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“Want me to check on her, Dimitri?” he says, making his voice casual.
“Sure,” Dimitri mutters, then he smiles tightly at Ania. “Sorry to abandon you, sis, but do you mind if I talk to Lia alone for a second?”
“Sure,” Ania says, shrugging. “But I ain’t leaving.”
He chuckles. “I wouldn’t dare ask you to.”
Dimitri gently takes my arm and leads me into the hallway. As soon as we’re out of sight, he kisses me hard, making me gaspand hunger for more. I wrap my arms around him, squeezing through his expensive jacket and feeling the solid power beneath.
“That wasn’t why I brought you out here,” he says huskily.
“No?”
“It’s time you knew the full extent of the plan.”
I take a breath, nodding. “I’m ready.”
Before he can tell me, his cell phone rings. “Sorry.” He takes it out and answers. “Right.”
Hanging up, he says, “Security is delayed slightly. Apparently, a flat tire needs changing.”
“What about the plan?” I ask.
He sighs darkly. “Okay, Lia, but you won’t like it.”
CHAPTER 23
DIMITRI
“How much longer?” Ania asks, standing anxiously at the window.
“Not too long,” I tell her as she rubs her hands together, her shoulders tight. Social events always make her nervous. Ania’s never been as good as me at just blocking off the world. Or as good as Iwasbefore I found my Lia.
“All this just to change a tire,” Ania huffs.
I’m glad she’s facing away from me, but Lia sees the face I make. She tilts her head at me, a question in her eyes. Just looking at her is enough to get my mouth watering like a goddamn hungry animal. It’s the way the blush in her cheeks matches the red of her dress, the slit of the fabric showing a tempting, thick glimpse of her thigh.
Lia gives me a look, nodding toward the hallway.
“More private conversations?” Ania says dryly as we stand up. “Anybody would think there’s a secret romance going on. One or two, anyway.”
“One or two?” I say. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ania turns to me, giving me a look. “Really?”
It takes me a moment, but I guess she’s talking about Mikhail. I find the idea a little difficult to accept. I’ve seen Mila giving him looks, but nothing from my baby brother. When he left, heaskedme if he should go. He’s trying to be a good second.
Walking into the hallway, I ask Lia, “What do you think?”
“That you’re hiding something.”
“No, about what Ania said. About Mikhail and Mila.”
“I don’t know. Mila’s hard to read. She’s also… Well, she’s nice. I like her, but I don’t think she’d want us talking about this. She’s already super stressed.”
I wonder if Lia’s covering for her, but is there anything to cover?
“What’s taking so long?” she says after a pause. “When Ania asked you, you looked almostconcerned.”
