Hey. It’s me. Remember me? The girl you were obsessed with and now you haven’t even said good morning to??
No. Too toxic.
I delete it and try again.
Hey. I know this might be over the top, but I haven’t heard from you all day and I’mwondering if you’re okay. I know the things you do are…er. Risky. Check in, okay?
I add a heart emoji and stare at it for a minute.
Too forward?
Then I remember the feel of his tongue between my legs and the way he made me come so hard I screamed.
Cheeks flushing, I sheepishly add two more hearts and send the message.
I drum my fingers on my thigh, waiting.
Nothing.
What do I even do with this nervous energy?
I could hit the gym… that might work. But even the gym has lost its appeal when I go alone and don’t have my inked personal bodyguard by my side.
I could go home and eat dinner like asensibleperson.
Or I could?—
“Miss Steele?” A friendly-looking woman with silvery hair tucked into a merciless bun smiles at me. “Mr. Kopolov sent me to fetch you.”
Fetch me?
I blink. “What?”
She smiles broadly. “He sends his apologies, miss, and said he wanted to give you warning but had no time.”
What the hell?
“Please. Come with me.” Smiling, she gestures toward a sleek navy town car that purrs at the edge of the curb.
“Um. Who are you?”
Still smiling, she takes out a business card and shows it to me.
“Mr. Kopolov asked me to assist you in preparing for this weekend’s gala?”
Oooohhh.
“Um. Yes?” I say hesitantly, though I feel the overwhelming need to verify what’s happening. “Just a minute.”
I pull out my phone to call Rodion, even though he’s ignored every single one of my calls today. My stomach churns when I see he’s not only ignored my messages but sent me one of his own:
Bratvabloodline
Go with Cindy and do what she says.
I’ll fill you in later.
Oh, the fucking nerve.
