“Father!”

I had to say something, I had to warn him before Dimitri did something bad to us. My heart pounded violently against my chest.

“Not now Irina,” Father brushed past me without so much as a glance. His face was tense, jaw clenched. Something was off.

“But it's important,” I insisted, stepping in front of him.

Father finally noticed the pistol I clutched onto tightly. “Did Viktor give you that?” His brows furrowed. “That's unnecessary, I have lots of that in this house.”

“It's customized specially for her,” Uncle Viktor chuckled. “Your father is just jealous he didn't think of this first.”

I didn't smile. I was in no mood for light jokes. “Father, can we talk?”

“Not now,” Uncle Viktor stopped me, his voice firmer this time. “There's a problem and your father has to attend to it immediately.”

“But—”

They were long gone before I could say any more words.

How the hell do I handle Dimitri? He was a walking threat, and it was clear he was out for blood. My father’s and possibly mine.

“You were really going to rat me out?”

His voice came low and hot against the back of my neck. I flinched instinctively, my breath catching.

I took a deep breath, forcing the rising storm to be still. Why did I always have to steel myself before facing him?

“You shouldn't be here,” I said, turning to face him.

“Let me explain myself at least.”

“I gave you that chance and you lied!” I snapped. My grip on the pistol tightened. “I don't want to hear anything you have to say, I'll make sure you don't succeed with whatever you're planning.”

His hands gently closed over mine. A dangerous move.

“There’s no plan,” he said quietly, “just pure coincidence.”

I scoffed. “You expect me to believe that?”

“No,” his voice was low. “You're not a fool, but it's the truth and I'll explain everything if you let me.”

I hesitated, conflicted. Every inch of logic in me screamed to throw him out, call my father, scream bloody murder but still, I found myself saying…

“Let's go back to my room.”

In one night, I've had my crush visit my room twice. If he wasn't an enemy, Lord knows I'd have….

FOCUS IRINA.

“Start talking,” my voice was sharp.

He glanced at the wall and froze. “Are those paintings of my eyes?”

Shit!

“Yes,” I admitted.

“Why?”

I swallowed hard. “So that I wouldn't forget the bastard that held me captive for days.”

“Bastard?”

“Yes.”

No. I'm sorry.

“I guess I deserve that,” he muttered.

Maybe.

“You deserve even more. Start talking else…” I pointed the pistol at him.

He raised his hands in mock surrender, half amused. “This is the second time you're pointing a gun at me today. Is that your own way of flirting?”

I blinked. “Why would I flirt with you?”

Is it working though?

“Who wouldn't?” He said with a smirk that made my skin tingle.

Such a prick. A handsome one.

“I’ll blow your head off in an instant if you keep messing with me.” I snapped.

“Okay, I'm sorry. The truth is, I was ordered to kidnap you.”

“What?” My stomach twisted. “Who gave the order?”

“I don't know.”

“Are you serious right now?”

He nodded slowly. “I used to work as a hitman for hire. I did dirty jobs for powerful people, and they paid well. What made me popular was my anonymity. I didn’t have to know who they were, and they never knew me. It worked.”

“So you're telling me a client ordered you to kidnap me?”

“Kidnap the daughter of Roman Petrov and hold her until her father makes contact. That’s what I was told.”

“And what would they have done to me?”

“I don’t know,” he said softly. “I didn’t ask. I don’t ask questions.”

I finally lowered the gun. “So how come you're here?”

He hesitated for a bit. “I did a job for your uncle and he liked my work. He offered me a job with a pay ten times whatever I'd earn out there.”

“My uncle hired you?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“It's confidential, you have to ask him yourself.”

Risky. It was risky to believe him blindly. But if I asked Uncle Viktor and this was true, that would mean outing Dimitri as the man who kidnapped me…. the same man my father spent months searching for.

“You don't believe me? After everything I just said?”

I looked him over. There was sincerity in his eyes.

“I'll have to get confirmation from my uncle.”

“Are you going to tell him about the kidnapping? You can't do that, please. What if your father finds out?”

His eyes begged me to believe him, to trust. Should I? My father warned me about trusting blindly. Especially strangers. Especially men like Dimitri.

Hot. Sexy. Dangerous men.

First step, ask Uncle Viktor and if the story aligns, I'll think of the next move.

“I'll let you go…for now.”

He smirked…that damn smirk again.

“To be at the mercy of a girl like you…I don't mind.”

“Uhm…” I cleared my throat, a little too loudly. “Whatever that means.”

He grinned and moved toward the door. “Let’s go. The party can’t start without the birthday girl present.”

I glanced at the pistol, slipped it back into the gift box, and smoothed down my dress.

“Let's go.”