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“I’m Dimitri.” He crosses the room in a handful of strides and offers a hand for Zara to shake. “Alexei’s brother.”
I try to hide my surprise as Zara takes Dimitri’s hand.
I catch Alexei’s eye, and he’s frowning as he sinks his hands into the pockets of his pants.
“Good to see you again, Bianca.” Dimitri flashes me a grin.
I force a smile, trying to hide the fact that this is the first conversation I’ve shared with my now brother-in-law.
How I would get around explaining that to Zara I have no idea.
Alexei fold his arms over his chest. “Dimitri was just leaving.”
“Was I?” Dimitri’s eyes lock back on Zara.
I don’t miss the way they rake over her body, and I’m instantly reaching for her arm to pull her away. The last thing I want is for Zara to get caught up in the twisted web that is the Koslov family.
“Yes, you were,” Alexei warns.
“Shame.” Dimitri’s tongue darts out to lick his lips. “You look like you know how to have some fun.”
Zara looks him up and down. “And you look like you have too much fun.”
I freeze, but then Dimitri is throwing his head back and howling with laughter.
“Oh, I like her.” He grins. “She can visit more often.”
“Maybe when you’re not here,” Alexei mutters.
“Well, I can always give you my number, pcholka, and I can show you how much fun I am.”
“Dimitri…” Alexei groans, but his brother only grins.
“Thanks for such an incredible offer, but I think I’ll pass.” Zara shrugs. “I can spot a player a mile away. Besides, I prefer my men when they’re not riddled with sexually transmitted diseases.”
I glance at Alexei who’s trying to fight a smile as Dimitri is shocked into silence.
I bet he doesn’t get turned down very often, looking the way he does. Perhaps he’ll do well to have Zara knock his ego down a peg or two.
“I’ll walk you out.” Alexei places a hand on his brother's shoulder and guides him out of the kitchen.
“Well, I think you’ve officially won over Alexei.” I laugh as Zara watches Dimitri be escorted out of the kitchen.
She frowns. “And the brother by the looks of it.”
Zara stays for most of the afternoon, and she fills me in with life back in the city.
I try to seem happy as I listen to her ramble on about our favorite spots for coffee by Central Park and the new workout classes she’s tried, but it only makes me feel resentful.
How could my father have ripped my life out from underneath me like this?
What hurts even more is that he hasn’t bothered to reach out since the wedding, which hurts more than I care to admit. We might not be the closest, but I would have at least thought he’d want to make sure I was okay.
So, I decide to take matters into my own hands.
I no longer have a cell after Alexei confiscated it the night of our wedding, but that doesn’t mean aren’t other options.
Zara is about to leave, but before she does, I take my chance.
