Chapter Twelve
W hen he got to his room, he sat on the side of his bed and stared down at his hands. They’d been used to destroy, to maim, and to kill, and he’d just grabbed Poppy in anger. He’d wanted to shake her, shake some sense into her, and he knew he had to walk away.
With feelings came so much more.
With them came pain.
All he wanted was to be loved for who he was, and he didn’t know how to talk to her.
Dimitri didn’t know how to bridge that gap to her. It was hard enough since he had no experience with women or how to relate to them.
He’d grown up without a mother.
He’d hired women for sex.
Marissa had broken him.
Greyson was right. He had let her use him to feel, and now that he genuinely felt something, he didn’t know how to make Poppy understand.
His life…it was a mess, and the only good person he’d ever had the privilege of having touch him had been ordered to leave.
Dimitri knew she would.
She was smart.
By now, she was in the garage, and he couldn’t chase her. Dimitri had nothing left in him. He had nothing left to offer. Tonight, he’d bared it all, and it was gone.
His soul…it was gone.
When he heard the footsteps, they were so soft and light. Glancing over, he expected to see Sam.
Well, at least the boy had nothing to worry about. A woman wouldn't come between him and his kids. There was no one in the world for him.
He was lost.
When he saw her, she was standing there with her bag over her shoulder.
“Can I come in?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he looked away. Dimitri didn’t want to fight anymore. He didn’t want this pain.
“I don’t want your pity. Go, Poppy.”
She entered the room and placed her bag by his closet door. Now, this room looked like him. It was chrome and black, and it was sleek like the man.
The furnishings were simple, but it spoke to her. This was a place he hid, and a place he tortured himself.
Moving toward the bed, she crawled across it. The second she touched him, his body went tense.
“I’m sorry. I let my personal baggage get in the way of hearing you. I let my scars influence how I heard what you were saying. As a cop, I know better.”
“Go home, Poppy. Leave me.”
She wrapped her arms around him from behind, sliding her hands beneath his shirt to touch his skin. His muscles rippled.
“I don’t pity you, Dimitri Gideon. It’s not pity.”
“What is it then? There’s nothing out there for me. I’m a monster.”
“It’s love. I love you.”
His heart skipped.
“I know it’s date three. I reacted the way I did because in this moment when you were angry, I didn’t stand there and see a killer. I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid I’ll never see you again. I was afraid you’d die on that mountain, and today, I was afraid you’d get hit by that car. I don’t want to protect you. I want to love you. It’s different, and I just realized it.”
He didn’t know what to say.
Other than family, other than Emma, he had never had a woman say she loved him.
“I love you, Dimitri Gideon, and I can’t arrest you because I don’t see what you did as bad. You were saving people, and you always do. You saved me. You gave me something so precious. You gave me the truth. Well, I’m going to give you the same.”
He held his breath.
“I’m in love with you. I have been since I kissed you on that mountain. Your soul isn’t dead. It was asleep. It recognized mine, and I don’t care about the hookers or Marissa Pierce. I only care that in this moment, you are worthy of my love. It may not be much. I’m just some street cop. I’m just some woman you stumbled across, but I won’t hurt you. I will love you with everything I have, and I accept you. I love you, Dimitri Gideon. You are safe with me.”
He glanced over his shoulder and there were tears in his eyes.
Poppy kissed him.
Her mouth found his, and she controlled the kiss. She understood that no one had ever cherished him, loved him, or wanted him like a partner, lover, and someone who saw him.
So she’d do just that.
Poppy knew that pain. It was the story of her life too. Her mother had chosen sex over her own children, she’d been abused in a foster home.
Poppy knew pain.
She also knew love healed.
So, here went nothing.
Keeping her mouth sealed to his, she climbed into his lap and kept kissing him. She didn’t let him stop. Poppy could feel his body relaxing, as her hands stroked flesh. They went from his chest to his back, touching with soft fingers all the wounds that were there.
Dimitri didn’t stop her.
He was astounded that someone was touching him and that she’d told him she loved him.
He didn’t know if he could believe it.
When she got off his lap, she broke free from the kiss. Staring into his eyes, she held out her hand.
“Let me show you.”
He took her hand, and she pulled him to his feet. Her hand went to his shirt, and she pulled it from his body. Her fingers explored, running gently over that scar on his shoulder where he’d been shot. It was still pink and raw.
Gently, she left kisses across it.
Poppy felt the tremor.
She knew no one had ever kissed his wounds, gave him love, or tenderness.
So, she would give him that.
Tonight, she’d give him softness to fill his soul.
Moving behind him, she stared at his back. It was even more horrifying in the light of the room. She ran her fingers over it, and with her mouth, she left kisses on each and every slash to his skin.
As a boy, it had to be so painful, so horrifying, and so unbearable. So, Poppy gave him that love, so he could feel like someone cared that he’d been hurt.
Because someone had.
Her.
Poppy cared.
When she was done, she moved to stand in front of him, and there was so much in his eyes.
“I love your body,” she admitted. Running her fingers down his chest, she gently touched him. Dimitri wouldn’t want rough, violent fornication.
He’d need sweet, gentle, and love.
She touched the top button of his jeans. She expected him to stop her, but he didn’t. He watched with curiosity.
So, she continued.
When she had them opened, she slid her hands into his pants and shoved them and his boxers to the floor. Since he was still wearing his shoes, she had him sit.
He obeyed as he watched her.
He couldn’t think.
He couldn't breathe.
She was touching him so gently that it was filling his body with peace. He was curious what she’d do.
How far she’d go.
Then she did something that stole his heart. Poppy headed away from him to the door. She closed it but left it open a crack.
“In case the kids need us.”
In that moment, he was lost.
This time in love.
Dimitri knew she was the one earlier, but now…he was pretty damn sure Poppy was meant to be his.
That compassion…
She stood in front of him.
“Let me love you,” she said. “Let me give you peace for the first time in your life.”
His heart skipped.
“Please save me.”
She touched his cheek.
Dimitri watched as she pulled off her sweater and tossed it on the floor beside his polo. She undid her jean button, and then shoved them off her body. As she stood there in front of him in her bra and panties, he looked at her in love.
She was sure of it. She could read people fairly well, and his face said it all.
Poppy went to her knees.
Dimitri watched her take his erection in her hand and stroke him. He was rock-hard, and he desperately wanted her mouth on him.
With the tip of her tongue, she teased the head of his dick until he moaned.
Poppy wanted to please him. She’d give him everything she had to give him peace. She’d love him until she couldn't love him anymore.
She took him in her mouth, and he leaned back.
He began whispering in Russian.
She understood most of it. He was begging her not to stop. He was begging her to fill that void, so she did.
She gave him all she had, sliding his erection in and out of her mouth until she felt his whole body shake.
He warned her that he was close.
She didn’t stop.
Poppy kept going, pushing him over the edge and into one hell of an orgasm.
Dimitri came hard. It had been a while, so he couldn't fight it. He couldn't do battle with that demon too.
He let her take him off the edge, and when he fell, he could feel her moving back up his body, leaving a trail of kisses in her wake.
He let her touch him.
He let her explore.
When he opened his eyes, she was staring down at him.
“Now comes my favorite part.”
He waited.
“We just hold each other and know that in this moment, I love you, Dimitri. If there’s never anything more, you had my love. You can never say that you were never someone’s special moment. You were mine. You were cherished, you were adored, and you mattered. In this moment, you were mine.”
His heart kicked.
“Oh, Poppy.”
That was what he needed.
There were tears in her eyes.
“It’s never pity, Dimitri. I love the man you are. You may be a killer, but you slayed the fear in me. You saved me, and that makes you the best kind of killer. An honorable one who loves his family.”
He rolled and placed her beside him.
He wanted to share the same words, but he had one last thing he needed.
His kids.
He needed to see her with his kids.
“Want to cuddle?” she asked, willing to take one for the team and give him more affection. “I’ll spoon you. Or you can spoon me and check out my ass.”
He laughed.
“I have something else in mind,” he said, finding her mouth with his.
He kissed her, and it was filled with need.
When her hand found his erection, and he was still hard, she broke the kiss.
“Yippee!”
He laughed.
He’d never laughed during sex.
This was new.
“That’s my line,” he said, kissing his way down her body. He slid his hands behind her back and unhooked her bra. When he pulled it free, he worked on her nipples, spending time licking, teasing, and pleasuring her.
Her quick gasp of pleasure was more than enough to drive him wild.
“Oh, Poppy, this can be addictive,” he admitted.
She couldn't speak. His hand was sliding down her torso, and he was exploring, but not beneath her panties. He teased her through them, and she shook.
“I love how you feel,” he admitted. “Your skin is so soft, so smooth, and you taste like peaches.”
“It was some lotion in the penthouse bathroom. I think it was Emma’s.”
He was going to buy her a vat of it, and he was going to make sure she had plenty on hand. It was the best-tasting thing in the world.
Dimitri went lower and lower.
He slid down her body until he was at her belly button. With his tongue, he teased a line toward her panties.
She held her breath.
When he got to them, he didn’t pull them down. Instead, he found the wetness and added to it with his tongue.
She gasped as he found her clit through her panties and began feasting on her.
He worked that sensitive bud, and it was even more erotic when he did it through the panties.
She shook.
“Dimitri!” she hissed, as she came.
He watched her shake, and as she came, he tugged the panties off to find her wet, ready, and bare.
He growled low, so hungry to taste her again. Instead of waiting, he dove in, burying his mouth in that wetness.
It was addictive.
He couldn't hold back. With his hands, he held her open, and with his mouth, he devoured and forced her back up and to the pinnacle.
She teetered, and he felt that delicious little bud swell. With his tongue, he forced her over the edge, and into the pleasure again.
She came with his name on her lips and her wetness on his.
It was Heaven.
Every woman before her fell away. They disappeared, and there was only Poppy.
Sliding up her body, he knew he didn’t have any condoms there. He didn’t fornicate in his nest, and for the first time, he didn’t care.
He slid his erection through that wetness and found her open for him. Dimitri slid home.
Nothing had ever felt so good.
He’d never been in a woman bare. He’d never slid into that tight sheath without a barrier to protect himself.
With Poppy, he didn’t want to protect himself. He wanted to please them both.
So.
This was love.
In his head, there were the fantasies he only kept to himself. They weren’t of wild sex, orgies, or parties with sex kittens. They were of a wife—a pregnant wife of his own. They were of family, home, and a baby.
He buried himself in her, and when she opened her eyes, he began moving.
He moaned as her body rippled, gripping him and trying to lure him to the edge. Their first time would need patience, effort, and all he could give her.
He began moving, slowly building the speed. As she stared up at him, their eyes met and locked.
They did the dance.
Her legs came around his hips, and he felt safe. He moved into her, picking up the speed.
Poppy slid her hands up his body, into his hair, and to the back of his neck.
“Oh God!” she whispered, as he focused on that spot. He’d found it, and he was going to have her fall for him.
She came.
She came with him in her, him taking her back up, and him holding her locked to him.
He struggled to fight that wave of orgasm, as her body begged his to tumble with him.
As he moaned her name, he stared at the headboard, and then pulled out of her body.
“I want you from behind,” he said, his accent thick.
She wouldn’t stop him. He could have her hanging by a toe from his balcony. It would be worth it.
He pulled her up, turned her around, and then pressed her to his headboard.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I loved your ass,” he whispered in her ear.
He nudged her, finding his way back into that wet warmth. Then he began moving, as she was trapped between him and that wall.
Never had he done this.
Sex was about getting off.
Oh, and he would, but Dimitri was enjoying that she was giving him all of her. He stared down at her ass, and it was spectacular. It was full, there were dimples on those delectable cheeks.
It was the most amazing sight. Even better was him sliding into her from behind.
He closed the gap, wrapping his arm around her body to find her clit. His head was on her shoulder, his mouth by her ear.
She was trapped.
He stroked with erection and fingers.
“Cum with me,” he whispered. “Fall with me into that pleasure. I want you to fall into that bliss with me in your body.”
She gasped as he roughly stroked her.
She felt the tremors.
“Mine,” he whispered. “I’ll kill anyone who touches you,” he vowed.
She shook.
He couldn’t hold on anymore. His body was weak. The tightness of that angle and her body calling to him with that siren’s song did him in.
They came.
Dimitri exploded in her, filling her.
Poppy ruptured apart, trapped between his hard body and his headboard.
The world around them exploded.
Poppy felt herself falling. She felt herself tumbling to the bed with him. When she landed, he was still in her. She was still wrapped in his embrace.
“Stay with me,” he whispered.
She knew how special that was.
“Yes, Dimitri. I’ll stay as long as you want me here,” she promised.
“Forever,” he whispered. “I’ll want you forever.”
Poppy only hoped.
* * * G R E Y S O N C R O F T * * *
Oh, she was going to be in for one hell of a surprise. She was going to come home eventually, and when she did, she’d find the present.
It was perfect for her.
He’d picked it with such love and care.
It was ideal for a filthy, whore.
As he crept into her apartment, leaving the gift, he rifled through her things.
Her panty drawer was his favorite little place to seek those treasures.
When he pulled out a thong, he shook his head in disgust. His sweet Eloise shouldn’t be wearing these things for anyone else. She should only be wearing them for him.
Tsk.
Tsk.
Now that he saw how big of a cheating whore she was, he’d have to make sure she paid.
With her pathetic, slut life.
* * * G R E Y S O N C R O F T * * *
Wednesday Morning
Poppy knew someone was watching her, and she knew it wasn’t going to be Dimitri. She could feel him breathing on the back of her neck, and the person checking her out was standing in front of her.
That meant one of two possibilities.
Sam.
Petra.
Slowly, she opened her eyes to see who was watching her, and there stood his daughter.
She was holding her stuffed dog and watching her with the same aqua eyes. From the clock on the nightstand, she could see it was barely six thirty in the morning.
Poppy lifted her head.
Immediately, the little girl motioned for her to follow her. She headed toward the door, stopped, waved, and waited.
Poppy looked back at Dimitri.
He was asleep.
They’d made love through the night, and she was three days past exhausted. When he didn’t move, she sat up, dropped her feet onto the floor, and grabbed his polo shirt. Pulling it on, she followed the little girl.
They both padded barefoot down the hall and to the kitchen. Poppy knew where this was heading.
“What do you need?” she asked, as the child came to a stop in front of the refrigerator. Immediately, she pointed up to the colorful box there.
“Cereal?” she asked, touching the box.
Petra clapped.
“Red.”
The box was, indeed, red, so she figured she was on the right track.
Pulling it down, she wasn’t sure what to do next.
“Do you want milk?”
The girl looked at her and said nothing. It was kind of eerie with aqua green eyes—Dimitri’s eyes.
She tried it in Russian.
Still, the little girl looked at her.
Poppy opened the refrigerator and pulled out the milk. The girl didn’t respond.
She searched for a bowl and poured the cereal into it and added the milk. She found a spoon and put it in the bowl.
The girl climbed onto the stool and sat there staring at it like she’d never encountered it before.
Okay, this was interesting.
Poppy picked up the spoon and tried to offer her some. She shook her head.
Poppy tasted it.
“Mmmmmm.”
The child opened her mouth and she fed her the cereal. She would only eat if Poppy had some too.
“You are just like your father. He’s trying to fatten me up too,” she teased.
She handed the girl the spoon.
“You’re a big girl. You can feed yourself. Show me.”
Petra began eating.
“Good job, babe,” Sam said, heading in. “She is hard to get to eat. My sister, Kat, thinks it’s because she’s never had free access to food. She needs to feel like it’s okay for her to eat or she’ll be punished.”
That was so sad.
It broke her heart.
Immediately, Poppy wanted to protect the child. No little one should feel that way.
“Babe, huh?”
Sam climbed onto the stool.
“Yes, babe. We meet again. Welcome to my crib. Want to play video games?” he asked.
She laughed.
“Well, stud, I have to work today. Maybe on the weekend,” she offered. “I’ll kick your butt too. I am a mean video gamer.”
He gave her his most suave smile.
“It’s a date. Can I have some cereal? I like a babe who can cook.”
She laughed and made him a bowl of cereal.
“I don’t cook. You’ve found the wrong babe, stud. I suggest you look at a cooking school.”
“Well, shit.”
She pointed at him.
“Language, little man. Your dad doesn’t talk like that in front of the ladies. You know better, right?” she said, pointing at Petra.
“Okay.”
She slid him a bowl of cereal.
“Anything else?”
“Bourbon is good.”
She actually laughed out loud at the absurdity of that coming from him.
“Would you like a cigar, too, my lord?” she teased in a fake British accent.
“Well, since you asked…”
“Kiddo, I have some bad news for you. You are NOT getting me to liquor you up. You have to be this tall to get on that ride,” she said, holding her hand about a foot over her head.
He grinned.
“I like you. You’re a smart ass.”
“I like you, too, now eat your cereal.”
Sam did as she asked.
From the hallway, he listened.
Dimitri had felt her get out of bed. He’d slept shittily, but that was only because each time she moved, her glorious ass brushed his awakening dick.
What was a guy to do?
So they made love.
It astounded him. He was able to have sex three times and she let him keep touching her. That was a new thing for him. Babe on demand.
Christ!
He’d sounded like Sam.
When Petra came into the room, he was about to handle the situation, but she went to Poppy’s side of the bed. He’d been curious as to what she’d do.
Would she ignore her?
Pretend to be asleep?
Wake him?
Instead, she got up, and that caught him off guard. So, he waited for her to leave before he got dressed. Then Sam had been up, and he had to wait again.
Now he found them in the kitchen, and she was feeding them breakfast.
Without being prompted.
It was motherly in a way. Petra was actually eating, and she was handling Sam. He was the hard one. He was vocal, stubborn, and he said what he was thinking.
He was fascinated.
“Are you moving in?” Sam asked. “You know, bunking here with our dad?”
Poppy made some coffee.
“I wasn’t planning on it. I have my own place. We just got back late last night, and I stayed.”
“Did you have sex with my dad?”
She stopped and turned around.
“Okay, kiddo, here’s the deal. We both know I did. You’re smart, and you see I’m wearing his shirt, so why don’t we get past the question and answer game where you ask, I allude, and get to it.”
“Do you like him?”
“Yep. A lot.”
“Why? Cuz he’s loaded?”
She laughed.
“Uh, that actually horrifies me. In fact, I wish he wasn’t loaded. I wish he was a broke ass guy like myself.”
Sam looked at her.
“Why? I’ve been broke. This is better.”
“Well, because when a woman hooks up with a sexy man like your father, and he’s wealthy, they think the woman wants his money.”
“And you don’t?”
“No, I want him. So, if you have any pull, ask him if he can give it away.”
Sam laughed. “You’re a weirdo.”
“You don’t say?” she asked, pouring some coffee. “Petra, are you done?” she asked.
She didn’t reply.
“Okay, let’s try this. More?” she held out the box of cereal.
The girl shook her head and looked disinterested.
Well, that answered that.
She looked at Sam, and he was watching her like she was going to lift the family silverware. It was funny as hell.
“Are you both allowed to watch TV before school?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh, Sam, you just lied to me. I can tell.”
He stared at her.
“How?”
She smiled at him as she leaned on her elbows on the counter.
“Hello, little man. I’m a cop. Remember me? Do we need to keep doing this introduction?”
He laughed.
“You’re still a smoking hot babe. My dad got lucky when he found you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Sam.”
He winked at her.
“Go brush your teeth, take your sister, and both of you get ready. You have school, I’m sure.”
“Tutors.”
“Even better. School in your PJ’s. You’re spoiled. Enjoy it. I had to walk uphill both ways in the snow to get to school. When I got there, we didn’t have computers. We used abacuses.”
“What’s that?”
“Google it.”
He actually did.
It made Poppy laugh.
“Holy shit! You’re old, babe. You really used an abacus?” he asked, not sure what to believe.
“Yes, and I have a bridge for you, too, Mr. Mini-Gideon.”
Sam laughed and ate the rest of his cereal in about three bites, and then got ready to go do what she asked.
When he jumped down, she stopped him.
“Whoa, stud. Back up.”
“What?” he asked.
“One, you forgot your sister. Ladies before gentlemen. Learn it. It will help you when you’re dating, and the babes are lining up.”
He grinned.
“I am a sexy beast.”
She didn’t smile.
“Candy bar.”
“What?”
“When I came in here, there were three candy bars on this counter. There are now two. Now, I didn’t have tutors, slick, but I’m going to postulate that you have one of those absconded candy bars on your person.”
“No, I don’t.”
She came around the corner.
“Hands on the counter. Spread the legs, and be ready for the pat down.”
He pulled it out of his pocket.
“Cops. They suck. They suck worse when they’re hot. You forget they’re mean.”
She took the candy bar.
“There was enough sugar in that cereal to power a turbine for a week. Teeth matter. I have horror stories about vagrants with no teeth.”
That piqued his interest.
“Will you tell me?”
“I can show you gross photos, but only if you get ready for your tutors.”
He dragged Petra away.
She went back around the corner and sipped her coffee. Then she laughed.
How could she not?
She was in love with a man who had kids.
That was some funny shit.
He hid as the kids raced by. He followed them as they brushed their teeth.
“Wow, this is new,” he said. “Normally, I have to threaten to take away video games to get you to do this before school.”
“The babe runs a mean ship.”
Dimitri laughed.
“Does she now?”
“Marry her.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t tell her I said this, but I like her. She’s funny. She’s also a good person. I’ve been in enough foster homes to know when a babe is lying.”
“She’s not?”
“No, but when she tells you to give your money away, please laugh and say no. That’s some crazy shit.”
“Language.”
He rolled his eyes.
Oh, he’d seen and heard it all. Dimitri was well aware that his money made her uncomfortable, and he was well aware of what poor and struggling felt like.
On this one, he agreed with Sam.
Poor did suck.
He wasn’t giving his money away.
“Get your school work started. I’ll go see what I can do about the babe part.”
He headed back down the hall. In the kitchen, he found her watching the news. When she saw him, she poured him a cup of coffee.
“Morning.”
He took the coffee but pulled her into his body instead. His mouth found hers, and she melted into him.
The kiss was hot.
When he finally set her free, he stared into her eyes. “I missed you in bed.”
“Petra was hungry.”
“How’d that go? She won’t eat for me. Emma is the only one, or Heath, who can get her to eat.”
“She and I shared some, and then she was good. For the record, about Sam…”
“Yes?”
“He’s got sticky fingers. Watch your silverware. That boy is slick as spit, just like…oh, look. His father.”
He laughed.
“He’s trying to be like us. Natasha was the master thief. He’s trying to fill her role in the family business. He lifts things all the time, but they magically come back. Good call on the candy though. That doesn’t come back. Ever.”
She didn’t say anything.
Yet, her face said it all.
“Does that upset you?” he asked, waiting for her to find something wrong with his family.
“Well, Kat is the one who breaks in, Natasha was the thief, and I know what you’re good at. I just pictured you seducing women to do a job, and I didn’t like it.”
He thought she was going to say killing. What Dimitri appreciated was that Poppy was having open communication with him. It bothered her, and she didn’t pretend.
Before he could say anything, she continued.
“It made me really jealous. I think I’ll avoid watching you work.”
And she hadn’t told him not to do his job. That proved that she accepted him for him.
“I don’t seduce, and we both know it.”
She laughed.
“I’m walking funny. I beg to differ. I was seduced by the master.”
He grinned.
It reminded her of the one Sam gave her.
“Is that so?” he asked, his hand sliding down her back and to her ass. It was bare beneath his polo shirt. “Tell me, babochka, who is seducing who dressed like this?”
She gave him a kiss.
“My panties got lost in the unveiling. That’s on you, Mr. Gideon. This is what happens when I can’t find my panties.”
Oh, well, in that case…
“I’m going to steal them all.”
She laughed.
“Pervy and not surprising. I do believe Sam gets it from his father.”
Oh, he did.
“Will you stay here with me tonight?” he asked. “I know you likely don’t want to.”
“Said who?”
“I know you.”
“Apparently, not well enough. Here are the subtle clues. I’m wearing your shirt. I packed my bag, and I’m standing here in your kitchen. If you’re asking, I’m here. When we catch this guy, I’ll head back to my place. You have your family here. I won’t intrude.”
“You’re not intruding.”
She rested her head against his shoulder but said nothing. When he was ready, he’d let her know.
“Will you?” he asked. “I want you to stay with me tonight. It’s just as safe here.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know about that, Mr. Gideon. You are rather dangerous.”
He grinned wickedly.
“Am I, now?” he asked as he moved even closer to her. She was pressed against his body, his leg between hers.
Poppy was trapped.
And she loved it.
“I’ll stay tonight.”
It was a start.
Dimitri didn’t doubt that it had everything to do with the fact that she told Sam that she was uncomfortable with his wealth, and he couldn’t change that.
His businesses were profitable. They helped women escape Vegas, and he only hoped that one day, she’d enjoy that he was fighting the good fight.
Until then, they’d have to find a middle ground.
“I’m going to go get dressed,” she said.
“Can I come watch?”
She laughed.
“Maybe. You can help me find my bra. I think it was also stolen. I don’t have proof.”
They both took their coffee cups.
“I have proof that it was,” he teased, pulling it out of his pocket. “Like father like son.”
She laughed and stole it back.
As they headed down the hall, they heard Petra crying and Sam trying to help her.
“I won’t hurt you, It’s okay,” he said, as she screamed bloody murder.
Dimitri showed up in the doorway.
“What happened?” he asked.
“She went to climb onto the counter and I grabbed her so she didn’t fall. I think I scared her. I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean it!”
Sam had tears in his eyes, and he looked like he was expecting to be beaten.
One battle at a time.
Dimitri went into the little girl’s bedroom, and as soon as he did, she backed herself into a corner and tried to get away from him.
He crooned to her in as much Romanian as he knew.
It wasn’t working.
Sam looked freaked out. He moved toward Poppy and she let him lean on her.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just didn’t want her to fall. I’m sorry!”
Poppy imagined the poor kid was just as freaked out. Sam was tough on the outside, but she’d been a foster kid too. She knew the horrors.
“Go get her puppy,” she said.
Sam ran off.
When he came back, she was still screaming bloody murder, and she wouldn’t let Dimitri get close.
Poppy figured she might be less threatening than two males. She got it.
“Let me try,” she said. “I’ve been there. Foster homes are scary.”
He backed up with Sam.
Dimitri didn’t know how to deal with this. So, he gave her a chance to try. What could it hurt?
Poppy sat on the floor about six feet away holding the puppy. She held it out to the girl.
“How old is she?” Poppy asked.
“They said around twelve, but we think she’s much younger,” he said, watching Poppy. “The only reason I think they thought that age was the family that bought her wanted a teen to sell for sex, so they lied.”
Okay, that grossed her right out as a human being and a cop.
She continued to hold out the puppy.
Petra grabbed it.
“She’s going to be more Sam’s age. Maybe a little younger. I can see into her mouth. She doesn’t have her molars in the back. That’s around six or seven. She’s still little.”
Dimitri didn’t even know to look for that.
He watched Poppy.
Thank God for her. Petra was calming down.
“Hey, sweetness, it’s okay. I know you can’t understand me, and I’m sure that’s scary as hell, but you’re safe.”
Petra watched her warily.
Poppy had an idea. She pulled off a necklace she was wearing. It was a pretty butterfly with some pretty stones in it. She’d bought it on a whim when she’d gotten her first paycheck as a cop. It wasn’t super valuable, but it was the first thing she owned of her own.
“Petra. Pretty?”
She held it up.
The little girl stared at it.
She stopped the meltdown.
“Wear?” she asked, putting it around her neck and then removing it.
She held it up.
“Petra, wear?”
The little girl nodded.
Dimitri held his breath.
She moved closer to Poppy and held out her hand. Poppy placed it in her hand.
Petra stared at it.
“Wear?” Poppy asked again.
Petra let her move closer.
Poppy gently helped her put it on. When she wore it, she smiled at the little girl.
“Pretty.”
Petra touched it.
“Pretty.”
Poppy nodded.
Petra touched her watch.
“Pretty.”
“Wear?”
Petra nodded.
Poppy took it off and handed it to her. She held it and watched the hands move.
“Petra.”
She looked up.
She pointed to her ear.
“Listen.”
The girl let Poppy move it to her ear.
“Tick Tock. Tick Tock.”
Petra laughed.
Poppy made a face and Petra climbed into her lap. She cuddled her.
Dimitri held his breath.
“Dress?” she asked.
Petra looked confused. She touched her pajamas. “Dress?”
She didn’t stop Poppy from walking her past the men, and to the clothing that were in her closet. She touched them.
“Dress?”
Petra pointed at them.
Poppy began pulling each one out, one by one, as Dimitri watched from where he and Sam stood. She got to one that had butterflies on it, and Petra pointed excitedly.
That connection was made.
Petra had bonded with Poppy over the one thing that brought them together.
“Butterflies?” she asked, pointing at the ones on the dress, and her necklace.
“Butterflies?” Petra repeated.
Poppy clapped.
“YAY!”
Then she tried something else.
Poppy pointed at the butterflies on the dress and said it in Russian. “Babochka.”
Petra watched her.
“Butterflies and babochka are the same.”
Petra repeated it.
Dimitri was astounded. Poppy was helping the little girl, and Petra was more than okay with it. It was beautiful to watch. It was a gift. When you owned almost everything, it was the little things that mattered so much.
This love and kindness that Poppy was showing his child. It was precious. It was priceless.
Poppy continued to help Petra get dressed. She let her brush her hair and put it in two little girl pigtails.
Dimitri in that moment knew a few things.
Poppy was special.
And Petra definitely wasn’t his sister.
If she was only six or seven, she couldn’t possibly been sired by his father. He’d been long dead. The eyes meant she was related.
Just not his sister.
He was willing to bet there was someone else still in Russia. He was willing to bet the woman who birthed Petra was a sister.
She was still out there. That meant he would have to keep looking, and he would need the Blackhawk’s help. There was another lost Marchenko, and it was his duty to find her.
“Better?” Poppy asked Petra.
She nodded.
Then, Petra went racing past Dimitri and grabbed Sam’s hand. Whatever had scared her was done. She pulled him toward the living room.
“Well, my work here is done,” Poppy said, as she got up and headed toward Dimitri.
He looked troubled.
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked. He looked irritated, and that worried her.
“No, not you. You did everything right. I just had my confirmation and it doesn’t sit well.”
“About?” she asked, hoping it had nothing to do with her. She genuinely liked Dimitri’s kids. She hoped she didn’t overstep some boundary.
“She’s not my sister.”
She stared at him.
“Uh, she’s not? What is she then?”
“I killed my father years before she was born. If she’s six or seven, that means he raped more women, and he has more kids.”
“Oh. You think she’s your niece.”
He was impressed that she got it.
“Yes. This is a mess.”
Dimitri couldn’t help but worry that one of them would be just as crazy as Viktor. He didn’t need another lunatic gunning for him or his children.
Poppy held his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. She knew how he felt. The not knowing was the worst.
“When we’re done finding the person who killed my mother, I’ll help you.”
He looked down at her.
No one, but the Crofts, had ever offered to help him with anything.
“Thank you.”
She led him to his bedroom and pulled open her bag. As she was doing that, her cell phone began ringing.
She looked at it.
“Oh, shit! It’s the commissioner’s office. That can’t possibly be good.”
“Answer it,” he said. “Put it on speaker,” Dimitri said, going into protection mode.
She did.
“Detective Wayne.”
“Detective, you’re needed at the commissioner’s office. He requests your presence there,” his secretary stated.
“What’s it about? I’m taking some down time,” she said. “I filled out my requests. I’m on vacation.”
“I don’t know, Detective. I’ve just been told to speak to you when I came in this morning.”
Poppy had no choice.
She was a cop, and he was the top of the damn food chain in that office. If he called you up, you had no choice but to show up or get in deep shit.
She was already in enough trouble.
Poppy didn’t need to dig the hole deeper. She could only imagine what he’d do to REALLY make her life miserable. He was a sadistic asshole.
“I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” she stated, really wanting to skip it. Poppy didn’t want to go there.
She was afraid, but she kept it to herself.
For Dimitri’s sake and his sanity.
The call went dead.
“I don’t like this,” Dimitri said. “He’s calling you in, and he knows I can’t go with you. Commissioner Raye will play all the cards he has. I’m going to bet that he’s seen the media.”
She didn’t doubt that for a second.
“He’s likely going to ask me who’s side I’m on and warn me that you’re a killer.”
He didn’t say anything.
He simply watched as she got dressed.
“Body armor.”
She took it from him as he pulled it out of her bag. Poppy slipped into it and secured it.
“If you need me…”
She glanced up as she clipped her gun to her hip beside her badge.
He saw the change.
“I’ll be good. What’s the worst that can happen?” she asked.
“Uh, I bet Thomas Christ thought that.”
She stared at him.
She didn’t think about that.
Now, that was the only thing on her mind.
Well, shit.