Page 9 of Savage Little Lies

My resolve hardens as I walk inside the upscale clothing store. Racks and racks of nice clothes from expensive brands spread out in front of me. I haven’t been shopping for something nice in a while, but I think this counts as an occasion to use my emergency-only credit card.

I venture around the store, looking at dresses on various racks in search of the perfect one. Or a few. Definitely a few.

“Whoa,” I say as I pause in front of a red sheath dress.

There’s certainly more length to it, but the deep V-neckline and faux wrap style will complement all my curves just right. If I’m going to tempt a man like Dmitri Ivanov, subtle won’t be enough.

As I pull it off the rack and admire it, pressure tightens in my chest. It’s been harder to sleep lately. Harder to breathe.

But I don’t have room to fall apart.

“I just love that one, don’t you?”

I crash back down to reality as I turn around to see a sales associate approaching me with a cheery look on her face. I can’t lose my cool like that, especially in front of the wrong people.

“I do, but I think it’ll need some friends,” I reply as a smile crosses my lips. “Something professional but…”

“Tempting?” A knowing look settles on her face.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to catch the eye of their boss. My underlying motives are just very different.

“Exactly,” I tell her. “Any suggestions?”

“Of course,” she replies before gesturing for me to follow her.

I take one more look at the dress in my hand, solidifying what I’m about to commit to.

My father told me to break up their engagement by any means necessary, and despite this being one of the last methods he would probably want me to do, he would accept it because it’ll give him what he wants.

The Irish mob will secure its place as Las Vegas’ top crime syndicate, and the Bratva will gradually lose its power and influence in Sin City. We have to unravel them one string at a time, starting with the Ivanov-Suyunov alliance.

4

Dmitri

“Good morning, Mr. Ivanov.”

Exhaustion settles deep in my bones as I walk past her desk to my office, my eyes burning from lack of sleep.

After forcing myself to take Annika out for dinner for appearances, I spent hours trying to figure out another way to secure this alliance with the Suyunovs aside from agreeing to marry the exasperating heiress.

How the fuck am I supposed to stay married to her for a year?

I assume the marriage will stand for however long the alliance survives, and it’s in my best interest for the alliance to last decades.

Annika chewed out the waiter last night for putting too much ice in her water. She’s the type to nitpick about everything.

It’s not like I was planning on dating anytime soon, but I’ve always assumed I’d start a family with a strong woman. A family built maybe not on love but on mutual admiration and respect instead of misery.

That future doesn’t look likely anymore.

I pull open the doors to my office and stop in my tracks at the sight of Cara bent over picking up papers off the floor, her ass facing me. She’s wearing a tight red dress that I’ve never seen before, and the moment that she stands and turns to me, heat pools low in my stomach.

Her neckline is even more revealing than normal, showing the delectable dips and curves of her cleavage. My eyes settle there for a moment before I clench my jaw and force them upward. As if I haven’t already spent too many nights thinking about her.

“Good morning, Mr. Ivanov,” Cara says with a warm smile as she places the papers back on my desk.

“Morning,” I say as I approach her. The word is gruffer than intended because I don’t like being the asshole boss who thinks about bending his assistant over his desk a hundred times a day.