Page 44 of Savage Little Lies

Does he think that he’s going too far? Is he regretting his words? Or is he thinking of how to further things?

Whatever he decides, I need to be ready. If he pulls away, I have to coax him back. If he gets closer, I’ll have to figure out a way to seal the deal and make him turn his back on Annika and her father.

Once we finish lunch, Dmitri and I work in his office. His eyes stray to me and linger every once in a while, but he doesn’t say anything else flirty to me. He’s retreating.

I need him to know that I don’t mind at all. For the plan’s sake.

And my own.

If I’m honest with myself, if it comes down to crossing that line with him, I’m not entirely certain I would refuse. He’s dangerously hot, and it could be the final step needed to end the engagement.

Before I know it, five o’clock arrives. I sit there for a few extra minutes, waiting to see if Dmitri will make a move or invite me out somewhere.

“Go on home, Cara,” Dmitri says after checking his watch. His eyes go right back to his laptop screen, though, as he focuses back on whatever he’s working on.

I blink in surprise. Dammit, I’m already losing him.

“Goodnight, Dmitri,” I reply as I stand from the desk.

That catches his attention, making him pause his work as his name leaves my lips.

With a knowing smile, I turn and walk out of his office.

Tomorrow, I’ll push him over the edge.

17

Dmitri

I almost lost control and made a pass at Cara right there in my office yesterday.

And I’m fairly confident that she would’ve been completely on board.

Why else would she pose for me after I told her what I’d do with the photos?

Nothing happened yesterday when we were together, but it felt…inevitable, like we were on the verge of finally colliding.

Still, I couldn’t make that final move. What if Annika decided to show up and caught us? What if Karly poked her head in at that moment and saw us?

The office is too risky. If I’m caught, I’m finished.

As hot as it would be to get swept up in the moment, I have to be smart about what I’m doing. If I’m caught, I’m fucked.

I want Cara so badly I came in my hand twice last night and again this morning. Looking at those images of her beautiful face, remembering her sweet vanilla and cinnamon scent, that short sexy skirt, how could I not fantasize about all the dirty fucking things I want to do to her gorgeous body but never will?

Because business needs to come first. The reason I’m in Vegas must come first. Mikhail was a loyal man, a damn good Pakhan, and my best friend. It’s up to me to find out what happened to him.

“Give me an update,” I say as a small group of my men file into my office before opening hours—Gabe, Mark, Isaak, and Emil.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have much of one, Pak—I mean, sir,” Mark tells me, wincing after nearly saying the title out loud. Gabe, Isaak, and Emil cast him a disappointed look for the stupid slip. It’s not official yet, and even if it were, that’s not a word used in public. “We can confirm that there was not one but two shooters who used long-range rifles.”

Two shooters instead of one. Not exactly helpful.

“We managed to pull some footage from security cameras nearby, but that was a bust. We only caught glimpses of the men dressed in black with masks on,” Isaak reports.

“What about the witnesses? Someone had to have seen something,” I question them, my eyes darting between the four of them.

“Nothing that helps us identify the shooters, sir,” Isaak says before glancing at Emil. “They might’ve seen a suspicious black van in the area, but we can’t confirm that it has anything to do with the shooters since we haven’t got any images of the license plate.”