Page 28 of Savage Little Lies

It takes everything in me not to grab a handful and pull her back to me so that I can see how soft her lips feel against mine. My restraint for her weakens by the day as my engagement looms ahead, making me feel torn.

I still haven’t given Annika my mother’s ring.

I’ve sacrificed enough. How many pieces of me are left to give away?

The alliance may own my future.

But Cara, she feels like something that belongs to me.

11

Dmitri

The Cristal Ballroom at the Wynn is packed with the most powerful people in Las Vegas.

Businessmen and women. City officials. Investors. Con artists. Even a few cops.

People in my realm who are willing to do anything to be successful in their own definition of the word. The law doesn’t touch us. Not when we own the people enforcing it.

I want Cara to see this world. My world.

“What are we waiting for? I want to go inside!” Annika complains as we stand outside in the hallway in front of the busy ballroom, people flooding in and out around us.

“Then go inside. I’ll meet you in there,” I tell her as I remain standing in my same spot, my eyes scanning the incoming crowd for any sign of my assistant.

Annika scoffs and plants her hands on her hips in irritation. Her sparkly white dress glistens under the lights, and I can only assume that she’s trying out the color before getting her wedding dress. It nearly matches her light blonde hair that’s pulled back in a severe updo. She looks icy and cold, exactly how I’ve come to see her. “What are you waiting for, Dmitri?”

Before I can answer, Cara slips through the crowd toward us, wearing the crimson dress and shimmering heels that I bought for her the other day. She catches sight of me and smiles warmly before striding my way. “You look incredible tonight, sir.”

I glance down at the new tux that I bought for the event. I went for a simple but expensive black tux and tie with a silk red pocket square and lining inside. I wasn’t lying when I told her that we would match.

“Thank you. So do you,” I tell her as I gesture to her, forcing my eyes up. She looks even more amazing tonight after fixing her hair into waves that cascade around her bare shoulders.

Annika quietly huffs beside me before pursing her lips at Cara. “You might feel out of place here. Everyone is high class or runs successful businesses.”

When I gave Annika a heads up that Cara was attending the gala tonight, she threw a fit, as expected. She didn’t want anyone to think that Cara was my bride-to-be instead of her, and she didn’t understand why she got an invitation from me in the first place.

I didn’t bother to explain.

“That’s why I’m so grateful for Dmitri’s help,” Cara replies as she smiles at me, her hand briefly grazing my arm. “Not only did he invite me, but he also bought my lovely dress and beautiful shoes too.”

Goddammit.

I was hoping to keep that part just between us. It was my mistake for not clarifying as much with Cara beforehand.

“You what?” Annika questions me as she whips around to face me.

I fix her with a firm stare. “It’s not a big deal. I invited her to an event last minute that she didn’t have clothes for. It was a business expense.”

Annika scoffs at me like she doesn’t believe a word that I say. In Russian, she grumbles, “I had to use my father’s money for this dress. I’m going to be your wife. You should’ve bought it for me.”

“I’ll buy you what you need,” I reply in English since it’s rude to speak in a different language in front of Cara. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

Annika snatches up my arm, giving Cara a warning glare. She really is trying to mark her territory tonight.

I glance over at Cara. I hope she doesn’t end up feeling too out of place tonight.

She nods to me, letting me know that she’s good. Thankfully, she doesn’t seem all that fazed by Annika’s bitter treatment of her. It would be wrong if I rushed to her defense instead of standing by my bride, even if Annika is being a jealous pain in my ass.