Page 47 of Bratva Hostage

But it’s something. Something I feel all the way down to my core. I’d call it admiration, but that feels insufficient. Whatever it is, it’s there, and it’s growing, and it’s terrifying.

“Good work tonight,” Maksim comments, cutting into my thoughts. “You read Thorne exactly right.”

I glance at him, unsure if he means it as a genuine compliment or if he’s still weighing whether to trust me. Probably both.

“I told you,” I say simply, taking a sip of my wine. “He plays the long game, but he’s not patient. If he sees an opportunity, he won’t ignore it.”

Aleksei nods. “And now we follow him back to wherever he’s running his next play.”

Dimitri hasn’t said much. He’s been watching, listening, considering every detail. His silence should feel unnerving, but it doesn’t. I understand it. The less you say, the less room there is for mistakes.

He looks at me, and even though he’s sitting several feet away, I can feel the warmth of his body. I can’t tell if it’s coming from him or me or both.

When Maksim and Aleksei shift the conversation to security adjustments, Dimitri picks up his glass and leans toward me. “You barely touched your food.”

“Are you actually concerned, or is this just an excuse to lecture me about how I should eat more vegetables because they make me big and strong?”

The corner of his mouth twitches. He almost smiles. Almost.

He looks me over and makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a scoff. “Hardly. You look like a stiff breeze would blow you over.”

I raise an eyebrow. “If that was meant to be a compliment, you should rethink your strategy.”

“It wasn’t,” he confirms, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

“So you’re saying I look terrible. Good to know.”

Dimitri smirks, taking another sip of his whiskey. “If you’re fishing for compliments, you’re going to be waiting a long time.”

I huff a laugh. “Noted.”

Across the table, Maksim watches us with a knowing look, then nudges Aleksei. “I think we’ve talked enough business for tonight. Don’t you need to get home to the Missus?”

Aleksei glances at his watch. “Yeah, she’ll be waiting. She’s out with her girlfriends for a bit, but we’re supposed to meet up for a movie. And you… I’m sure you’ve got plans, too.”

Maksim rolls his eyes. “Shut up. Get out of here.”

He and Aleksei both stand, pushing their chairs in. Dimitri and I rise with them.

Aleksei pats Dimitri on the shoulder. “Goodnight, Brother. See you tomorrow.”

“Have a good night, boys,” I add.

Maksim tips his head at me and winks. “Night, Cecily. Thanks for your help today. Glad to see you’re fitting in.”

“Well, that makes one of us,” I joke.

They both chuckle and head out, leaving me alone with Dimitri. They’re leaving to give us space, and we all know it, even if we’re pretending we don’t. Dimitri doesn’t call them out on it, which surprises me. He just watches as they exit. When the door closes behind them, the dining room feels different as we take our seats again. Quieter. More intimate.

I tap my fingernail against my wine glass. “They’re not subtle.”

“They don’t know how to be,” he replies.

I let out a breath and adjust myself in my chair. Now that we’re alone, I should find a reason to excuse myself. I should walk away before I do something stupid. Instead, I stay.

Dimitri studies me for a moment before setting his drink down. “Tell me something about yourself.”

I blink. “Something specific, or is this just a general demand for information?”

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