Chapter 11

Dmitry was busy making calls and talking to his men during the flight back, so she went through some of the magazines lying on the table. She couldn’t hear what was being said, nor did she care to know. Even if she could listen to them, she wouldn’t understand what they were saying since they spoke Russian.

Of course, he was doing most of the talking while his men listened.

She hated it when people talked in a different language in front of her. It always made her feel like they were talking about her, or she would feel left out of the conversation.

A couple of hours into the flight, he sat down next to her.

“I want you to take another test before we land.”

“I don’t need to take one,” she said as she continued looking at the magazine.

He grabbed it out of her hand. “I’m not asking—I’m telling you.”

“I don’t need to because I just got my period.”

She saw the look on his face, a mixture of disappointment and anger.

He ran his hand over his chin and swore. “Fuck, you would think that after fucking several times a day for the past two weeks, you would be pregnant by now.”

He kicked the coffee table, knocking it over and making his men jump out of their seats. He then got up and stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Dennis went over, put the table back up, and looked at her. “Are you OK, Miss?”

She nodded her head. “Yes, I’m fine,” she said, wiping away the tear falling down her cheek.

Dmitry’s reaction frightened her; she feared what he would do to her. She hoped that he would have cooled off by the time he came back.

It wasn’t until they were almost home that he came out and over to her.

“Danica, I am sorry for my outburst.”

“You scared me.”

“I know, but I was upset. I also know it’s not your fault. I will have to be patient and keep trying.”

He picked up her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the knuckles. “For you, I will try—and control my temper.”

Just the mere touch of his lips on her skin sent shivers of desire through her body. If it weren’t for the fact that it was her time of the month, she would have let him have his way with her in the bedroom, guards or no guards.

“Thank you. I would appreciate it.”

Once the plane landed, she told him she needed to go get some female products.

“What is it you need?”

She cleared her throat. “Tampons and some pills to help with the cramps.”

He nodded and told the driver to stop at the nearest drugstore. Once there, he went in with her.

He followed her to the aisle, where he saw various tampons and picked up a couple. “Good God, why do they have so many different types and sizes?”

She had to snicker when he looked at the boxes and read the labels. He was unaware that women walking by were giggling when they heard him; he wasn’t being quiet.

She took them from his hands and smiled at him. “I don’t think you’ll understand, and I use these,” she said, holding up the box for him to see.

She was surprised when he took them from her and carried them as they walked down the aisle. He asked if she needed anything else.

“Well, yes, but I hate to ask.”

“Tell me, whatever you want, we will get you.”

“Some pills to help me with my cramps, shampoo and conditioner. I could also use my own hairbrush.”

He bought her the things she wanted plus more: perfume, nail polish, combs and brushes, and other gadgets to curl or straighten her hair. He carried the bag for her when they left the store.

“You did not have to buy all of this,” she said, feeling guilty.

“I want you to have whatever you need while you are with me, and if there is anything else you want, just let me know.”

***

When they arrived home, Bepa was at the front door to greet them. She took one look at Danica’s turtleneck and knew she was hiding marks left by Dmitry.

“Welcome home, sir. Can I get you some refreshments?” she asked, totally ignoring Danica.

“No, we’re fine. We are going upstairs, and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

Placing his hand on her back, they walked up the winding staircase to his bedroom. “You do not look well. I will call the doctor to come take a look at you.”

“No, don’t do that. I always feel terrible for the first two days of my cycle. I need to take these pills and lay down for a while.”

He put his arms around her waist, kissing her on the cheek. “I will leave you to get some rest. Can I have Bepa bring you anything—tea, juice, or something to eat?”

He did not like to see her in pain, and he could tell she was by the look on her face.

“All I need is some rest and the drapes closed.”

“Okay, you change into a nightgown, and I will close them and pour you some water.”

He went over, closed the drapes, turned on the bedside lamp, poured her a glass of water, and waited for her to come from the bathroom. When she did, he had her get into bed, and he sat on the edge, handing her the water and watched as she took the pills.

He then kissed her on the forehead. “I will be back later to check on you.”

She laid back down, waiting for the pills to kick in and give her some relief. His tenderness touched her, the way he tucked her in and kissed her forehead. He wasn’t the cold, cruel monster he showed everyone.

Her eyes felt heavy, and soon she was asleep.

She pretty much stayed in bed for the next two days, never leaving the room. He had her meal sent up to her, wanting her to get a lot of rest. Knowing that she didn’t like Bepa, he had one of the kitchen staff take her meals.

On the third day, she felt better, so she put on a pair of shorts and a top, grabbed the book she had been reading, and took it outside to the pool area.

She spent a couple of hours there while he was away on business. She thought it was so sweet of him to be so attentive toward her. He would bring her up chocolate-covered strawberries, and when her cramps got bad, he would get her the pills and some water.

This is not what one would expect from a Russian mob boss. She was the only one who saw the tender side of him; as far as anyone else knew, he was a real prick and a monster.

She had only been sitting on the lounger for about an hour when a young man showed up with some pool equipment. She was surprised to see him here on a Friday; she had been told he only comes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“Hello, Miss. I hope I won’t disturb you while I clean the pool.”

She looked at the man standing before her. He had to have been in his mid-twenties and quite good-looking.

“No, you won’t be disturbing me, but I thought you only came on Mondays and Wednesdays?”

“Those are my usual times, but I was called to come in today along with my regular days,” he said, starting his business.

She picked up her book and started reading. She had the strangest feeling that somebody was watching her.

But when she looked at the man, he wasn’t paying any attention to her and was busy doing his job.

She looked over to the house and thought she had seen someone staring through the window, but she couldn’t be sure, so she went back to reading.

It was just half an hour after that when she saw a shadow crossing over the book she was reading. Looking up, she found Dmitry hovering over her.

“You’re home early.”

“Yes, and it’s good I came home early.”

She was shocked to hear the anger in his voice. “What does that mean?”

“Go inside and change into something less revealing.”

“Excuse me,” she snapped at him.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her off the chair. “I said go and change.”

Tears stung her eyes from his harsh tone, and she ran toward the house. When she reached the door, she turned to find him talking to the pool man.

As she left to go to her bedroom, she saw Bepa standing by the door with a smirk on her face. Right then, she knew that the woman had set her up, but for what and why, she had no clue.

Dmitry slammed the door to the bedroom, causing her to jump. “So, is this what you do when I’m away?”

She looked at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He was at her side in a flash, glaring at her. “Calling the pool man to come and take care of the pool when you know what days he comes. Is there something going on between the two of you? There better not be because if he touched you, I swear to God he’s a dead man, and so are you. No one is to touch you until after you’ve given me a son.”

She backed away in fear. This was the angriest she had ever seen him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never called him. I was already by the pool when he showed up, and when I questioned why he was there, he said someone called him to come to do it today. How would I even know the number to call him in the first place?”

She couldn’t control the tears that fell from her eyes and rolled down her face.

He stood back, looking at her. Seeing her out by the pool with a young shirtless man got his blood boiling. He looked out the window and confronted Bepa about why he was there.

She said she heard Danica talking to somebody on the phone. Seeing the reaction on her face, he knew that Bepa had played him for a fool.

When he went over and tried to touch her, she moved away from him.

“Don’t touch me,” she said, sniffling.

“I believe you, and I apologize for jumping to conclusions. It had to have been Bepa who called him.”

“Why would she do that?”

He moved closer and placed his hand on her cheek. “To cause problems between us, she is jealous of you. I will talk with her, and this time, I will clarify that I will not put up with any more of her nonsense. Let me make it up to you—put on a lovely dress and I will take you out to dinner, just the two of us.”

The thought of getting out of the house made her smile. “All right, how much time do I have to prepare?”

He smiled at her, stroking her cheek with his fingers. “Take as long as you need. I will wait for you.”

He left the room and went in search of Bepa.

Bepa was coming from the living room when he spotted her. “It was you, wasn’t it?” he asked, snapping at her.

“What are you talking about?”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about. You called the pool guy and had him come over to start trouble between me and Danica.”

“I told you I heard the girl talking on the phone and figured she called him.”

She backed away in fear when he approached her, putting his hand around her throat.

“Do not lie to me. If you do one more thing, I will send you back to Russia, and you can work on the streets where I found you. I mean it, Bepa.”

“You would believe a woman you just met over me after all I’ve done for you?”

“Yes, I believe her. There is no way she would know the man’s name or the number to reach him,” he said, letting her go. “From now on, please stay away from Danica; let one of the other maids clean our room and care for her needs. Do you understand me?”

“I understand.”

“Good. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind and send you away.”

He watched her leave in a huff. When he ran into her years ago, she was hooking on the streets and was being beaten by one of her Johns. He felt terrible for her and gave her a job in his home.

She had always been obedient, but lately had become possessive, and it had gotten worse since he brought Danica home with him. He forgot about her when he saw Danica coming down the stairs, wearing the red dress he loved.

Smiling, he took her hand in his. “You look stunning; I love this color on you.”

He was getting a serious hard-on just looking at her. “How long until your cycle is over?”

“It should be over in two days,” she said, blushing. She was not used to discussing her period with anyone—especially a man.

“I guess I will have to wait until then to ravish your body.”

He walked beside her as they went outside and got into the backseat of the car waiting for them.