Chapter 80: Eve Told Maya About The Threat

POV: EVE

Eve stared at her phone the next morning, coffee going cold in her hand, trying to figure out how to start this conversation.

Hey Maya, remember that lunch yesterday? Well, my boyfriend’s psychotic half-brother and his ex-fiancée are building a criminal empire and they’ve identified you as a potential pressure point to use against me. So you’re getting bodyguards. Surprise!

Yeah. That would go over well.

"You’re overthinking it," Dimitri said from across the kitchen island, watching her with those silver-gray eyes that saw too much.

"I’m trying to figure out how to tell my best friend that she’s in danger because of me without her completely freaking out."

"She’s going to freak out regardless." He came around the island, pressed a kiss to her temple. "But better she knows and is protected than stays ignorant and vulnerable."

"I know. I just...." Eve set down her phone. "Maya’s normal. She works in marketing. She goes to brunch on Sundays. She watches reality TV. She doesn’t belong in this world."

"Neither did you. And look at you now." His hand slid to the back of her neck, gentle but possessive. "You’re stronger than you think, cara mia. And so is she."

"What if she hates me for dragging her into this?"

"Then she’s not the friend you think she is." Dimitri’s voice was firm. "Real friends stand by you. Even when things get dangerous."

Eve looked up at him. "Is that what Mike did? Stood by you?"

"Always. Even when he shouldn’t have. Even when it put him in danger." Dimitri’s expression softened. "That’s what family does. And Maya....she’s your family. She’ll understand."

Eve took a breath, picked up her phone, and dialed before she could talk herself out of it.

Maya answered on the second ring. "Hey! I was just thinking about you. That lunch yesterday was weird, right? The whole Isabella thing?"

"Yeah. About that...." Eve glanced at Dimitri. "Can you meet me this morning? My place? It’s important."

A pause. "Is everything okay?"

"I’ll explain when you get here. But Maya...it’s really important. Can you come now?"

"I have a meeting at ten, but I can be there in twenty minutes. Eve, you’re scaring me."

"I know. I’m sorry. Just come over. Please."

"Okay. On my way."

Eve ended the call, closed her eyes.

"You did the right thing," Dimitri said.

"I hope so."

Twenty-three minutes later, Maya knocked on the penthouse door.

Marco let her in, and Eve watched her friend’s eyes go wide as she took in the space.....the luxury, the security, the armed men positioned strategically around the perimeter.

"Holy shit," Maya breathed. "Eve, what is this place?"

"Dimitri’s penthouse. Come in. Sit." Eve gestured to the living room. "Do you want coffee? Water? Something stronger?"

"It’s nine-thirty in the morning."

"Trust me. You might want something stronger."

Maya’s expression shifted from curious to concerned. "What’s going on? And where’s this mystery boyfriend I’ve heard so much about but barely met?"

"Right here." Dimitri emerged from his office, and Eve watched Maya’s reaction.

Her friend had seen Dimitri briefly at the restaurant yesterday, but seeing him here....in his territory, in his element....was different.

Six-four of controlled power in a black suit, silver-gray eyes that assessed everything, the kind of presence that made people instinctively step back.

Maya stood frozen, clearly torn between politeness and the primal urge to run.

"Maya." Dimitri extended his hand. "We haven’t been properly introduced. Dimitri Valentino."

Maya shook his hand automatically. "I know who you are. The whole city knows who you are." She looked at Eve. "What I don’t know is why I’m here. In your boyfriend’s penthouse. Surrounded by armed guards. At nine-thirty on a Thursday morning."

"Sit," Eve said gently. "Please. I need to explain some things."

Maya sat, perched on the edge of the sofa like she might bolt at any second.

Eve sat beside her, took her hand.

"You asked me at lunch if I was okay. If Dimitri was treating me well. If I understood what I was getting into." Eve squeezed her hand. "The answer to all of those is yes. I’m happy. He treats me better than anyone ever has. And I know exactly what his world is."

"His world," Maya repeated slowly. "You mean the organized crime world. The illegal businesses. The...." She looked at Dimitri. "The reason people call you the Devil."

"Yes," Dimitri said simply. No apology. No softening.

Maya’s hand tightened on Eve’s. "And you’re okay with this? With him being...."

"A criminal? Yes." Eve’s voice was steady. "I’ve seen what he does. I know the darkness he’s capable of. And I love him anyway."

"Jesus, Eve." Maya pulled her hand away, stood up, paced. "This is insane. You’re dating a....a mob boss. And you’re just....what? Okay with it?"

"More than okay. I’m choosing it. Choosing him." Eve stood too. "But that’s not why I asked you here."

"Then why?"

Eve looked at Dimitri. He nodded....silent support.

"Because there are people who want to hurt Dimitri. And they’ve identified you my best friend as a potential way to do that."

The color drained from Maya’s face. "What?"

"Dimitri’s half-brother and his ex-fiancée are building their own organization. And they’re targeting people connected to him as leverage. People he cares about." Eve’s voice cracked slightly. "People I care about. Which means you’re in danger. Because of me."

Maya sat down hard. "I’m in danger. Because you’re dating a mob boss."

"Yes."

"And you’re telling me this because...."

"Because I need you to let me protect you," Dimitri said, his voice gentle but firm. "I’m assigning you security. Two men. They’ll be with you whenever you leave your apartment. Discreet. Professional. But constant."

"Bodyguards." Maya laughed—high and slightly hysterical. "You want to give me bodyguards."

"I want to keep you alive," Dimitri corrected. "And the only way to do that is to make sure my enemies know that touching you means declaring war on me."