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Just as I think he’s going to kiss me, he takes a step back. Frigid air expands in the space between us. His expression’s guarded, the look in his eyes unreadable.
“You have to leave,” he says. “Go, and never come back.”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean? What’s happening, Dima?”
Anguish briefly flashes in his eyes before it’s gone. “My father is alive and he came for me. He murdered my uncle, and if he sees you here he’ll kill you too. He gave you an easy out—divorce. Take it and run. Walk away right now and never look back.”
“No.” I straighten my spine, defiantly lifting my chin. “Your father can’t just swoop in and ruin us.”
“He already has.” Devastating heartache swims in his gaze, and I reach for him. “Don’t,” he commands in a strangled voice. “It’s too late for us. I’m not worth risking your life over.”
I poke his chest. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re worth everything I have.”
He sighs, gazing skyward. “I won’t let you do this. You were right all along, being with me puts your life in danger. I’m not willing to do this to you anymore. You’re free. Go. Now.”
“But I don’t want anyone but you. Dimitri, I love you.” I put all of my desperation to get through to him into my voice. He has to understand how much I need him, because we can’t end like this.
His green eyes turn icy again. “I don’t love you.”
My lips part, shock and devastation rattle my entire body.
Dimitri turns away, disappearing back up the stairs to his private box. All I can do is stare after him. He doesn’t mean that, does he?
I let everything he told me sink in and try to see it from his perspective. His father is holding something over him. He has to be. Dimitri wouldn’t do this of his own free will. No matter how much he wants me to think that’s what’s happening here.
“How’d that go?” Blake steps into the hallway. “Is he coming?”
Slowly, I shake my head. “Not willingly.” God, I hope I’m right about all of this. “He’s afraid his father will kill me. So he’s pushing me away in an effort to protect me.”
Fortunately, I can see through his motives. He does love me. He loves me so much that he’s willing to end our relationship in order to protect me, to sacrifice himself. He’s trying to leave me because he loves me.
It’s such bullshit.
He should know by now that I’m not the kind of person who goes down without a fight.
I purse my lips. “Tell Roman it’s time for plan B.”
“Gladly.” Blake’s eyes light with wicked excitement. It’s the most emotion I’ve ever seen in him.
CHAPTER 42
Dimitri
She loves me. She came all the way here, still wearing the wedding band I gave her, to bring me home. She loves me. I wish with all my heart that I could leave with her, but I can’t. Standing so close to her just now and holding back the overwhelming desire to kiss her, hug her, bury my nose in the crook of her neck and drink in her scent, was agony. Worse than anything Konstantin has dished out.
But I have to let her go. If I don’t, I’m going to get us both killed. Konstantin wants me, not her, but if she interferes with his plans he won’t hesitate to get rid of her. He won’t stop at just her either, he’ll murder her entire family. I can’t let that happen.
That’s how he’s risen to this height of power in Moscow. Anyone who crosses him ends up dead—including their friends and relatives. Boris made a point one night of boasting about how Konstantin is a strong leader because there’s no line he won’t cross. That Uncle Vadim was killed because he was weak. If Konstantin can murder his own brother, use and discard his own wife, and treat me the way he does, he’s capable of anything.
My wife will not be one of his victims. I’ll keep her safe. Even if the cost is us.
I’m elated that she didn’t sign those papers. In the end, she did choose me. I’m sorry I doubted her and there are a million things I want to tell her, but can’t. At least I will die a happy man knowing she loves me. She chose me, even if we can’t be together.
As soon as I enter the VIP box, Konstantin eyes me. He has a leggy blond in his lap who wasn’t there before. He jerks his head toward the three women waiting for me, and grudgingly, I rejoin them. Sitting, the brunette settles in at my side, the blond at the other, and the redhead sinks to her knees between my legs. She starts fiddling with my zipper.
“Stop it,” I bark at her, annoyed. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?
“Let them please you, Dimitri. You may as well get a taste of them before you choose a wife.” He stands, lifting the leggy young woman by her hair, then bends her over the back of his chair. “Watch and learn, son.”
