Chapter 72: I’m very good at making people miserable

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri found Isabella at an upscale restaurant, having lunch with three women who looked like they’d stepped out of a fashion magazine.

He walked in like he owned the place...because he did, technically. The restaurant was on property he controlled.

Isabella saw him immediately. Her eyes widened, then narrowed.

He crossed the restaurant in long strides, stopped at her table.

"Ladies," he said pleasantly. "Would you mind giving me a moment alone with Ms. Russo?"

They scattered like birds.

Isabella set down her wine glass, composed. "Dimitri. What a surprise."

"Is it?" He sat down across from her, casual. Relaxed. "Because you’ve been following Eve all morning. Sending her threatening texts. Working with my brother to intimidate her." He leaned forward. "Did you think I wouldn’t find out?"

"I sent her one text. Hardly threatening."

"Blocked number. Telling her I’ll get bored. Trying to make her doubt us." His voice dropped, dangerous. "That stops now, Isabella."

"Or what?" She met his eyes, defiant. "You’ll kill me? Antonio would never forgive..."

"I don’t need to kill you." Dimitri smiled, cold and lethal. "I just need to make your life so unbearable that you leave on your own. And trust me, I’m very good at making people miserable."

Isabella’s composure cracked slightly. "You’re threatening me."

"No. I’m warning you." He stood. "Stay away from Eve. Stop texting her. Stop following her. Stop working with Enzo to try to drive a wedge between us." He leaned down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because if you don’t, I will systematically dismantle everything your father has built, piece by piece, until the Russo name means nothing. Do you understand?"

Fear flickered in her eyes. "You wouldn’t...."

"Try me." He straightened. "This is your last warning, Isabella. Next time, I won’t be polite."

He walked out, leaving her pale and shaking.

One problem handled.

Now for the second.

***

POV: ENZO

Enzo was in his hotel room when the door burst open.

He jumped up, reaching for the weapon in his nightstand drawer but it was already too late.

Dimitri was across the room in three strides, had Enzo by the throat, slammed against the wall before he could even cry out.

"You followed her," Dimitri said quietly. "You and Isabella. This morning. Black sedan."

Enzo clawed at Dimitri’s hand, gasping. "I....was just....watching...."

"Watching." Dimitri’s grip tightened. "You were sending a message. Trying to scare her. Make her feel unsafe."

"No....father....wanted intel...."

"I don’t care what father wants." Dimitri leaned closer. "I warned you once. Told you what would happen if you came near her again. Did you think I was bluffing?"

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

"You’re my brother." Dimitri’s voice was empty. Cold. "And I don’t want to kill you. But if you ever...ever.....follow her, watch her, threaten her, or make her feel unsafe again, I will forget we share blood. Do you understand?"

Enzo nodded frantically.

Dimitri released him.

Enzo collapsed, gasping, clutching his throat.

"Get out of my city," Dimitri said. "Go back to Italy. Tellfather his little spy mission failed. And if I see you near Eve again....if I even hear your name in the same sentence as hers....I will end you."

He walked to the door, paused.

"Oh, and Enzo? Isabella is using you. She doesn’t love you. She never will. The sooner you accept that, the less pathetic you’ll look."

Then he was gone.

***

POV: EVE

Eve was reviewing contracts when Dimitri walked into her office at 4 PM.

She looked up, saw his face, and immediately knew.

"What did you do?"

"Handled it." He closed the door behind him, locked it. "Isabella and Enzo were behind the car this morning. I made it very clear that won’t happen again."

"How clear?"

"Very." He crossed to her, pulled her up from her chair. "They won’t bother you anymore."

"Dimitri..."

"They crossed a line, Eve. Threatened you. Made you feel unsafe." His hands framed her face. "I will burn the whole world down before I let anyone hurt you. You know that, right?"

"I know." She touched his face, feeling the tension thrumming through him. "But you can’t fight everyone who says something mean to me. I need to be able to handle some of this myself."

"I know you can handle it. But that doesn’t mean you should have to." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Let me protect you. It’s the only thing I know how to do."

"That’s not true." She kissed him softly. "You know how to love me. You prove it every day."

His arms came around her, crushing her close.

"I missed you," he murmured into her hair. "Five hours apart and I missed you."

"I missed you too." She pulled back enough to look at him. "So. About that promise to bend me over your desk tonight..."

His eyes went dark. "You remember that, do you?"

"Vividly." She walked backward toward her desk, pulling him with her. "And since we’re already here, in my office, with the door locked..."

"Eve." His voice was strained. "We’re at your workplace. Your employees are outside..."

"Soundproofed walls." She hopped up onto the desk, spreading her legs. "And I don’t care if they hear. Let them know exactly who I belong to."

Dimitri groaned. "You’re going to kill me."

"Probably." She reached for his belt. "But what a way to go."

He kissed her and lifted her skirt with urgent hands.

"Last meeting of the day?" he asked against her mouth.

"Canceled it when I saw you walking in."

"Smart woman."

He pulled her panties aside, freed himself from his pants, and thrust inside in one smooth motion.

Eve gasped, her head falling back, her hands gripping his shoulders.

"Fuck," Dimitri breathed. "Never going to get used to this. How perfect you feel."

"Good." She locked her legs around his waist. "Now move. Show me who I belong to."

And he did.

Hard, fast and brutal.

Exactly what they both needed.

And when they came....her first, him following immediately after....Eve screamed his name loud enough that anyone in the building would know exactly what was happening.

She didn’t care.

Let them know.

Let everyone know.

She belonged to Dimitri Valentino.

And he belonged to her.