Page 52 of Under Control

This can’t go on. Are you going to deal with her or not?

Before Carrick could write back, a call started coming to his cellphone. Seeing that there was no caller ID, he knew exactly who it was. He sure as hell didn’t want to talk to the fucker, but Carrick wasn’t a coward.

And he wasn’t about to let the asshole think he was faltering.

“Yup,” he answered the call, pressing it hard against his ear so he wouldn’t miss a word.

“You said you would call me,” Petrov’s unimpressed voice rang through the line. “It has been over twenty-four hours.”

“Patience is a virtue”—Carrick kept his voice calm, not willing to show his cards—“especially on Monday mornings.”

“I hope you have enjoyed your littleholiday.” Petrov wheezed into the phone, alerting Carrick. “Now, bring her to me.”

“Not a chance,” Carrick stated, his mind running with questions.

Little holiday? What the fuck does that mean? Does Petrov know we’re at the beach?Carrick looked around, his mind working through any possible way Petrov could be tracking her, then decided the thug was just being a smart-ass.

Petrov let out a shallow cough then spoke in a low, deadly serious tone. “My jet is leaving for Moscow tomorrow, and I expect her to be on it.”

“And what makes you think I give a shit?”

“Poshel na khuy,” Petrov snapped, clearly growing irate. “Enough with the posturing. You’ve done everything I’ve asked so far, haven’t you? You found her. You brought her to the wedding. I know you’ll bring her to me once again—because, if you don’t, you are intelligent enough to recognize what will happen to youandher.”

A protective fury rose in Carrick as he slammed back against the threat. “Stop trying to control her. She’s not going to marry Andriy.”

“Won’t she? She won’t say no. Youknowshe won’t say no.”

“I won’t let her.” The words slipped out of Carrick’s mouth before he clenched down harder. “You don’t deserve her—and neither does he.”

Petrov laughed again. “And look at you—trying to control her life, telling her what to do. Remind me how you are so different from what you are criticizing?”

Carrick went silent, remembering how submissive Danica was, remembering that controlling her life was exactlynotwhat she needed.

She needs to stand up to Petrov by herself.

Petrov added, with a tone of finality, “Andriy is a good man and will make a good husband for her. We take care of our own. Unfortunately, he is already displeased that he will have this black eye for their wedding reception this weekend. If I were you, I wouldn’t give him any more reasons to be unhappy… It couldkillyour business.”

Carrick flexed his jaw, removing the phone from his ear to hang up. Staring at it, he debated throwing the thing in the ocean. Something about that call left him feeling in way, way less control than he had yesterday…when he’d last spoken to the guy.

What the fuck am I going to do now?

Letting all the frustration inside him out in one long exhale, Carrick narrowed his vision on the crashing waves before him. He needed the cold water to wake him up. He popped up and zipped his phone back into his hoodie pocket. Whipping it off, leaving him in nothing but his board shorts, Carrick turned toward the tent to throw the hoodie up the beach.

But then he realized he wasn’t alone anymore. A grin washed across his face as he watched Danica walking down the sand toward him, flipping back her long hair. She was so damn stunning.

“Morning,” he called to her.

“Good morning,” Danica replied, focused on him.

She stopped a few feet away from him, her expression apprehensive, awkwardly holding her arms across the chest of her pink hoodie.

Carrick immediately closed the gap and leaned in to give her a kiss, but she pulled back. He returned her intense gaze. There was no chance in hell she’d overheard anything. The crashing waves and strong breeze were enough ambient noise to drown out the conversation he’d just had with Petrov.

“Who were you talking to?” she asked, the words pouring out.

“It was a business call. How did you sleep?” he replied, keeping his cards close to his chest.

A frown shot across her face and she looked away. He knew for sure she didn’t believe him and didn’t trust his words. He bit his lip, regretting his response. In the blink of an eye, everything they’d shared the night before had disappeared—and they were right back at square one.

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