I laughed as I stepped back. “Come in.”
She walked straight through, already talking. “You always look well in red, silver, or gold. The colors make you stand out. I have a red one today, something that will get your husband distracted in front of everyone, which would be very entertaining for the rest of us.” She kept moving as she spoke, the garment bag swinging lightly from her arm. “I am genuinely excited to see you wearing this. Do you—”
She stopped when we stepped into the sitting area, where we found Dmitri. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching us.
Caitlin lowered her head. “Boss.”
I was sure she was embarrassed. She probably didn’t expect Dmitri to be here. I stepped closer and rested my hand on her shoulder.
“Can Caitlin come to the event?” The question left me, hoping it made sense. Because I was to attend another event full of people, I didn’t know. I needed someone on my side to chat with.
“Boss, I’m sorry.” Caitlin shook her head quickly. “I’m only here to help your wife get ready.”
Dmitri pushed off the doorframe and crossed toward us. He stopped in front of me. “If my wife wants you there, you’ll be there.” He turned to me. “Be ready and eat something.”
I was shocked. “Caitlin can come?”
He stepped closer and lifted his hand to my face withoutwarning, his thumb brushing once across my cheek. The touch lasted less than a second, but it moved through me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
“Anything for my wife,” he said and walked out.
The door closed behind him, but I stood there, facing it, wondering if that had really just happened. “Is that a yes?” I asked because Dmitri never says yes to anything I ask.
Caitlin let out a warm laugh. “Of course, it’s a yes. Why do you look surprised?”
I pressed my lips together and turned it over quietly. He never agreed to anything, but he just did. I didn’t know what to do with that.
“Shall we?” Caitlin nudged me. “I’ll call someone to bring me something to wear.”
I looked her over. She wore a black dress that fitted her perfectly, with soft pink detailing along the hem and cuff, matching her pink heels. She already looked perfect for the event.
“You look ready,” I pointed out.
She waved her hand. “Please. I can’t walk into that kind of event wearing this.”
“By the way,” I followed her. “What kind of event is it exactly?”
“Rich people’s event,” she said as though that covered everything. “I don’t know the full details, but it’s the kind where everyone who shows up matters.”
I exhaled. “I could just not go.”
Caitlin turned to look at me with genuine alarm. “Who wouldn’t want to go to an event like that?”
She didn’t have to hear it, but the answer was me.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Dmitri Konstantinov
Iker gathered dangerous men andmade it look like a celebration. He filled a room the way dry wood waits for a match, one wrong move, and everything burns down. Every man here was handpicked, invited, and weighed for value. I stood among them with a glass of wine, thinking how convenient it was that predators preferred to gather in one place. Hunting has never been easier.
Security made a point outside. This was private. Nothing left these walls. Men like these never speak openly about the things that mattered. Reputation was the currency here, and everyone guarded it like their last breath.
The man in front of me kept talking. I let him. He mistook attention for admiration. I nodded when necessary, but my eyes moved around the room, monitoring.
Inna stood beside me, playing her role better than most. She nodded at the right moments, her lips curving just enough to pass for polite interest. But I knew her well. She was bored out of her mind. If she had a blade, she would have carved her way outof the conversation by now.
I glanced at her, and she breathed. “Can I join Caitlin? I’m super bored.”
