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“Papa won’t let her go skydiving over the holidays with the smarmy investment banker she met at some club.”
“What happened to that guy she was dating? Oliver.”
Sophia shrugs. “You know how she is. It’s the man of the week club with her, a revolving door. Though she did date Oliver for several months. Now he’s just gone. She won’t even talk about him, so I don’t know.”
Hmm. For Gin that’s actually not unusual behavior, though I do worry about her. She doesn’t seem very happy these days.
“Speaking of men,” I say, walking between Sophia and Ravenna. “I learned something wild about Dimitri the other day.” They turn their heads toward me. “The first time he saw me was over two years ago at one of his high roller clubs. Remember that Halloween that we snuck out? I was Little Bo-Peep.”
I leave out the rest of the details from that night. I’ve never told my sisters and cousin about what happened in the alley.
“Oh my god.” Ravenna halts. “You mean he’s been stalking you since then?”
“Not exactly. Well, sort of. He’s been kind of like a creepy guardian angel always looking out for me.”
After my meltdown in his arms, we talked. Dimitri is my dark knight. He did stop that purse snatcher in Times Square, and he’s intervened in several other instances when some sleazy guy was making a beeline for me. I never knew about most of the instances.
Until now, and it puts a lot of things into perspective. It’s why Dimitri looked at me like he really knew me when I woke up at his apartment. Though I thought we barely knew each other. This secret history between us, and his box of mementos, paints a rather vivid picture.
He’s wanted me for years.
He’s been in the shadows, looking out for me for years.
Is it only obsession, or could it be love? Do I want it to be love? Am I completely insane to feel safer around him now that I know the truth?
Sophia giggles, drawing my attention to her. “That explains why he looks at you the way he does.”
“How’s that?” I lick my suddenly dry lips.
“Like the world revolves around you, and so does he.”
“Really?” I try not to sound too hopeful. I don’t even know if I want Dimitri’s heart. But I finally have a face to put to my dark knight.
“Yes, really.” She cups my shoulders. “Arianna, your family is made up of some of the most powerful people in this city. Why do you think none of us have put a bullet in Dimitri? It’s because of the way he looks at you. We all know he’s madly in love.”
My lips part. “No he’s not. I mean… he’s never said it.”
“Maybe he’s waiting for you to fall in love with him.”
My mouth forms an O. I frown. Now I’m more confused about my feelings than before. Can I really see a life with Dimitri Kozlov as my husband? Warmth spreads through my chest and my stomach flutters, answering that question.
We start walking again to catch up with Ginevra.
“She’s right,” Ravenna says. “These men are ruthless and hard on the outside, but they’re mush on the inside. Cian is so emotionally sensitive.”
Sophia lets out a low chuckle. “Roman is too. And if either of you tell him I said that, I’ll have to kill you.”
“My lips are sealed.” A glint of metal in the store window we’re passing catches my eye. “Wait. Let’s stop in here.”
Ravenna glances up at the sign. “An antiques shop?”
“Yeah.” I pull the door open and head to the display. There, in a velvet lined box are a pair of beautifully engraved brass knuckles. They look heavy, like solid brass, and the fine filigree is stunning. It’s the perfect gift.
“I’ll take those,” I tell the shopkeeper. When I turn around, Sophia and Ravenna are both smiling. “What?” My tone’s defensive.
“Nothing.” Sophia tries to suppress her grin and fails miserably.
“Whatever.” I take my purchase and stride past them to where Gin is taking selfies with an enormous carved octopus. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
