Chapter 9

Daelyn

I may not have a clue what I’m doing, but I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it’s a mistake. My mind races with a million scenarios with my heart beating fast in my chest, as I put my shoes on while Dmitri leans against the doorjamb, casually watching me.

Am I about to have breakfast with the man who broke into my house twice?

Yes.

I have to get closer to him so I can find out whatever it is Kaleb wants to know.

My stomach twists, my nerves screaming that I’m in over my head, but what choice do I have?

None.

When it comes to Kaleb, I never really have a choice. At least it’s always felt that way to me. He owns me. But not for much longer , I remind myself. And that’s exactly what gets me up on my feet, grabbing my purse, and heading out with a silly smile on my face.

It’s already hot out, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Dressed in cut-off shorts and one of my favorite band tees, standing next to Dmitri, I feel small and frumpy. How can a guy make dark jeans, combat boots, and a black cotton t-shirt look like runway material? It’s rude.

He slept fully clothed.

Next to me.

All night.

I can’t believe I didn’t wake up at all. An enormous man snuck into my house, crawled into my bed, and touched me all night long and I didn’t have a fucking clue. Damn those sleeping pills. I only took them because I was so desperate for sleep. For the past week I haven’t been able to turn my brain off, and part of that was because I’d been expecting to see Dmitri again. It’s why I didn’t block the sliding glass door.

But after several nights of waiting, I gave up because I needed sleep so I could do my job, take care of Addie, and get my brain functioning, so I’d be ready for whenever Kaleb or Ace showed up again. Figures the night I drug myself is when Dmitri shows up. Shame tightens my throat, making it hard to swallow. He probably thinks I’m a junkie or something.

“I don’t normally take sleeping pills,” I blurt out as we walk down the sidewalk. I honestly don’t know where we’re going for breakfast and am following Dmitri’s lead, because he seems to have a plan in mind. Either that, or he’s just as good at faking it as I am.

He doesn’t look at me when he asks, “Do you normally have nightmares?”

Wow. Of everything that’s transpired between us already, this question feels awfully personal. And he keeps asking about it.

What do I have to lose by telling him a truth… or a lie?

I’m too afraid to look at him when I answer. “No.” Stuffing my hands in the back pockets of my shorts, I clear my throat. “So, where are we having breakfast?”

“What’s your favorite place?”

I don’t have one. It’s not like I have extra money to go out with, and when I do, I always let Addie choose. “I’m down for wherever.”

“In that case.” Dmitri casually puts his hand on my lower back and steers me across the street. “I’ll pick.”

Relief is not what I should feel right now. I should be terrified. This big, intimidating creeper with a violent streak is literally steering me into an alley.

But I’m more relaxed than ever.

Jesus, I’m messed up. And I’m totally dumping those sleeping pills down the drain when I get home. Regardless of whether it was the drugs that let me sleep so deeply last night, or Dmitri holding me without my realizing it, I’m way too relaxed for my own good around this man.

Maybe I’m disassociating?

Wouldn’t be the first time. Or the thousandth.

We stop at a sleek black motorcycle.

“Hop on.” Dmitri pats the backseat and lifts a helmet off the back.

“This is yours?” I can’t understand why he’d park such a beautiful, expensive luxury between two dumpsters in an alley.

“Yes, it’s mine. I don’t steal.”

That’s not what I was implying. I’m not even sure what I was trying to get at with my question. He’s throwing me off and setting me right, which makes zero sense. Why do I feel safe with a man I should be terrified of? My bad judgement calls are further proof that I need to get out of Kaleb’s world before I’m killed.

I know what he did to Kaleb’s father, which means I’m about to have breakfast with a murderer. A stalker who broke into my house more than once. A monster who fucked me while we were both covered in his blood.

Even with all those facts staring me straight in the face, I still don’t feel scared of him. No matter how hard I try, the emotion doesn’t surface. Not even when Dmitri silently puts the helmet over my head and adjusts the strap.

A monster wouldn’t hold their prey all night, would they?

A killer wouldn’t protect their target by putting a helmet on them, would they?

A stalker wouldn’t stick around until they were caught… would they?

I’m so confused. All that good sleep I got last night isn’t enough to get me through this. I’m tired of running, of out-maneuvering. I’m tired of fending for myself and protecting Addie from the very life I’ve dragged her into. I’m tired of working my ass off and having nothing to show for it.

Dmitri climbs onto the bike and looks over his shoulder. “Use me to hop on, Firefly.”

Why does he call me that?

And why do I like it?

His shoulder is hard as a rock when I grab it to straddle his bike. I don’t like that I’m wearing a helmet and he’s not. It means he’s putting my safety over his. Like a gentleman.

He’s not a gentleman, he’s a killer and a fighter and a bad, bad man.

Dmitri starts the engine and slips out of his hidden parking spot, yielding onto the main street effortlessly. I try to guess where we’re going, but any spot I come up with, we either pass, or it’s in the opposite direction.

Finally, fear sets in. I’ve willingly gotten onto the back of a bike with a man I do not know or trust and am letting him drag me further and further away from my safety zone.

That’s the definition of too stupid to live.

If he kills me, I hope it’s quick.

My stomach rolls because I can’t believe that’s my first thought in a situation like this. I’ve lost my will to fight. To survive. Kaleb took everything out of me so long ago and demands more and more every time I’m forced to confront him. And this is the result.

Dmitri is my end game.

I’ve run into the arms of a killer and will finally be at peace if this big brute will just put a bullet in my head. Snap my neck with his big hands. Snuff me out with my own goddamn pillow.

Addie will be better off without me. I’ve pulled her too close to danger just by being her guardian when I am supposed to save and protect her from all this awful shit.

My brain shuts down, and I retreat into this dark space where I feel nothing. I don’t hear or see anything either. I’m a shell with a heartbeat, and that’s it.

On the back of the bike, I check out and accept my fate.

???

“Daelyn.”

I blink, finally snapping out of my mental retreat.

Dmitri’s holding my face, his expression concerned. “Jesus.” Only when he swipes my cheeks with his thumbs do I realize he’s taken my helmet off. “Why are you crying?”

Am I? Huh. It doesn’t feel like I’m crying.

And I don’t have an answer to give him. It doesn’t matter anyway. Tears don’t sway devils. Kaleb taught me that.

“Talk to me,” he urges.

I look around to see where we’ve ended up. I don’t recognize the parking lot, but it’s packed. The sun is bright in my eyes. People are walking around, and kids are running down the sidewalk. The scent of something delicious wafts in the breeze.

“Daelyn.” Dmitri shoves his face into mine. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say, slamming my mask into place. “I… the sun is just really bright, and it made my eyes water.”

He sees through my lie immediately. His jaw sets, brows digging down as he glowers at me. But he doesn’t press me even though we both know I’m full of shit because his helmet’s tinted visor was over my eyes the whole ride.

“Come on.” He holds his hand out for me, and I climb off his bike. I’m not even sure how he stabilized it while I was in my head, or for how long.

Whatever. It doesn’t matter. “Where are we?”

“My favorite place for breakfast.” He clasps my hand like we’re a couple out on our weekly date. “Since I didn’t know your favorite, I figured we can go to one of mine.”

I numbly follow him and when we step inside, I’m suddenly hyperaware of how underdressed I am for a place like this. Embarrassment heats my face. “Do they have a dress code?”

“Why?”

“Because everyone looks so nice.”

“So do you.” He squeezes my hand and heads towards the hostess.

She smiles up at him. “Good morning. How many?”

“Morning. Two of us.”

“Would you like a booth or table?”

“Wherever we’ll have privacy,” he answers, making my heart gasp.

“Sure thing.” She grabs two menus and tips her head. “Follow me.”

Dmitri stares straight ahead, still holding my hand, and I keep wondering why on earth I chose this crappy outfit today when I should dress to the nines to lure this man into my web of lies and deceit for Kaleb.

“Perfect. Thank you so much,” Dmitri says, as we approach a booth in the back corner of the restaurant. Letting my hand go, he gestures for me to have a seat first. Once I slide in, he sits across from me and steeples his fingers.

I busy myself with the menu. The prices aren’t listed, which makes me uneasy. “So… What’s good here?”

“Don’t know. Never been here before.”

I freeze. “But you said that since you didn’t know my favorite, we were going to one of yours instead.”

He leans forward, looking menacing and sexy at the same time. “You lied to me, so I lied to you.”

My stomach drops.

“Lie for a lie, Daelyn.”

Oh my god. He’s an asshole.

And so am I for doing all of this.

I recover quickly. “Does that mean for every truth I give you’ll give me one too?”

He nods, but his jaw ticks like he’s grinding his molars. I’m not sure if he’s being honest or not, but this could be my opening. My way into this man’s life, where I can get information to share with Kaleb.

Do it. Ask him anything. Bare your soul if you have to, because it’s your only way out. Do it for Addie!

I lean back and cross my arms. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

He nods.

“And you’ll answer it honestly, no matter what it is?”

He nods again.

I’m not buying it, but I’ll play along, just in case. Narrowing my gaze at him, I lean in. “No matter how personal it is?”

He arches a dark brow at me and nods again.

“No matter how damning?”

He smirks and nods.

I think I’ve got his interest now. I know I have his attention. He hasn’t even blinked, and his steady eye contact has me fighting to hold it instead of breaking away.

Time to fire the first shot.

“Have you ever killed someone, Dmitri?”