I pace a few steps, trying to keep my voice low. “Because we have to be careful. Especially after what happened at the wedding. Dmitri practically lives here. He’s around all the time. I need to know I can trust the people in this house, the people around my husband. Around me.”
She still doesn’t look convinced. “Even if that’s true, how are we supposed to get his phone? And what do we even do with it?”
I step closer, grabbing her hands. “It’s simple. Dmitri is enamored with you. I’ve seen the way he flirts with you every time you come over. We can use it.”
Milana’s eyes narrow. “You want me to flirt back? I don't like him like that.”
“Just enough to distract him,” I say quickly. “The men are outside working out by the pool right now. We’ll change into bikinis, go out there like we’re just going for a swim. You distract him, keep him occupied, and then we’ll find a way to get his phone.”
She’s quiet for a long moment, clearly uneasy. “This is dangerous. If we get caught…”
“I know,” I whisper, guilt twisting in my chest. “I’m scared of dragging you into this, but I don’t how else to do this. I can’t tell Maxim yet. The last time I mentioned something about Dmitri and Victor, he got really angry.
“We’re finally in a good place. I don’t want to ruin that. But if Dmitri really is the mole… I need to be sure before I say anything.”
Milana lets out a shaky breath, searching my face. “You really think he could be betraying Maxim?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, my voice cracking slightly. “But I have to find out.”
She squeezes my hands, even though she still looks uncertain. “Okay. Let’s do it. But if this goes wrong…”
“I'll take the blame,” I say softly. “You don't have to worry.”
We quickly change into bikinis, mine a simple black one, hers a soft sage green that barely covers what it needs to. The top is a delicate triangle style with thin strings, and the bottom sits low on her hips.
She keeps tugging at the strings self-consciously, clearly uncomfortable. So, I hand her a sheer white kimono that still doesn't hide much.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she mutters, cheeks flushed. “I’ve never been this exposed in front of men who aren’t family.”
Guilt twists in my chest. “I know. I’m sorry for asking this of you. But it’s the only way I can think of right now.”
She nods, though she still looks uneasy. We head downstairs together and walk out to the pool area.
The men are working out. Maxim is doing pull-ups on a bar, shirtless, his powerful back and arm muscles flexing with every rep.
Making me remember how it had felt with those arms holding me down to the mattress as I orgasmed. My thighs involuntarily cling together at the thought.
Sweat glistens on his skin, making his tattoos shine under the sun. He looks incredibly strong and dangerously attractive.
His eyes lift the moment we step outside. The heat in his gaze as it rakes over my body is immediate and scorching. I feel it like a physical touch.
Victor is on the phone a short distance away. He ends the call quickly and tells Maxim something before walking off toward the house.
I decide to make my move. I walk over to Maxim as he finishes a set and jumps down from the bar, breathing hard, chest rising and falling.
“Nice workout,” I say, letting my eyes drift over his sweat-slicked torso.
He smirks, stepping closer. “You like what you see?”
“Very much.”
Before I can say anything else, he grabs me by the waist and lifts me effortlessly. I laugh in surprise, wrapping my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck.
He holds me there like I weigh nothing, then reaches up with both hands to grip the pull-up bar again.
My eyes widen. “Maxim?—”
He starts doing pull-ups with my full weight added. Each smooth rep lifts us both, his muscles straining, sweat dripping down his chest.
