“It’s really not so bad,” I said, feeling a bit insecure within the decadence of his house.
“Not so bad?” His voice was ice. “If I didn’t take you in tonight, someone probably would’ve stumbled upon your frozen body when it was time for the next mission.”
“I’ve been through worse,” I said, and his eyes flared.
Dmitri’s judgment rankled something in me. Gemma had been in my house a million times. And sure she teased me about the state of it, but I never felt insecure.
“Why do you care?” I said before I could think it through.
His jaw clenched. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my thoughts. It was funny, if I ever spoke to my father that way he’d slap me straight into these perfectly polished floors. But with Dmitri, I knew he’d never snap like that.
I reminded myself that Dmitri had taken me in tonight when there was snow falling down onto the icy streets. I swallowed away the defensiveness, and said, “Sorry.”
Dmitri’s head tilted, staring at me as if trying to puzzle something out.
“Why are you staying there?” Dmitri asked. “And don’t tell me it’s because you like the layout.” A thin smile marked his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
I stared out at the glowing skyline of the city, watching the snow flutter towards the ground.
“My parents didn’t want me to move out,” I said slowly, the memories flashing in my brain. Tasting the guilt that had seared me when I’d left my mother alone with my abusive father. “They tried to make it as difficult as possible… So my only choice was to live in a shithole.”
I leaned further into the sofa, allowing it to swallow me in its comfy fluff.
“I’m guessing you don’t have that problem,” I said, sweeping my hand around the room.
“My mother doesn’t pay for shit,” he said.
I frowned. None of the candidates to become the next Pakhan were paid directly. The Pakhan paid the candidates’ parents instead of us. My guess was to make us easier to control.
“I have separate businesses going,” he said in answer to my silent question. “I’d never allow someone to have that muchcontrol over me.” His eyes grew distant as he stared out the cold window.
“Protection businesses?” I guessed.
“Among other things.”
“That’s what you were doing that night when I… defied you,” I said, the pieces clicking together.
Dmitri laughed darkly. “You’re going to have to be more specific. You love defying me.”
Heat spread across my chest at his words. His eyes moved leisurely over my skin, drinking me in like I was top shelf vodka. I bit down on my lip, wishing his fingers would trace over my skin in the exact same places. I leaned towards him, realizing I was tilted so far forward that my back was arched.
“Don’t tempt me,” he said roughly.
“Why not?” I said, my voice a whisper even though we were alone.
“Go to bed, kitten,” he said, striding out of the room with his drink in hand.
Chapter forty-one
Dmitri
I thought denying myself from touching Alisa when she was that worked up was the pinnacle of torture. But when she walked out of my guest bedroom the next morning wearing my old workout shirt and shorts, I nearly shattered the coffee cup in my hand.
Until now, I didn’t think I was the type to get turned on by a woman wearing my clothes. Yet it took all of my self control not to rip the outfit off her.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
She shrugged. I stifled a groan when the oversized shirt flopped down her shoulder, baring the almost faded hickey.
