I let out a breath, my senses overwhelmed and my survival instinct missing in action.

“Don’t say I didn’t do anything nice for you,” Demitri taunts me.

“Huh?” Finally, I manage to move back a step.

He jabs a thumb over his shoulder. “The show. It was all for you, Malyshka, and by the expression on your face, it looked like you appreciated every second of it. You’re welcome.”

Letting out an amused chuckle, he walks back to the pile of wood.

“Jackass,” I call out, and then I dart back around the corner of the house and make a run for the sliding doors.

You have to stop drooling over the guy.

He’s bad, not some prince charming.

I let out a snort.

Ha, hell will probably freeze over the day Demitri is charming.

Walking back into the house, I mutter, “If I get out of this alive, I better get my head examined.”

Chapter 10

DEMITRI

We’ve been on the island for a week, and last I spoke with Alexei, he was no closer to finding out who the assassin is that’s coming after Ariana.

Lucian’s in Russia, but he has to keep up pretenses and meet with Yuri and the other members of the Bratva before he can visit Sergei.

Hopefully, we’ll learn something of value soon because things have been growing tenser between Ariana and me. Every time we’re in the same room, the atmosphere becomes explosive, and it doesn’t help that she looks fucking sexy in my shirts.

Ariana’s been keeping herself busy by watching one show after the other and obsessively cleaning the house. When I told her she doesn’t need to clean, she just gave me a glare and said it’s either that or she’ll go crazy from boredom.

My phone vibrates, and I quickly pick it up.

Alexei: Found the assassin. Jet Tao. He’s still in Seattle. I’m going after him.

A wave of worry crashes over me, and I shoot to my feet.

Demitri: Fuck no. Not without me.

Alexei: I’ll be fine.

Demitri: You know what it will mean if you get hurt or worse.

It will bring dishonor to the Vetrov name.

Alexei: Chill. Nikhil and Sacha will be with me.

A sense of helplessness I’ve never felt before bleeds through me.

Demitri: Don’t go. Wait until I can be there to watch your back.

A couple of seconds later, Alexei’s name flashes on the screen, and I answer the call, snapping, “You do not go after Tao until I’m back with you.”

Alexei takes a deep breath. “I know this is frustrating for you, and it’s your job to watch my back, but we both knew this time would come. Nikhil and Sacha are good. You trained them.”

“We both knew this time would come? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You can’t guard me every day for the rest of our lives.”

My free hand fists at my side. “I swore my loyalty to you.”

“And I’ll always be grateful for that, but at some point, you need to think of yourself, Demitri. You mean more to me than my own brother, and I’d never keep you from living your own life. This separation with you watching the girl made me realize how much of your time I’ve been taking up.”