Oh, I’m pretty sure Ethan Thorpe was at the top of that list.
“You haven’t touched me in five years, Dimitri! You haven’t touched me since we got married, and I’m supposed to be your wife.” Her voice cracked, and I had to admire her performance. If I hadn’t known better, I would have almost believed the tears welling in her eyes. “Do you know what it’s like to sleep in separate rooms from your husband, knowing he’s thinking of someone else? Wanting someone else?”
Of course, everything circles back to Isabella once again. I couldn’t get her obsession. She was sleeping with Thorpe, she didn’t care about this marriage other than what it gave her, so why the hell was she so hell bent on destroying Isabella?
“How can I give you an heir if you won’t even look at me like I’m someone worthy to be made love to?”
Oh, God. Now I’d heard it all. I groaned, stepping away from her, my face scrunched up in irritation. “We both know that’s not going to happen, Selene.” The words came out sharper than intended, but I didn’t care. “This marriage is a political arrangement that has served its purpose.” And I’d only stayed in it long enough to know what she was really up to before I struck.
Her face twisted into something ugly before she smoothed it away. “You’re going to regret this, Dimitri. All of this. When you realize what you’re throwing away—”
“I’m not throwing anything away. I’m only claiming what is mine.” I stepped away from her front and pointed my arm toward the door. “Now leave myroom, Selene.”
For a second, she stood there, her expression cold and calculating. But whatever she was planning, I was two steps ahead of her. She picked up her phone from the edge of the bed and started stomping out. But just as she got to the door, I called after her.
“And oh, Selene, don’t try anything funny with Isabella or my daughter.” My voice was steel. “You would hate to see the other side of me.”
Then she was gone, slamming the door behind her.
And for the first time all day, I was offered reprieve as I allowed my thoughts to drift back to what had happened in the boardroom earlier. To the kiss. A slow smile formed on my lips. I still had a long way to go to earn Isabella’s trust, but I was going to. And I was going to make her mine again.
Because who would throw away the one thing, the only thing, that made them alive?
The next twoweeks passed by in a blur of heightened security and mounting tension. Since that parcel Isabella received in her office, I’d made sure to double security on both Isabella and Adele. Edmund had ensured he hired the very best—trained and discreet men who were watching over both of them without them even knowing it. They made sure not to make their presence obvious or interfere in their lives. Except if situations got out of hand or if danger were to arise. And for two weeks now, it had been…quiet. I’d had eyes on Isabella and Adele every moment of every day. Teams rotated in twelve-hour shifts, watching their apartment building, following Isabella’s car at a distance, and stationed near Adele’s daycare.
There’s been no threats, no suspicious activity, no sign that Selene and Ethan were moving forward with their plans.
It almost felt like a false alarm. Like maybe the recording had been nothing but talk, two people venting frustrations they’d never actually act on. Or maybe the parcel was meant to deter everyone while Ethan and Selene made their move on something else.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what it was. But I couldn’t afford to believe that. Couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
I leaned back in my chair in my office, closing the tab with the quarterly reports for Ravencrest Global. It wasn’t good. It was the worst report in years now. And I was sure the board would be seeking answers sooner or later. What they didn’t know was that it was all part of the plan. Ethan and Selene have been working around the clock, and I’d led them to believe their plans had been working. I’d given them ammunition to use against me, but little did they know that this ammunition was a bomb that was going to eventually blow up in their faces.
My eyes fluttered closed, and my thoughts traveled to Isabella. My beautiful Isabella. A smile crossed my face as I created the mental image of her in the snug jeans and fitted shirt she’d been in the last time I was at the penthouse to visit Adele.
We’d barely spoken for two weeks despite my visits to the house. She’d been colder than usual, keeping me at arm’s length. Or maybe arm’s length was too close. She had literally built a big ass wall between us. Our interactions were limited to brief conversations about Adele, logistical discussions about pickup times, and schedule changes. She’d been avoiding me, and I didn’t blame her.
I’d dropped a bomb on her life, given her power she hadn’t asked for, and dragged her deeper into a world she’d tried so hard to escape. And most of all, I’d established that there was still something between us. The Mate bond was alive, no matter how much she tried to deny it. No matter how many walls she tried to build between us. I was going to break down those walls.
My thoughts drifted to Adele, and warmth spread through me as I recalled the last time I’d been at the penthouse visiting. The moment Isabella opened the front door for me, Adele had barreled straight into me.
“Uncle Dimitri! Uncle Dimitri, look!” she had called with excitement, shoving a crayon drawing into my hands. “I colored a dragon princess! She breathes yellow fire because yellow is Mom’s favorite and also mine and alsoyours…right?”
I’d crouched down to her level. “Definitely mine,” I said with a smile.
She jabbed at the picture with her finger. “This is the Alpha Dragon. He protects the princess from the mean knights. He’s super strong. Like you.” She tapped the dragon’s chest, then mine. “See? Big muscles.”
I laughed softly and brushed hair from her forehead. “I think your Alpha Dragon might be stronger than me.”
“Nooo!” She shook her head vehemently. “You’re the good guy! The Alpha Dragon only fights bad guys.”
“Smart dragon,” I murmured.
She nodded, satisfied. “Would you like to join me and color the knights?”
“Absolutely.”
Adele took my large hands in her tiny ones and led me toward the living room, where we sat side by side and began coloring.
