“I don’t need any chivalry, Dmitri. I’m fine. I think I’ve proven I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, you can indeed take care of yourself. But you’ve also become a target for cops on my behalf. You think I’m going to leave you alone afterthat?”
“That’s ridiculous. They wouldn’t try anything,” I scoff.
“No? What about your ex-boyfriend? He wasveryangry when we left.”
Dean was definitely angry. I was too jubilant and high on my victory to consider it too carefully, but I know Dean doesn’t like to be made a fool of. He doesn’t like it when someone takes control away from him, especially ifI’mthe one who took it, humiliating him in front of his partner.
That look in his eyes, the ferocity of the rage burning deep… that was the look that always told me to brace myself because something bad was about to happen.
It was one thing not to be frightened of that look in the middle of a police precinct, but this quiet, dark street in the middle of the night is a far cryfromthat. And Dean knows where I live.
I sigh, Dmitri reading the sound for what it is: surrender. We walk in silence to my building, past the Dunkin’ Donuts with the grate pulled over the entrance and the nail salon I frequent, the front windows glowing with fairy lights.
When we reach my building, I unlock the door to the lobby. He joins me in the elevator up to my floor, and finally to my door.
“Okay, well, this is me. Thanks for walking me up. Goodnight.”
But Dmitri doesn’t move. Instead, he stands there, watching me, his expression enigmatic.
“I’m not going to ask you in, if that’s what you’re waiting for.” I’m beginning to lose my patience, ready to bring out the lawyer side of me, though I don’t think it will work the way it did with the cops and the ADA.
“I need to know you’re safe. I want to look around and make sure no one is inside.”
There is no amusement in those ice-blue eyes. Dmitri is entirely serious, and I’m too damn exhausted to argue.
I unlock the door with a sound of annoyance vibrating in my throat, and Dmitri follows me in.
“Wait here.”
He doesn’t wait to see if I obey before he walks past me to inspect my apartment. It won’t take him long. Although the space is large as far as New York apartments go, it’s still only a living room, small kitchen, one full bath, and a bedroom. I don’t even have a dining room table—no room and no need. Two bar stools work nicely, with the bar jutting out from the open window into the kitchen. The view is decent enough, and the lights from the skyscrapers rise up around us, casting a bright glow into the space.
It feels strange to know Dmitri is prowling around, ensuring no one is waiting in the shadows to molest me out—or worse. He’s in my personal space. He’sin my apartmentwith clothes thrown over the back of a chair, makeup scattered on the bathroom sink, toothpaste drips, an unmade bed, and dirty dishes in the sink.
A Russian mob boss is walking around my apartment. A dangerous, powerful man who more than likely has done everything that warrant says he did. He didn’t get to where he is by being thoughtful, forgiving, and legit.
I have to end this now—all of it. I just got out of my relationship with Dean, which was bad enough, but somehow, this is worse—onsomany levels.
I think I’m done with men for a while. Never mind that my night with Dmitri—and what almost happened in his office that first day—has ruined me for every other man, probably forever.
I hear the sound of footsteps as Dmitri returns. I let go a sigh of relief when I don’t see any tension or concern on his face. Maybe the thought that Dean might come after me for the way I humiliated him this afternoon rang a little too true.
“Anything?”
Dmitri shakes his head. “Nobody is here.”
“Okay, well, thanks then.” I open the door, take a deep breath, and forge ahead. “Also, I won’t be in tomorrow. Please consider this my resignation.”
That catches him off-guard, and his eyebrows raise in that look of faint surprise I’ve come to know. Hedoesn’t move for a long moment.
“You’re going to have to repeat yourself,” he says. “I thought I heard you say you’re quitting my company.”
“That’s exactly what you heard.” I force myself to stand straighter, tilt my chin up, and meet his eyes. “What I did today was my job and a professionalcourtesy. But you lied to me about the reality behind Smirnov Corp., and I cannot in good faith continue with a position that puts my professional future and reputation on the line.”
“What? You can’t even give me two weeks’ notice?” Dmitri speaks quietly, and I don’t know whether that’s a good orbad thing.
“Fair enough. I will work for you for the next two weeks. But I will not continue past that. I will not work with a known criminal organization.”
