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“I don’t have anything to lose by keeping her, and everything to gain.” As I say those words, unease settles in my gut.
“Sure you do. You know what, granting you the favor you’re owed is hardly necessary. Baron and I will stay out of your way, you have my word. We’re going to sit back and watch while Arianna chews you up and spits you out. Do you really think you’re the one in control?” He laughs. “Good luck, Kozlov. Oh, and welcome to the family.”
The call ends, and I stare at my phone, annoyed. What the fuck is he even talking about? I am the one in control. I’ve orchestrated this entire situation from its inception.
Crazy motherfucker.
CHAPTER 14
Arianna
For the first few days, I worked in the breakfast nook, until I discovered that the library’s not only quieter, but more comfortable. Tarina has done her best to ease me into my workload, which gets heavier every single day, but I don’t mind. Losing myself in work means I’m not thinking about Dimitri.
It means I can avoid thinking about how his hands felt on my skin, how his accented voice makes my body come alive, and how I acted like a wanton woman the other night. I blame it on the adrenaline from the fire and car chase, my general state of stress, and the lack of sleep that entire weekend. That’s all it was. So I have no idea why I keep replaying the roughness of his hands on me that night.
I don’t want him. Really, I don’t. He’s the last man on earth that I’d ever be happy with.
For now, we seem to have come to a kind of truce. He’s as busy with his work as I am with mine, and the only time we see each other is at dinner. Lately, he hasn’t even come to bed until I’m asleep, and he hasn’t touched me since that time in the piano room. Which I should be grateful for instead of antsy about.
I haven’t tried to escape again. Where would I go, if I did? More than likely, Dimitri would catch me and take away my phone, which I simply can’t risk. My job is too important to lose.
I’ll suffer through dinners with him, and whatever else, as long as it doesn’t rock the boat too much. He seems truthful about not forcing himself on me, and since I’ll never get down on my knees and beg for him, then sex is not something I have to worry about.
At some point he’ll grow bored of me, then hopefully let me go. Or we can just keep to the status quo. I really don’t care as long as he doesn’t interfere with my life any more than he already has.
“Miss?”
My head jerks toward the library door. “Hi, Maks.”
He shoots me a brief smile. “I brought the rest of your clothes over from the penthouse. I thought you should know.”
“Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
Now Maks? He’s a sweetheart. Dimitri could learn a thing or two from his best friend. Never mind that. If Dimitri was anything like Maks then I’d like him, and I don’t want that.
Maks grins. “I’ll let you get back to work.” He starts to close the door.
“Hey, Maks,” I call after him. “Did the club reopen this week?”
A pang of guilt hits me in the chest. My intention had been to escape Dimitri, not put a bunch of people out of work while the fire was investigated and the club was shut down. I was so narrowly focused on punishing Dimitri that I didn’t think about the other people my actions would hurt.
“Yeah, it opened last night. Repairs to the penthouse will take a while longer.”
I give him a smile as he leaves the room. The damage to Dimitri’s apartment I’m not so ashamed about inflicting. He deserves every bit of that inconvenience.
My phone vibrates and I check it.
Sophia
Just checking in on you again. How are things?
Ever since I managed to catch up on all of my sisters’ missed calls and panicked texts, we’ve been checking in with each other at least twice a day. They are another reason I need to keep my phone.
Annoyance runs through me. I hate the kind of control Dimitri has over my actions, and I wish I could find something to help balance the scales. So far, he doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses, but there must be something. No one is completely invulnerable.
I reply to Sophia’s text.
Arianna
