AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Maybe we can get through this.
It’s selfish.
But I want to be set free.
And besides, I know there’s no changing Dmitri and Layla’s minds when the two create a conniving plan.
I reluctantly raise my drink.
But I was happy enough with this to be a last encounter as well.
15
DMITRI
“This leather is riding up my ass, and I wore leotards for years,” Elanee complains. She’s wearing leather pants and thick boots with a tight top. I’m immediately regretting delegating Layla the task of grabbing a change of clothes for her. Layla was no doubt fucking with me because Elanee, even when covering most of her face with wide-brimmed glasses, a cap, and that outfit was still driving me insane.
“If I had to take a kick to the head by the kid back there in economy, I don’t want to hear you complaining about anything up your ass.” I all but growl.
In my peripheral, I can see the hint of a smile. And I hate how it’s restricted. She used to laugh freely, but now she acts as if she needs permission to do so. Despite the need to find out everything about my father, I wanted to take her out of his clutches this weekend as well. To remind her why she had to keep fighting.
The car comes to a stop at the hotel. It’s a little out of the city, in the opposite direction of Layla, who’s posing as her sister for her client’s wedding.
We’d practically spent the car trip arguing in the back seat after I forced her into it. Elanee might enjoy her job as a matchmaker and find a sense of pride in it. But I wasn’t letting her go if this was one of the few chances we got to spend together so I could assert a plan against the Bratva.
My only saving grace was they didn’t have a prominent presence in New York. I made sure of that, and the Italian mafia was enough of a deterrent as well. The downside is that this is personal. But it’d been eating me alive, not knowing when and how they made contact. What had he done to her? Had he touched her?
My knuckles are turning white as I step out of the car quickly to beat the driver in opening the door for her.
Granted, her clothing is a stark difference from the usual members at this hotel. And yet, I’d have her no other way. My gaze lands on the edges of her breasts that the zipper is barely keeping in. Fuck Layla for tormenting me like this. As petite as Elanee is, she always had curves.
“Looks like that child won’t be the only one giving you a kick to the head today,” she clips after noticing my gaze.
I smirk, these moments of seeing her spark to life feeding my thirsty beast as if I’d been parched all these years without her. And I’d rather her smart-ass retort than the sheer terror I saw on her expression six weeks ago.
I take her hand and leave the luggage with the concierge.
“I can still walk on my own,” she whisper shouts as I escort her to the front desk.
“I’m a man no longer in my prime, remember? Perhaps I need your help to walk; surely, you’re not so cruel?” I chide.
She huffs, infuriated, and I hate the way that the men are looking at her when we walk in. Now, I’m doubly not impressed by Layla’s choice.
We approach the marble counter where the receptionist is standing behind it, and I notice Elanee peering at to the giant chandelier and appreciating the design of the entrance. She’d always been infatuated with intricate details, especially when it came to architecture. Had she not been a dancer, I imagine she might’ve taken another route. One I now wish she had because if going to Russia for ballet was what had her mingling with my father, then I would’ve stopped her from ever leaving.
It had been the only time I’d willingly let someone or something go. I was never making that mistake again. She might’ve hated me and thrown a drink in my face before we graduated, but it was for her sake that I agreed to let her go. I was the selfish bastard who wanted her to stay but never said so and instead made it very clear I never had any intentions of touching her. Of course, it was a lie.
“I have a room reserved for Hayden King,” I announce.
I can sense Elanee’s eye roll. Maybe those few drinks on the plane really did shake her because I had only seen snippets of the old her then, but right now… it feels like nothing has changed.
“Right away. Here’s your key and everything has been prepared.” The woman greets me with a bright smile.
“Make sure we’re not disturbed. And we’ll reserve the restaurant at seven.”
“Of course.” She dips her head elegantly, and her quick gaze flashes between Elanee and me as we leave the front desk, card in hand. Elanee flinches when I grab her hand but doesn’t move hers from mine. I know she wants to rebuff me, but even then, I notice it gives her slight ease.
“King? Really?” Elanee says.
