Chapter 102: The Fragile Peace

POV: EVE

Eve was in the kitchen with Nonna when she heard the elevator chime.

10:47 PM.

Dimitri was home.

She’d spent the past two hours trying to focus on work, on conversation with Nonna, on anything except the knot of unease in her stomach.

He’d lied to her about Isabella leaving.

What else was he lying about?

"Go," Nonna said gently, shooing her toward the living room. "Talk to him. Listen to him. Then decide."

"Decide what?"

"Whether you believe him." Nonna’s eyes were kind but serious. "And whether you can live with not knowing everything."

Eve walked into the living room just as Dimitri came through, loosening his tie.

He saw her and stopped.

They stared at each other for a long moment.

"Hi," he said finally.

"Hi." Eve crossed her arms. "How was your meeting with Isabella?"

"Productive. She signed a formal agreement. She won’t be a problem."

"What kind of agreement?"

Dimitri moved to the bar, poured himself two fingers of scotch. "One that legally binds her to the terms. If she violates them, she loses protection from both my father and her father. She’s completely on her own."

"And you trust her to follow it?"

"I trust that she values her life more than her obsession." He took a drink. "She’s moved to a new location. More isolated. Less public. She won’t be photographed again."

Eve watched him carefully. His body language. His tone. Looking for tells.

"Is there anything else you’re not telling me?" she asked quietly.

Dimitri went very still. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...you kept Isabella being here from me. What else are you keeping from me? What else have you decided I don’t need to know?"

"Eve...."

"I’m serious, Dimitri." She moved closer. "I need to know right now. Is there anything else? Any other threats? Any other deals? Any other secrets?"

This was it.

The moment where he could tell her everything.

Lorenzo’s threats. The "removal" plans. Antonio’s involvement. The real reason he’d let Isabella stay.

All of it.

Or he could lie.

Again.

"No," Dimitri said, meeting her eyes. "That’s everything. Isabella is contained. The threat is neutralized. There’s nothing else."

Eve stared at him, searching his face.

Every instinct she had screamed that he was lying.

But she had no proof. No evidence. Just a feeling.

"Okay," she said finally.

"Okay?" He looked surprised.

"I’m choosing to believe you. Because I love you. Because I want to trust you." She stepped closer. "But Dimitri....if I find out you’re lying to me again, if there’s more you’re not telling me, I’m done. No second chances. No explanations. Just done."

"I understand."

"Do you?" Her voice was soft but edged with steel. "Because I don’t think you do. I don’t think you understand how much it hurts when you keep things from me. How much it damages us when you treat me like I need protecting instead of partnering."

"I’m not trying to hurt you...."

"I know. You’re trying to protect me. But you can’t protect me from everything, Dimitri. And you can’t keep me safe by keeping me ignorant." She touched his face. "I need you to trust me. The way I’m trusting you."

Dimitri set down his glass, pulled her against him.

"I do trust you," he said into her hair. "I trust you more than anyone."

"Then prove it. No more secrets. No more lies. Just us. Partners."

"Partners," he agreed.

He kissed her then, and it was different from his usual claiming kisses.

This was desperate. Almost apologetic.

Like he was trying to make her forget the lies through sheer force of connection.

And God help her, it was working.

Eve kissed him back, poured all her frustration and fear and love into it.

When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Dimitri’s eyes were dark with want.

"I need you," he said roughly. "Right now. Let me show you how much you mean to me."

"Dimitri..."

"Please." His hands slid to her waist. "Let me make this right. Let me remind you why we’re worth fighting for."

Eve should have said no. Should have insisted on more talking. More honesty.

But she wanted this too. Wanted to feel close to him again. Wanted to believe everything was okay.

"Yes," she whispered.

That was all the permission he needed.

***

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri swept Eve into his arms, carried her toward the bedroom.

She’d asked him if there was anything else he wasn’t telling her.

And he’d lied.

Again.

The guilt was a living thing in his chest, burning hotter than the desire.

But he pushed it down. Buried it. Focused on the woman in his arms.

The woman he’d do anything....anything to protect.

Even lie to.

He kicked the bedroom door closed behind them, set Eve on her feet.

"Strip," he commanded. "Now."

She obeyed without hesitation, pulling off her clothes with efficient movements until she stood naked before him.

Dimitri took a moment just to look at her.

Perfect. Every curve. Every line. Every inch of her.

His.

"On the bed," he said. "On your back."

Eve climbed onto the bed, lay back against the pillows, her eyes never leaving his.

Dimitri shed his own clothes quickly, then joined her on the bed.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, hovering over her.

"Yes." No hesitation.

"Even when you think I’m keeping things from you?"

"I’m trying to."

"Try harder." He kissed her neck, her collarbone, the swell of her breast. "Trust that everything I do is to keep you safe. To keep you with me. To protect what we have."

"Dimitri...."

"Trust me, Eve." He positioned himself at her entrance, pushed just the head inside. "Trust that I would never do anything to hurt you. That every decision I make is about keeping you alive and in my life."

He thrust inside in one brutal stroke.

Eve cried out, her back arching off the bed.

"Say it," Dimitri demanded, pulling back and slamming in again. "Say you trust me."

"I trust you," she gasped.

"Again."

"I trust you!"

"Good." He set a punishing rhythm, each thrust driving deeper, harder. "Because I need you to trust me, cara mia. I need you to believe that I’m doing everything....everything to keep you safe."

He wasn’t just fucking her.

He was reinforcing the lie with pleasure. Making her body believe what her mind questioned.

And it was working.

Eve’s hands clawed at his back, her legs wrapped around his waist, her body opening for him completely.

"That’s it, baby," he growled. "Take all of me. Trust me to give you what you need."

"Yes—God—yes—"

He shifted angles, hit that spot inside her that made her see stars.

"Who do you belong to?"

"You!"

"Who protects you?"

"You do!"

"Who would burn the world down before letting anyone hurt you?"

"You.....Dimitri....please...."

"Please what?"

"I’m going to come...."

"Not yet." He slowed his rhythm, kept her on the edge. "First, you’re going to promise me something."

"Anything..."

"Promise me you’ll trust me. Even when you don’t understand. Even when it’s hard. Promise me you’ll believe I’m doing what’s best for us."

"I promise," Eve sobbed. "I promise...now please let me come..."

"Come," he commanded. "Come for me right now."