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)
It wasn’t until he was secure in the back of the town car that he contemplated this strange turn of events. Though he’d poked at Finch, he knew damn well the information was being provided solely because Charlie would be in the Romanov household in one short day. Even as shitty a parent as Finch was, he wouldn’t stand by while his daughter was put in danger—again. He probably would have preferred to call her directly, but Dmitri knew for a fact that neither Aiden nor Charlie was taking Finch’s calls at the moment. Which was why Finch had settled on Dmitri.
His phone buzzed, and he frowned when he recognized Pavel’s number. “Da?”
“There was an… incident.”
He checked his watch. Thirty minutes since Keira’s text and Pavel’s calling to report. Interesting. “I’m listening.”
“The O’Malley man who arrived this morning had a run-in with Mrs. Romanov. I couldn’t hear everything they said, but it was threatening on both parts. She ordered us to remove him from the house.” No overexplanation. Just a report. He’d obeyed Keira despite her order counteracting Dmitri’s.
It should piss him off, but a slow tether of pride uncurled inside him. She’s stepping into her role. “Where is he now?”
The smallest hesitation and what might have been a sigh of relief. “We drove him up to Westchester and shadowed him to make sure he didn’t try to come straight back. He’s got a hotel room, and he hasn’t left since arriving ten minutes ago. I have a man keeping an eye on him.”
“You’re not there yourself.” If Pavel had left Keira unattended… Dmitri curled his hand into a fist, fighting for control. She was safe. Just because Finch had reported surveillance malfunctions and someone had left a fucking head on his desk and wiped the tapes didn’t mean she was in danger right this second.
But it didn’t mean she wasn’t.
“No, boss. I sent Alexei and Petri.”
Thank fuck. “I’ll be home shortly. Don’t let Keira out of your sight.”
“Yes, boss.”
He hung up and considered calling Keira, but he would be able to get the full details from her shortly, and she would be going over the reception plans with Claudia at the moment. If he called to check in again, she’d know something was up and it might distress her. He closed his eyes and strove for control.
The trip back to the house was uneventful, and he wasted no time tracking down Keira. Resisting calling her had taken everything he was capable of. He needed to see for himself that she was safe and unharmed.
He found her in the ballroom with Claudia as they supervised the pair of men arranging tables. He stopped short just inside the doorway, taking in the change in her. A different wardrobe shouldn’t make a fundamental difference—she was beautiful no matter what she wore—but the outfit gave her a sense of command that she hadn’t had in her jeans.
Then she turned to face him and he realized the clothing had nothing to do with the change. Her posture was different, from the way she held her shoulders to the casual way she extracted herself from the conversation with Claudia and crossed to him. Her smile was small but genuine. “You’re back early.”
“I had a change of plans.”
She drew her brows together. “Pavel tattled.”
“Pavel called to fill me in, yes, but my plans had changed even before that.” He glanced over her shoulder at Claudia. The petite black woman nodded and turned back to bark instructions at the men, directing them to move the table two feet to the left. Dmitri took Keira’s hand. “Carve out a few minutes for me.”
“Sure. I actually wanted to talk to you about something.” She waved at Claudia and led him out of the room. She kept going until they reached his office, and he had to wonder what she needed to say that she didn’t want anyone overhearing. Keira didn’t make him wait long. “Mark might be here to help, but he’s here with the intention of killing Mae. He’s not going to deliver her to Aiden, and he’s not going to follow your men’s lead. He’s a liability.”
Dmitri studied her expression. “If he disobeys Aiden, that’s your brother’s problem.”
“No, shit, really?” She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I’m worried about. I don’t want him pulling some stunt and screwing up our chance to get the Eldridges and bring Mikhail home.”
If there’s anything left of him to bring home. Alethea hadn’t contacted him again, and she’d never sent proof of life, so Mikhail very well could have been dead this entire time. Can’t think like that. It changes nothing.
Dmitri didn’t think. He just pulled Keira into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. She hesitated, but it only lasted a second before she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Don’t punish Pavel.”