“I'm not keeping this from him on purpose, I promise. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. This is a huge surprise for me. Please don't tell him; please just give me some time. You know what he’ll do if you tell him what happened today.”
I know I'm asking this man to lie to his boss and his friend on my behalf. I know he doesn't owe me anything, and Dmitri commands all his loyalty.
But I still need time to figure out what I'm doing, what path I'm going to take, and what I want my future to look like. If Dmitri knows I’m pregnant with his child, and that someone tried to kill me because of my connection to him, I have no doubt what'sgoing to happen. All I can think about is whatAndreysaid:He went crazy after she died.
Pavel's lipscompressinto a thin line, his eyes troubled and steely in the dim light.
History repeating itself would be Dmitri’s worst nightmare.
Emotions flicker over the usually stoic face, from anger to reluctance to concern.
Pavel's phone lights up, and he answers in clipped Russian. After the call, he puts his phone away and takes my arm, guiding me to the door.
“Come on, I'm taking you somewhere safe.”
19
CLARA
Somewhere safe just happens to be Smirnov Corporation. I do my best to look entirely normal and nonchalant as I pass my coworkers on the way to my office. They know I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and I see a few curious faces. I give them small smiles I hope are reassuring, but inside, I'm quaking and feeling sick.
And it's not morning sickness this time.
I still can't believe someone tried to run me over, that I was moments away from being hit head-on by a car. IfPavel hadn't been there, I would most likely be horrifically mangled, probably dead.
Pavel was there onDmitri orders. I'm a lawyer, and I've made enemies, but I'm almost certain this was about my relationship with Dmitri.
I turn on my computer and try to get to work, hoping that will take my mind off what just happened and the implications, never mind the other complications I'm trying not to think about. I give up after a few minutes because I can’t turn my mindoff and my hands are shaking too badly. I bury them in my lap while I try, and fail, to calm myself with deep breaths.
I'm considering calling Em to pick me up and take me home when a disturbance in the hallway culminates with the door to my office slamming open. I stifle a shriek as it hits the wall.
I can't utter a single sound at the sight of who is standing in the doorway.
Dmitri’s eyes are enormous, gleaming in an inhuman way that makes me shudder. He's breathing hard, his shoulders rising and falling, his mouth twisted into a snarl.
I'm up and out of my seat as he stalks toward me. Every thought but to run and escape leaves my head, except I have nowhere to run. Pavel comes in behind Dmitri and closes the door. His eyes are on his boss, his shoulders tight with tension as he watches Dmitri's every move in case he has to intervene.
Dmitri stops just a few feet in front of me, his shoulders continuing to rise and fall with the effort it's taking him to maintain control of whatever beast has been released by the news of the incident.
Did Pavel tell him about the pregnancy, too?
“Are you okay?” The question is deep and gravelly, anger dancing around the heavily accented words, like fire set on destroying everything it touches.
“I’m fine. Really, I’m fine. Pavel was there, and he saved me. I’m not hurt. No one got hurt. I’m okay, I swear.” I’m aware I’m babbling, but my fear is too potent. My body is freezing up with the proximity to this terrifying man in front of me, conjuring up memories of Dean's anger and where it led.
I shy away as Dmitri takes a step closer and reaches out for me, then stops himself as though he’s unsure if he should touch me.
“Really, I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
He stares at me with those icy eyes for a heartbeat longer before he spins around and closes in on Pavel.
“Find out who made the attempt,” he demands. “I want his name, and I want his head. I want him brought to me. I’m going to show that motherfucker what happens when he threatens what is mine.”
Dmitri paces like a caged animal, switching to a stream of furious Russian.
I don't want to know what's in store when Dmitri finds whoever tried to hit me. I don't want to know what terrible thing is going to happen to them. Whatever it is will be more horrific than I can imagine, and it's all because someone wants me dead in order to hurt Dmitri. And he doesn't even know about the baby yet—I’m guessing Pavel kept that to himself, or Dmitri would have already said something.
Dmitri swings back to me, and I flinch again.
