Page 80 of Savage Little Secret

He’s barely kissed me. We haven’t been intimate. I almost feel like his captive again.

Dmitri won’t let me leave the penthouse by myself, and he’s adamant on escorting me everywhere I go. Even when he has meetings with his men or his allies, he brings me along like he wants to keep an eye on me. He doesn’t trust me alone with anyone else.

As much as I’d like to think that he’s just being protective, I can’t help but overthink and worry that deep down, he’s still angry with me.

I stop trying to eavesdrop and focus on the foggy mirror in front of me, my reflection hazy. I swipe my palm across the glass, revealing myself and all the healing bruises and cuts that litter my body. My stomach drops at how wrong it all looks.

Maybe that’s why Dmitri won’t touch me.

I breathe in through my nose, fighting the tears stinging my eyes. I’m so happy that I’m free, but being back here hasn’t been easy. I haven’t been able to fully piece myself together yet. What if I never do?

My gaze moves to my stomach, my palm automatically gravitating to where a bump might eventually be. I need a pregnancy test to confirm my suspicions, but I don’t want to ask Dmitri to get me one. I don’t want him to know yet. Not until I’m certain.

And not until I’m sure that he’s not angry with me. The last thing that I want is for this news to send him over the edge. What if he thinks that I got pregnant on purpose? Not that it was my fault. I missed pills while I was under his roof. But with how wound up he’s been lately, can I expect him to listen to reason?

My shoulders slump. My body feels heavier than before. Getting out of bed in the morning is agonizing. But what’s killing me the most is that I love Dmitri so much, but I don’t know if he truly feels the same way.

A knock suddenly sounds on the bathroom door. “Cara, can I come in?”

I quickly grab a towel and wrap it around my body, hiding as much of myself as I can. “Okay, you can come in!”

Dmitri slowly opens the door and steps inside, his eyes lingering on the bruises on my neck for a second before darting away. Is he really that disgusted by them? He shuts the door behind him to keep the steam from escaping. “Your father would like to see you.”

I stiffen. “What? Why?”

Dmitri leans his back against the door. “He wants to talk to you and make sure you’re okay.”

I huff out a laugh. “My father said that? Seriously?”

Dmitri’s face doesn’t even twitch. It remains straight and serious. “I know it may seem odd, but he did want to find you. He helped connect the dots to the names, whispers, Luca’s family.”

“And you don’t think it’s for any other motive? You really think he cares about me? After all I’ve told you about him?” I ask him, my throat growing tight.

Dmitri sighs, giving me a small nod. Now that we’re standing somewhat close, I can see the purple hue under his eyes. We haven’t even slept in the same bed since I got back, so I haven’t been able to see if he’s sleeping or not. It doesn’t look like it.

“Sean insists on talking to you, though,” he tells me. “He’s been patient over the past week. He wanted you to get some rest and recover first.”

I stare at him as I process his words, trying to read the almost blank expression on his face. I can’t tell if he’s tired, sad, pissed off, or all of the above.

“How considerate of him,” I say in a bitter voice.

“Maybe you should hear him out,” Dmitri suggests as he takes a step toward me.

I blink in shock. It’s jarring to me that my father and Dmitri are…allies? They were ready to cut each other’s throats not too long ago.

Even if my father truly wants to check on me and feels even a smidge of care for me, I don’t know what to expect from that. Does he even realize all the pain that has caused me?

Does he fucking care?

“If you think it matters, I’ll hear him out,” I reply as I look away from Dmitri, feeling cornered and alone.

I thought Dmitri would be on my side about this.

He frowns and shakes his head, then he closes the distance between us and gently cups my face, trying to avoid the bruising on my jaw. “It’s your decision, milaya. I stand by whatever you choose. And if he says one wrong thing, we leave.”

He has no idea how much I needed to hear those words. He doesn’t even know how much him touching me like this means to me.

My eyes start to burn as I gaze up at him. I yearn for his touch so much these days that it takes my breath away.