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She makes a good case because seeing Lilli standing before me, begging me for something with tears in her eyes, slashes my heart wide open. I can deny her nothing when she looks at me like that, and now I understand why men are considered weak around women. I want to make her happy. I want to give her everything and I don’t want her to cry and I don’t want to destroy the light in her eyes when she sees the world I inhabit.
I only want Lilli to experience good things from now on and that is definitely not the case in Highfield house.
She steps toward me and cups my face in her hands and presses a soft kiss to my lips. Her scent is overpowering. Roses and innocence mixed with strong determination. I already realize I can deny her nothing. It would hurt my heart too much to try to and she whispers, “Please, Mikhail. Don’t take this chance away from me.”
I have always considered myself a strong man. Incapable of emotion and certainly steadfast in my beliefs. I am learning something new about myself today because somehow, Lilli Atherton has wrapped me around her little finger, and I never saw it coming.
I pull away and a steady stream of Russian expletives spill from my mouth as I deal with the frustration this woman brings to my life and when I’ve finished, Lilli laughs softly, “I’ll take that as a yes then.”
Rather than be afraid of my obvious anger, she runs toward me and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me down toward her and kissing me fiercely, her tongue clashing with mine as she rewards me for backing down. I haven’t even agreed, and she knows I will. I suppose I was always going to say yes because it appears that whatever Lilli wants, Lilli will always get.
CHAPTER 40
LILLI
They say be careful what you wish for and as we make the journey to the Cotswolds, I am more nervous than relieved I got my own way.
The fact we are traveling there by helicopter is an experience because I have never even been in one before.
Mikhail is impossibly handsome in his trademark black suit but with a white shirt instead of the gray one he usually prefers. He is dressed formally and so am I.
Despite my negativity toward Katerina, I must admit she’s good at what she does. I am dressed like a princess in a silver gown that sparkles when I move. It dusts just above my knee, more as a cocktail dress than anything else and the killer silver heels that accompany it make me powerful. She has piled my long hair on top of my head to create the illusion I’m even taller and Mikhail presented me with a diamond choker and matching bracelet and the possessive gleam in his eyes when he fastened it around my neck, matched his husky possessive whisper. “Mine.”
He kissed me briefly on the lips to seal the deal and, to be honest, I couldn’t argue with him. I am his. I probably always will be, but is it in my best interests to stay?
I’m still not sure about that because this world is decadent, enticing and addictive, much like the man himself, but I’m not convinced I belong in it. I’m anticipating the day he becomes his father and heads off with a multitude of Iris Mahoney’s, leaving me behind.
He sits beside me, grasping my hand in his, but the noise from the engine makes conversation difficult. Instead, I stare at the lights twinkling below us and wonder when my life became so exciting.
The moment I tried to take another man’s life.
The moment I met him.
It takes just thirty minutes before we are circling a huge estate. The lights from the house illuminate the sky and I notice many cars parked below. My heart races as I wonder if I’m up to this. What will happen inside that house, and will I survive the night?
Mikhail grips my hand and smiles reassuringly, although I realize he’s still angry that I persuaded him to bring me at all.
We land in a field not far from the house and there is a car already waiting for us.
As soon as the engines stop, we vacate the helicopter and head toward the car, closely followed by Damien.
I’m surprised when the door opens, and I step inside to find another woman waiting inside.
She appears surprised to see me as well and I glance at the beautiful woman who is dressed for the evening in a black dress that is slashed at intervals that preserve her modesty but offers a taste of what’s inside.
Her blue eyes glitter in confusion and as Mikhail joins us, Damien steps in the other side.
“Iris Mahoney, I’m guessing.” Mikhail stares at her with interest and she blushes before nodding shyly, “Yes, sir.”
I stare between them, not really understanding what is going on, and the car remains stationary as Mikhail says evenly.
“I believe you were supposed to be here with my father, Andrei Romanov.”
“Yes, sir, but Miss. Steele informed me of the sad news regarding his death and told me I would be accompanying his son instead.”
“Change of plan.”
Mikhail is brutal as the blood drains from her face, and he says firmly, “I accepted the invitation out of curiosity, that is all.”
