Page 41 of Tattooed Vow

He picks it up and reads it aloud.Cabin has been prepped. The fridge is stocked for a week. If you need anything, call the number and ask for David.

“Aleksandr really knows how to roll out the red carpet,” I chuckle. However, the idea that someone has been here, preparing for our arrival, sends an uncomfortable prickle down my spine.

Dimitri huffs a quiet laugh, and my eyes are drawn to him. The cool mountain air has tousled his wavy-blonde hair, a few damp strands curling slightly at the edges from the lingering morning mist. His dark sweater clings to him in all the right places. Andthe quiet way he moves, the tension coiled in his shoulders…it’s like he carries the weight of the world and has no intention of letting it fall.

When he turns, I quickly avert my gaze, not wanting him to catch me staring. But when I look back, there is something in his eyes. A knowing that makes heat crawl up my neck.

“I’m going to check the perimeter,” he says abruptly, moving toward the back door.

The moment it closes behind him, I exhale, unaware I was holding my breath. Being alone with him in this small space is more intimate than I anticipated.

I took a moment to explore the cabin. A narrow hallway leads to a small bathroom with a claw-foot tub that looks ancient but is well-maintained. Besides it is a single bedroom with a queen-sized bed covered in a patchwork quilt. My heart skips at the sight of it. One bed, two of us. I push the thought aside and continue exploring.

At the back of the cabin is a small study with dusty bookshelves lining the walls. I trail my fingers along the spines. Russian classics, hunting manuals, and wilderness survival guides. The perfect hideaway library.

I snag Dimitri's phone from the counter when I return to the main room. He left it behind by accident or as a sign of trust. Either way, I’m not going to waste the opportunity.

The moment I hear Talia's voice, everything in me unclenches.

“Sis?” she says, breathless. “Oh my God, are you okay? Where are you?”

“I’m safe,” I promise, sinking onto the couch and trying to keep my voice steady. “We’re at the second cabin. Somewhere deep in the mountains. It’s peaceful, actually.”

“Is Dimitri there now?” Her voice holds a note of concern that surprises me.

“He’s outside, making sure no one is lurking in the trees.” I let out a quiet laugh. “The man saved my life.”

I expected a joke or a comment about how overprotective he is. Talia goes quiet, the line filled only with the faint sound of her breathing.

“You trust him,” she says softly. Not a question.

I let out a slow breath, sinking onto the arm of the couch.Do I trust him?I barely know him.

“I shouldn’t,” I admit. “But I do. And not just with my safety. With all of it.”

“Then trust that instinct. Aleksandr wouldn’t have sent him if he didn’t believe in him. He’s a good man, sis. I believe in him, too.”

“Do you know how long I’m going to have to be here? With him?” I try to make the question casual, but I can hear my voice's underlying need.

“Aleksandr’s working fast. Once Morozov’s location is confirmed, it won’t be long. A few days, hopefully.”

I swallow hard. “Okay.”

“Hang in there, okay? And be careful. Not only with your safety, with your heart, too.” The warning in her voice is gentle but unmistakable.

I promise her I will, but we both know I’m lying. After I hang up, I stare at the phone in my hands. I’m already in trouble, falling into something I can’t control. And I’m not sure I want to stop it.

When Dimitri returns, brushing leaves from his sweater, I look up and blurt, “You hungry?”

He raises a brow. “Always.”

“Then sit. I’m making breakfast.”

His eyes sparkle with amusement. “You cook?”

“Hey, I’m not completely helpless,” I huff, pushing past him toward the kitchen. "I'll have you know I make excellent pancakes."

“Is that so?” He leans against the doorframe, watching me like I’m a puzzle he doesn’t quite know how to solve.

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