“I’ll help,” she says. “I’ll get Demyan out of the way.”
I hug her. “Thank you.”
“Here’s the plan…”
Erin’s gotthe bodyguard in the foyer, and she and Demyan are out to dinner. I’m helping to babysit, though right now, the kids are with Olga, playing. They should really be getting ready for bed.
I’m in the kitchen making something to eat. At least, that’s the story. There is food, but I can’t eat.
Ilya’s cutting it close.
Erin and Demyan should be out until nine, but Erin said to make sure Ilya was gone by eight just in case. It’s seven now.
Suddenly, he appears at the kitchen door. I grin, and Albert dances as he sees him, somehow knowing not to bark.
“Ilya!”
He pulls the open glass door wider. “Malyshka!”
I throw my arms around him.
A growl comes from behind me. “You fucking touch my sister, Belov, and you’re dead.”
Chapter Eight
ILYA
The lookof horror and misery that collapses the utter joy on Alina’s face kills me. I don’t give a shit about the angry Demyan stalking toward me.
I give a fuck about Alina.
But the twisted hate, hurt, and anger on Demyan’s face cuts into me deep.
He goes to shove his sister out of the way to get to me, but I step between them. When he grabs my shirt, I let him.
When he drags me into the back garden, I let him.
I know Demyan’s temper. And when it cracks open and someone’s in the way, he can only see his goal. I don’t want Alina as collateral damage.
“You fuck!” Demyan curls his free fist, bringing it back, and slams it into my face.
To say it hurts is an understatement. My head rings, and pain blooms outward, as big as a mushroom cloud.
He punches me again. My legs give way, but I don’t fight back.
In the background, Alina screams, Albert barks wildly, and Erin yells.
“Demyan, stop!”
“God, Demyan!” Alina cries. “Don’t!”
He stands over me like an angry god, his eyes glittering in the fairy lights of the back garden.
I let him grab me once more.
“You fucking piece of low-life shit. I should end you here and now, string your entrails up as a warning for other weak bastards who come sniffing around my sister.”
“Demyan, don’t?—”
