Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“Dimitri,” he answers shortly.
There’s an edge of arrogance to his voice. He knows exactly who’s on the other line. He’s been expecting my call all morning, I’m sure of it. Dimitri is proud of what his men have done to my business, but this ends now.
“I thought I was clear about my terms,” I tell him coldly. “When I left that church with your daughter, you were to leave us alone.”
“Ivan, I don’t know what you mean,” he answers with snark. “I’ve done nothing to harm you or that whore I once called a daughter.”
“Let me be clear, Dimitri,” I say, lowering my voice. “If you harm one of my businesses again, in any way, I will unleash hell on you like you’ve never experienced. I don’t care that you’re Katrina’s father, you will watch your entire world burn.”
The man has the audacity to laugh, and I force myself to take a deep breath. He thinks he’s in a position of power here.
“You know better than to threaten family.” Dimitri laughs. “After all, if we don’t have family in the Bratva, who can we rely on? You and I both know you won’t do anything to harm me. Your hands are tied.”
“Family means nothing if you’re willing to use it as a bargaining chip,” I tell him. “You used your daughter as a bargaining chip her whole life. I will show you exactly the respect of ‘family’ that you deserve, Dimitri. Which is to say, none at all.”
I hang up the phone before he can respond. I stand up from my desk, an uncomfortable energy running through me. I know there’s nothing Dimitri can do to harm me, personally. He’s not that stupid. But his stunt today will cost me thousands of dollars in repairs.
I pace the length of my office, furious he thinks he has the upper hand. I’ll need to meet with the branch soon and lay out a plan to deal with Dimitri. It’s the only way I’ll be able to keep the man in line.
When I return home in the evening, I immediately go to check on Kat. I knock on the door, but she yells at me to go away. Odd. She’s back to the hot-and-cold routine. I don’t like that at all. I tell her that dinner will be ready soon and walk down to the kitchen. She’ll need to eat. She can’t hide away in that room for the rest of her life.
I quickly throw together a salad and heat up the dish my maid has left for us in the fridge. It’s a simple borscht, which is odd since she’s never made me Russian food before. Maybe she wanted to make something that would help Kat adjust better. Though, to be honest, I have no idea what Kat likes. Tonight, I hope to find out more about her. Everything about her.
Except, she doesn’t come down to eat. I wait for half an hour, but I don’t even hear the stirring of movement. I eat my meal quickly and put hers on a tray, walking it carefully up the stairs and to her room. I knock on the door again, but this time, I don’t wait for her to answer.
She’s sitting on her bed in nothing but lingerie. Her substantial breasts are barely covered by the fabric, and the fullness of her curves are displayed to me in a way that will keep me hard for hours. She’s trying to kill me. I look over to her closet door to see her wedding dress hung up pristinely. She eyes me warily and pulls her duvet around her.
“I thought you might be hungry,” I say, my throat dry.
Suddenly, I’m very hungry, but not for borscht.
“Thank you,” she says simply, taking the tray from me and setting it down in front of her.
I stand next to the bed awkwardly, suddenly unsure of what to do with myself. After a moment that’s much too long, I decide to walk over to the other side of the bed and sit on the corner. She obviously needs a little space, and I’m obliged to give it to her.
“Have you had a good day?” I ask, trying to make small talk.
She rolls her eyes as she takes a large bite of the food.
“I haven’t left this room,” she answers after she’s swallowed down the borscht. “I have nothing to wear except for this.” She indicates her lingerie, then points to the closet where her dress is hanging.
I nod slowly, feeling like a complete idiot. I whisked her away without considering that she was leaving everything behind. Everything including clothes. There’s nothing to be done about it tonight, but I make a mental note to send for her things tomorrow.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day.” I notice the blush that breaks out over her chest. “You make me so hard.”