Page 25 of Savage Little Lies

My pulse quickens.

“Black definitely suits you best. Although, a hint of color now or then wouldn’t hurt, right?” I say, walking a thin line between kindness and flirtiness. I don’t want to be too forward, but I have to be bold enough to entice him.

There’s a part of me that likes his eyes on me, even though I shouldn’t.

“Fine. Maybe I’ll add a touch of red, so we’ll match,” Dmitri tells me with a grin.

I can’t help but laugh. “I’m sold.”

“Good,” Dmitri replies, looking satisfied.

He got what he wanted. I just didn’t expect it to be me.

My father should never have doubted me.

It’s time to turn up the heat a little, and once I get Dmitri close enough, I’ll make it impossible for him to pull away.

Annika and the alliance will be the last things on his mind, and the growing power of the Bratva in Las Vegas will diminish. All because of me. Not some large-scale assault. Not some master plan with dozens of dead men.

Dmitri is already choosing me.

He just doesn’t realize it yet.

10

Dmitri

I’ve never taken a woman dress shopping before, much less an employee, but Cara is different.

I want her company at the gala, and I didn’t expect her to have such a formal dress just laying around. It’s nothing for me to spend a couple thousand dollars on a dress if she goes and relieves me of some of my misery.

These events bore me to tears, but I have to attend and make an appearance. It’s good for business, and that’s the lifeblood of my family’s success.

“What store do you want to check out first?” I ask her as we walk down the sidewalk at the outdoor mall, hiding from the bright sun under the shade of the awnings.

Cara lifts her hands and shakes her head. “Oh, no. This is more your expertise. You lead the way.”

I smirk as my eyes sweep back and forth between the stores on either side of us. There are plenty of high-end designer stores to choose from, and I want her dressed in the best. She might not be my official date, but she’ll still be with me.

“Did your parents let you go to prom?” I ask her as I glance at some frilly dresses in one of the storefronts.

Cara laughs. “Absolutely not. My father was certain that I would get drunk and knocked up in the back of a limo.”

Laughter rumbles from my chest as we share an amused look with each other.

“My family did a background check on my prom date and her entire family,” I tell her.

Her jaw drops. “That’s crazy. Did they think she was going to kidnap you or something?”

“You never know someone’s true intentions,” I point out.

A stiff smile crosses her face. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

Before she can walk too far ahead, I place my hand on the small of her back to make her pause. “Let’s try this store.”

Cara nods and slips past me as I hold the door open for her. She exhales slowly at the sight of all the shelves of shoes and racks of nice clothes. “Whoa.”

“This way,” I tell her when I spot the section with women’s dresses. I lead her over and start flipping through all the dresses hanging on the racks, inspecting each that I see in search of the perfect one.