Dangerous Allies (The Ruby Danger Series Book 1) by Rickie Blair Read Free Book Online

diminutive form of his name, but Mila found it hard to break the habit.
    Pulling open the night table drawer, she took out a tiny accounts book and riffled through the dog-eared pages to the end, frowning at the total. Despite how many hours she worked, it was always a struggle to pay Sergei’s tuition. She replaced the accounts book and clicked off the light, leaving the windowless room dark save for a crack under the door. Mila slipped between the sheets and sank her head into the pillow.
    She awoke to find Dimitri sitting on the bed, nudging her in the side.
    “What do you want?” she said sleepily in Russian. “I have to go back soon.”
    “That’s a nice way to greet your husband.” Dimitri leaned over her, his breath smelling of stale beer and cigar smoke.
    “Where were you this morning?” she said, rubbing her eyes. “I looked for you. I had something to give you.”
    “So? Where is it?” Dimitri pulled down the sheet, revealing her bare shoulder. Grinning, he ran a finger along her arm and snapped her bra strap.
    Mila frowned and pulled the sheet back up.
    “I don’t have it anymore. Bogdan—”
    With a disgusted snort, Dimitri flicked on the bedside light.
    “Bogdan? It’s none of his business.”
    “He’s in charge, you know that.”
    “I don’t answer to Bogdan. And you shouldn’t have to, either.” Pulling bills from his pocket, he riffled through them without looking up.
    Mila sat up and stared at the cash.
    “Where did you get that?”
    “At the game. I had a good night.” Dimitri gave her a self-satisfied smirk and held out the money. “Here, take it. You can add it to Sergei’s fund.”
    Cocking her head, Mila stared at him for a moment. Then she took the cash, leaned over, and pulled open the night table drawer. She tucked the bills into the small accounts book, secured the book with a rubber band and replaced it in the drawer.
    Dimitri watched her, pressing his lips together.
    “It’s not enough, is it?”
    Mila shook her head.
    “Your uncle can help.” Grabbing her wrist, he pulled Mila’s hand to his waist.
    “Viktor?” She pulled her hand away. “No. Never.”
    “Why not? Viktor says it’s time the boy helped out. And Sergei can make some money. What’s wrong with that?”
    “When did you talk to Viktor about Sergei?”
    “Before we left.”
    “Why did you do that? I told you to never, ever—”
    He glared at her. “I do what I want.”
    “Please, Dimitri, don’t get Sergei involved with Viktor.”
    “Viktor is your uncle. He has always looked out for you. Where’s the harm?”
    What could she say? That she didn’t trust her own kin? Mila lifted one shoulder in a quick shrug and flopped back on the bed, turning to face the wall.
    Dimitri stripped off his uniform and climbed into bed beside her.
    “If that’s what you want, you should find a better way to convince me.” Grabbing her chin with one hand, he forced her head around so that she faced him. “Well?”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “That’s better.” Dimitri slid over top of her and reached his hand beneath the sheet. A few seconds later, he groaned.
    “Much better.”

Chapter Eight
    A ntony Carver leaned back on his chair in the den of the Emperor Suite with his hands crossed behind his head and smirked at his laptop. The cruise aboard the Apollonis was going exactly according to plan. Two more days and then, out. He scanned the screen and nodded. Two more days.
    Meanwhile, he had a lot of trades to make. But he had stared at the numbers so long they blurred into one another. Pushing up his glasses, he massaged the bridge of his nose. Where the hell was that sandwich? He picked up the phone to blast room service, but before he could dial there was a knock on the door. Finally.
    “In here,” he called, replacing the phone. “Door’s open. Put it on the table.”
    Antony turned to the door. But instead of a club sandwich with no mayo, a tall, grizzled black man in his early sixties stood before