a moment that you did. Do I want Carrigan? No. I never did. She would have been a suitable wife, but I had no strong feelings for her one way or another.”
“Then why force my family to its knees?”
She could almost hear the smile in his voice. “You know why.”
She licked her lips. “Yeah, I know why.”
Because Carrigan breaking her word and running off with James Halloran had weakened him. If he couldn’t hold on toa woman who’d agreed to be his wife, then he might not be able to hold his people in place. Having Olivia flee Romanov hands, defying their father’s dying wishes, and ending up in O’Malley hands had only further weakened him.
“Are you wearing my ring, Keira?”
Her gaze dropped to the massive rock on her finger. Even knowing she should have taken it off, she couldn’t make herself do it. She loved it, just like he seemed to have known she would. “Yes.”
“I never gave a ring to your sister. I never touched her as I’ve already touched you.” He took a breath, but it didn’t do anything to decrease the intensity in his voice. “You have driven me to distraction from the moment we met. I would move mountains to ensure that you end up as my wife, in my bed. You would do well to remember that.”
He could be lying…
She shivered, not sure if he was threatening her or making a promise that she might look forward to, just a little. Or both. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I want there to be no misunderstanding between us. I don’t want your sister—either of your sisters. I want you.”
I want you.
She leaned against the wall, her knees suddenly feeling a little out of whack. “Why are you calling, Dmitri?”
“You’re in danger.”
“What?” She shot off the wall, spinning around. The hallway was just as empty as it’d been the last time she looked. “Next time, Romanov, lead withthat.”
He called so I’d leave the table and get out of the line of fire.She ran back the way she’d come. “If you—”
“I’m not responsible.”
No, but he’d known there was a threat and he’d removed her from the situation, rather than warning Carrigan and Charlie. “Damn it, Dmitri, if something happens to my sister or Charlie, I will hunt you down and cut your fucking balls off. Takethatinto account next time you try this bullshit.” She hung up and sprinted back toward the dining room.
Chapter Eighteen
Get down!”
