45

45
Earlier…

Dmitri received another file from Dante.

This time it wasn’t on Christian, but Damien.

A new death record had just surfaced in Manchester, the third “death” linked to Damien in the last few months. It was supposedly a mere mistake he’d started to consider but now he was sure something was off.

Every breadcrumb was leading Dmitri toward one inescapable truth: Damien wasn’t finished.

And Manchester… It wasn't a coincidence. After his meeting with Christian he reviewed Christian’s background tracing his place of birth back to Manchester city in the United Kingdom.

His “Italian vendetta” act was sharp enough to fool the untrained eye, but not Dmitri’s. The accents, the papers, the family backstory, it was a skin that fit too neatly over something much messier.

Dmitri wasn’t a hundred percent sure but if there was a possibility the two were connected then he needed to explore it.

And the sudden obsession with Lily was another thing Dmitri couldn’t quite wrap his head around. In order to leave town for good he asked mostly of Lily as a property. He had asked for her file. Her address. Her number. Even her family’s history.

Why her? Why not Dmitri directly? If this were truly about territory and getting revenge on blood then Christian should’ve been gunning for him, not circling Lily like she was the prize.

His burner phone buzzed, the same secure line he’d once used in the cabin.

No one could track it.

“Have you got them?” Dmitri’s voice was tight, already balancing on the edge.

“Yes, boss. We’re heading for the airport now,” Antonio replied.

“Make sure you’re not followed,” Dmitri snapped. His voice was low, deadly. “Or I swear to the gods…”

The call cut. Dmitri hurled the phone across the room, composure shattering for just a second.

He was supposed to be cold, so he didn’t give a shit about her because the moment he showed weakness, the entire Omertà would sink their claws in.

He was sure she wouldn’t forgive him so easily, even if it was for just a single day. He has still abandoned her. He didn’t expect her to understand the reason either.

The only thing he cared about now was her safety. And right now as insane as it sounded, Russia was the only safe place for them now.

~••

9:00pm.

Dmitri flight landed.

An old penthouse he owned in Moscow, was where he had relocated both her and her family, including her mom. That would be where he’d be visiting her.

Meanwhile, Lily paced the penthouse and she couldn’t wrap her head around what was happening to her. The moment they entered into the car Antonio had informed them that Christian already had her address, phone number and all her identifications.

If she decided to go anywhere in the country he'd find her so the only option was one Dmitri himself had formed. They’d arrived at the airport where she found her mother waiting confused.

Why was Dmitri helping? Wasn’t he that one that practically sold her, so why?

But right now, her mom as well as Lily had gone to sleep, she on the other hand was restless. She didn’t feel grateful or safe, her chest burned with rage.

Most of all, she hated that her pulse still betrayed her at the thought of seeing him again.

The door clicked open.

Her body stiffened. And when she looked up her eyes crashed into Dmitri’s.

His hair was messed up like he'd run his hands in them one to many times on his way here. Her chest hollowed then filled up with something sharp.

She refused to speak and he could scented it.

“Lily—“

“Dont!” She cut him off. “Don’t say my name like that. Not after what you did. I don’t want to see your face or hear you voice.”

He stayed still.

“You left me,” she struggled to keep her voice from breaking. “You abandoned me like I meant nothing, Dmitri. Off to a man I did not even know. was disposable. H-he—” her throat tightened, “—He nearly r@ped me Dmitri.”

She couldn’t hold in the tears anymore. The memory flashed back into her head and tears followed down her face.

She saw as Dmitri's jaw tightened, fist clenched in his side like he was trying to hold himself in place.

“You think you can just show up now, like it doesn’t matter? Like you can fix this?” She sniffed in the tears. “Tell me why, Dmitri? Why?”

Dmitri who had been silent finally spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

He met her eyes. “Sorry? That’s all you have to say?”

“I wish I could give you answers but I can’t.”

Her chest heaved. It didn’t make any sense to her. “Why can’t you speak? You just stood there and watched the entire time! You really don’t care huh? All this while, it was really just about the Don title wasn’t it?”

He scoffed. That’s when his mask slipped and he closed the distance between them in a single stride.

“To hell with the fucked up title Lily Hills. Every decision I make, your name rings at the back of my mind driving me insane. Lily. Fucking. Hills.” He snapped.

“You think I don’t care?” He scoffed, running his hands roughly through his hair. “The thought of risking your life keeps me up at night. Staying away from you drives me nuts. And then having you around is fucking dangerous but I can’t stay away either. So yes, I did crazy, irrational things but I’ll do them again if it means keeping you alive. Even if it means you don’t understand or forgive me for it!”

When he finished the room had charged a thousand volts, both their breathing filled the silence. Eyes locked into each other blazing steam, fire and desire.

It should’ve been easier to hate him. It should’ve been easy to turn away. Instead, her legs felt rooted, her chest caving under the weight of wanting him and resenting him at once.

“Why does it feel like I hate you and need you at the same time?” she whispered, hating how fragile it sounded.

Dmitri stepped closer, the heat of him filling the space between them. His hand lifted, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. The touch seared her, and she hated how much she leaned into it.

His eyes locked on hers, “Because that’s what we are,” he murmured. “Hate and need. Fire and ruin.”

Her breath hitched when his lips hovered against hers. Dmitri’s hunger blazed, and seconds later
, he crushed his mouth to hers in a starved, desperate kiss.