Page 86 of Sinful Promise

I bristle at the sound of Danil’s voice as I bypass the people waiting to get inside the bar and start heading down the sidewalk.

His steps are loud as he jogs to catch up with me, but I force myself to keep my eyes forward.

I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking that I care.

“Talk to me, Em.”

I bite my tongue to stop myself from responding. He knows how much I melt when he uses that nickname.

“I get that you’re trying to punish me, but to what end? This isn’tyou. The drinking, the flirting with random guys.”

Still, I say nothing.

“You’ve made it perfectly clear that you’re upset with me, but hell, you’re putting yourself at risk here! I thought you were smarter than that.”

I stop dead in my tracks and whirl around to face Danil.

Now that his little side hustle of being my own personal bodyguard is out in the open, he’s ditched the hoodie and jeans disguise and replaced it with his usual sleek black ensemble that has me practically drooling at the mouth.

Why does he have to look so damn good?

“What I do is none of your business, Danil.” I turn my back on him and storm away.

I can’t deny that he’s right. I am acting out and whether I admit it to him or not, some of my choices lately have been…questionable.

My stalker is still out there, and now that he’s been linked to Igor Ivanov, he’s even more dangerous than I originally thought.

If anything were to happen, Danil would think nothing of throwing himself in the line of fire to protect me, and that’s what I need to remember.

It’s not just my life that’s at risk now.

It’s Danil’s too.

What if I’m the reason something happens to him?

The thought sends me into a spiral for the rest of the walk back to the penthouse.

By the time we get back, the ache in my chest is almost unbearable.

I wish I never worked that stupid party.

As the elevator doors slide open, Danil steps out, and I suddenly wonder if he’s been instructed to stay the night since Zara and Dimitri have taken the twins over to Alexei’s house for a few days so I could study for my final in peace, and they’re not due back until tomorrow afternoon.

I sure as hell hope not.

The high from my exam being over, as well as the buzz from the alcohol, has long since vanished, leaving me feeling miserable. I want nothing more than to be alone so I can wallow in self-pity until the sun comes up.

I cross my arms over my chest as I turn to face Danil. “You can go now. I’m home safe and sound.”

Danil tucks his hands into his pockets. “Em, come on. Can we talk?”

“Why would I want to do that?” I catch a flash of hurt in Danil’s dark eyes, and I’m hit by a pang of guilt.

God. This isn’t me.

“I understand that you’re upset with me, but honestly, Em, I’m upset with you too.”

I blink. “You’re upset withme?”

---