Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
He nodded. “They most definitely have someone on the payroll, or managed to use some sort of leverage against the judge, because Mae made bail.”
“What?” That didn’t make any sense. There was a reason people who were exceedingly violent or posed a flight risk weren’t granted bail—and Mae fit both categories.
Dmitri cast a look at the empty cabinet set against the wall perpendicular to the door. She’d bet her last dollar it used to have alcohol in it. With his current level of frustration, it made sense that he was craving something that would burn down his throat and warm his stomach.
Stop that. You’re sober. You didn’t just have this revolutionary moment so you could stumble now.
“I sent one of my men, Mikhail, and a small team to attempt to flush her out. It went bad.”
“They have him.” She stated it as a fact, instantly connecting the dots. If she wasn’t the reason Dmitri was pissed right now, it meant something bad happened to his man. “Is he alive?”
“Da, though I don’t know if he’ll stay that way.” The icy gentleman-murderer was nowhere to be seen. The fury lacing his tone was white hot and ready to strike out at his enemies.
“Do you know where they are?” Keira leaned forward, thinking fast. “A rescue isn’t a good bet, but maybe you could tip off the cops. It obviously won’t keep the Eldridges locked away, but it might save your man.”
He shook his head, though his gaze sharpened on her as if seeing her for the first time since she walked into the office. “I’ll look into it. Thank you.”
She nodded and then hesitated. She’d had a purpose for coming down here, but it seemed bad timing to throw her personal revelations at Dmitri. Her shit could wait until they had Mikhail back safely. She moved to stand, but his voice stopped her.
“You have something to say.”
Keira hesitated, but if he was asking, she might as well get it out. “I’m not ready to drink myself to death. That was never the goal.”
“It never is.”
Keira sighed, and let her legs slide to the ground. “I don’t know how to do any of this, Dmitri. I don’t know how to be in anything resembling a relationship, even if it’s for show. I don’t know how to lead. I don’t know how to be a partner. I’ve only ever been a pawn.”
“Never a pawn. A queen in waiting.” He spoke softly, the intensity of his gaze on her making her shift. As if he saw something more than that woman sitting there in a borrowed bathrobe. As if he saw the queen he’d called her.
“You keep saying that.” She cocked her head to the side. “I might be a little misguided, but I’m not a fool. It’s in your best interest to keep me happy and occupied so I play good little wife to you. I get that. But I’m taking you up on your offer, and you will deliver.”
He held himself perfectly still as she stood and crossed to stand in front of the desk. “And what, exactly, will I be delivering?”
“Everything.”
He didn’t speak, didn’t move, didn’t seem to so much as breathe. She leaned forward. She had to get this all out there now. “I want full partnership. I won’t contradict you or challenge you in front of your men, but all bets are off behind closed doors. You give me equal weight in important decisions, and I’ll return the favor. And you remove the order for house arrest. I need to get out of this damn house, and I will not ask again.” Through it all, she kept her tone even and professional. She’d already thrown enough fits tonight, and it didn’t matter how justified her reaction was—she’d screwed up. She brushed her hair back. “And you won’t call me yours. Not like that. Not again. I might be your wife, but you don’t own me.”
His lips thinned. “You’re insisting on misinterpreting what I meant when I called you mine.”
“I’m doing nothing of the sort. That macho bullshit might work with other women, but I’ve been owned, and I have no desire to continue to be so. I might never be free, but fuck if I’m going to keep letting everyone around me make decisions that impact my life.” There was no thrill at being owned by him. She didn’t have a submissive bone in her body, and she might like the way the Russian fucked, but that didn’t mean she’d kneel for him.
You called me your queen, and I’m going to make you choke on it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Keira made an effort to keep her shoulders back and her spine straight as Dmitri stared at her. She could practically see him mulling over her words and considering the best way to guide her into the actions he wanted her to take. She didn’t give him the chance. “Alethea Eldridge is going to use Mikhail to leverage her way into our reception next week.” The writing was on the wall. She’d called to feel Dmitri out and give him enough information to drive himself to distraction trying to find his man and the Eldridges. In a day or two, when she figured he was really desperate, Alethea would call and give him an ultimatum.