I get to my feet, slamming the ledger closed. “We’re done here.”

“You know there’s no shame in finding her attractive or wanting her,” Cara said. “She’s not the enemy. I see the ink on her wrist. She is bound to the Ivan Volkov Bratva. She is yours. Why don’t you enjoy it while it lasts? One day when she realizes the monster you are, you won’t get a second chance.”

What Cara didn’t know was that Aurora already knew the monster I was. She’d seen it. I hadn’t tried to hide it from her either.

I found Aurora downstairs. She sat at the bar as I’d hoped she would be the first time we came here.

The moment I cleared my voice, she stood, and I saw the pinkness in her cheeks. She quickly averted her gaze. Rather than put her at ease, I took her hand, leading her out to the car. The driver was already waiting.

I told him to take us home, and I sat back. I still held her hand.

“Slavik, I need to tell you something.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“No. Not until we get home.”

I pulled out my cell phone, ending the conversation. I sent an email to Ivan with an update, checked through my mail to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, and pocketed my cell.

The city was busy today, and the journey to our apartment took longer than I expected.

By the time we stood in the elevator, Aurora shook.

I held her hand still, refusing to let her go.

Once on our floor, I told the guard to leave. I didn’t want him hanging around while I talked to my wife.

I closed the door, finally releasing Aurora’s hand, and she spun toward me.

“Slavik, I need to tell you something. I don’t want you to be angry.”

“I want you to go to our bedroom, strip completely naked, lie down on the bed, and spread your legs.”

“What?”

“I don’t make a habit of repeating myself. Do it.”

Aurora paled, but she turned on her heel and left.

I removed my jacket, hanging it up on the peg. I kicked off my shoes.

Walking into my bedroom, I placed the gun and the holster on the chair. I had weapons all over the apartment in the event of a break-in. In the past forty years, I’d only been caught once without a weapon, and I held the scars to prove it.

I kept my back to Aurora, opening the button at my cuff, rolling each sleeve up, and then I turned.

The first thing I noticed was her hands. They were clenched into fists.

“I know Cara touched you. She touched what belonged to me. She showed me the video.”

“I’m so sorry,” Aurora said. “I didn’t want to.”

“I know what I saw, and Cara has a way of making people do what she wants.” I moved toward the bed. “However, she had a very valid point.” I reached out and grabbed her ankles, dragging her down the bed until she was close to the edge.