Chapter 27: Where is he?

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri was out of his office and in the car before Marco finished speaking.

Simon Ward had touched her.

Grabbed her.

Scared her.

The rage that flooded through him was biblical. All-consuming. Violent.

He’d warned Simon. Had made it crystal fucking clear what would happen if he came near Eve again.

And the stupid bastard had done it anyway.

"Drive faster," he told his driver.

"Boss, we’re already...."

"I said faster."

The driver obeyed.

Dimitri pulled out his phone, texted Marco.

DIMITRI: Clear the floor. I don’t want witnesses.

MARCO: Already done. Building security is cooperating.

DIMITRI: Good. Is she hurt?

MARCO: No. She kneed him in the balls before I got there. Your training paid off.

Despite his rage, Dimitri felt a flicker of pride. His girl. His strong, brave girl. She’d defended herself.

But Simon would still pay.

The drive to her building took fifteen minutes. It felt like fifteen hours.

When he finally walked into Phoenix Talent Agency’s offices, the floor was empty except for Marco standing guard outside Eve’s office.

"Where is he?" Dimitri asked.

Marco nodded toward the office. "Inside. Ms. Thorne is in the conference room. She insisted on staying until you arrived."

"And Ward?"

"Sitting in a chair. Hasn’t moved since you called. I think he finally understands what he’s done."

"Good." Dimitri straightened his tie, rolled his shoulders, and walked into Eve’s office.

Simon sat in a chair by the window, his head in his hands. When the door opened, he looked up.

And the moment he saw Dimitri’s face, he started crying.

"Please," he sobbed. "Please, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to....I wasn’t thinking...."

"You’re right. You weren’t thinking." Dimitri closed the door behind him with a soft click. "Because if you had been thinking, you would have remembered what I told you the last time you came near her."

"I just wanted to talk to her...."

"You grabbed her." Dimitri’s voice was soft. Deadly. "You scared her. You made her feel unsafe. In her own office. Her sanctuary."

"I didn’t hurt her...."

"You don’t get to decide that. She does." Dimitri pulled out his phone, pulled up a photo, and showed it to Simon.

It was from the warehouse. Dante Moretti. After.

Broken fingers. Shattered knees. Mouth bloody from missing teeth.

"Do you know what this is?" Dimitri asked conversationally.

Simon’s face went gray. "Oh God. Oh God, please...."

"This is what happens to men who betray me. Who threaten what’s mine. Who forget their place." He pocketed his phone. "Now. You didn’t betray me. You’re not important enough for that. But you did threaten what’s mine. You grabbed Eve. You scared her. And for that, I’m going to give you a choice."

"A choice?" Simon’s voice was barely a whisper.

"Option one: I do to you what I did to Dante. I break you in ways that will never heal. And then I make you disappear. Your family will never find your body. You’ll just be gone."

Simon sobbed harder.

"Option two:" Dimitri leaned against the desk, crossed his arms. "You sign a statement admitting to harassment. You agree to a restraining order. You leave this city tonight and never come back. You start over somewhere far away. And you never speak Eve’s name again. Ever."

"Yes. Yes, I’ll take option two. Please..."

"I’m not finished." Dimitri’s smile was cold. "If you ever....and I mean ever....try to contact her, I will find you. It doesn’t matter where you go. It doesn’t matter how far you run. I will find you. And I will make option one look merciful. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Yes, I understand."

"Say it."

"I understand. I’ll leave. I’ll never contact her again. I swear."

"Good." Dimitri pulled out his phone, sent a text.

Thirty seconds later, Marco walked in with a stack of papers.

"Sign these," Dimitri said. "All of them. Now."

Simon’s hands shook so badly he could barely hold the pen, but he signed. Every page. Every document.

Restraining order. Harassment admission. Agreement to leave the state. Waiver of any claim to Eve’s business or assets.

When he finished, Dimitri took the documents and handed them to Marco.

"Get him out of my sight," he said. "And make sure he’s on a plane tonight."

"Yes, boss."

Marco grabbed Simon by the arm, hauled him to his feet.

"Wait...." Simon looked at Dimitri with desperate eyes. "Does she... does she love you?"

Dimitri smiled. A real smile this time. Satisfied. Possessive.

"She will," he said. "If she doesn’t already. Now get the fuck out of my city."

Marco dragged Simon out.

Dimitri stood alone in Eve’s office for a moment, letting the rage drain away, replacing it with something else.

Satisfaction.

Simon was gone. Handled. Would never touch her again.

One problem solved.

He pulled out his phone, texted Eve.

DIMITRI: Where are you?

EVE: Conference room. Is it over?

DIMITRI: It’s over. He’s gone. He’ll never bother you again.

DIMITRI: Come here.

*****

Eve walked back to her office on shaking legs.

She’d heard some of it through the door. Not everything, but enough.

Dimitri had given Simon a choice. Had let him live.

For her.

Because he knew she didn’t want Simon’s death on her conscience.

The door was open. Dimitri stood by the window, looking out at the city. He didn’t turn when she entered.

"Is he really gone?" she asked quietly.

"He’s really gone. Marco’s escorting him to the airport. He’ll be out of the state by tonight. Out of the country by tomorrow if he’s smart."

"You let him live."

"I did." He finally turned to face her. "Because you wouldn’t have forgiven me if I killed him. And your forgiveness matters more to me than his death."

The honesty in his voice made her throat tight.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Don’t thank me for not killing your ex-husband, cara. That’s not exactly a high bar." He moved toward her, and she met him halfway. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"No. I’m fine. I kneed him like you taught me."

His smile was proud. "Good girl. I knew my training would pay off."

He pulled her into his arms, and she melted into him. Into his strength. Into his protection. Into the certainty that as long as she was his, no one would ever hurt her.

"I was scared," she admitted against his chest.

"I know. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner."

"You came. That’s what matters." She looked up at him. "You always come for me."

"Always." He cupped her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. "You’re mine to protect, Eve. Mine to care for. Mine to keep safe. And anyone who threatens that will answer to me."

She should be disturbed by the possessiveness in his voice. By the violence simmering beneath his calm exterior.

But she wasn’t.

She was comforted.

"Take me home," she whispered.

"It’s only two o’clock."

"I don’t care. Take me home. Please."

He studied her face for a moment, then nodded.

"Get your things. We’re leaving."

She grabbed her purse, her phone, told Melissa she was taking the rest of the day off, and followed Dimitri to the elevator.

Marco was waiting by the car.

"It’s handled, boss. Ward is on a 4 PM flight to Los Angeles. From there, he’s heading to London. He won’t be back."

"Good." Dimitri helped Eve into the back seat, slid in beside her. "Back to the penthouse."

The drive was silent. Eve curled into Dimitri’s side, and he held her, his hand stroking her hair, his presence solid and reassuring.

When they arrived home, he led her straight to the bedroom.

"Strip," he said. "Then get on the bed."

She obeyed, too emotionally wrung out to question or resist.

He undressed methodically, then climbed onto the bed with her.

But instead of the torture she expected, the denial, the games—he just pulled her into his arms and held her.

"Sleep," he murmured. "I’ve got you."

"Dimitri?"

"Mm?"

"When?" She didn’t have to specify. He knew what she was asking.

When would he finally fuck her? When would he finally give her what she’d been begging for?

"Soon, cara mia. Very soon. Your body’s almost ready. Just a little longer."

"How will you know when I’m ready?"

He was quiet for a moment, his hand stroking her back in soothing circles.

"When you stop fighting it," he finally said. "When you stop questioning whether you should want me and just accept that you do. When you surrender completely. Not just your body. Your heart. Your soul. Everything."

"I think I’m already there," she whispered.

"I know." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "But I want to be sure. I want there to be no doubt. No hesitation. No regret. When I finally take you, Eve, it’s forever. You understand that, right? There’s no going back after that."

"I don’t want to go back."

"Then sleep. Rest. Let me hold you. And when you wake up, we’ll continue."

She closed her eyes, let exhaustion pull her under, safe in his arms.

And somewhere in the darkness before sleep claimed her, she heard him whisper:

"Mine. Finally, completely mine."