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EMMA HALTED AT THE soft threat.
Dimitri Tipova was not at all what she had expected. She had been prepared for a rough, ill-mannered oaf who used his fists, not his wits, to control the underworld. Certainly, she had never dreamed he would be a sophisticated, well-educated gentleman who was as beautiful as an angel and as wicked as Lucifer.
And that kiss…
No. She hastily thrust aside the feverish memory of her first kiss.
She was suitably rattled without the distracting thought of Dimitri’s warm, seeking lips and the potent heat that speared through her body.
Slowly turning, she met his ruthless gaze. “You know where she is?”
“No, but—”
“Then I will find someone less offensive to help me.”
He strolled forward, the scent of sandalwood and warm male skin teasing at her senses.
“There is no one in all of Russia who has devoted the time and resources that I have to uncovering the habits of those noblemen who prey on children.” Halting directly before her, he cupped her chin, his gaze briefly dipping down to her mouth before returning to meet her wary gaze. “And more important, I have only to whisper in the requisite ears and there will be no one in St. Petersburg willing to lend you help.”
“Herrick warned me that you had your share of arrogance, but you cannot possibly believe you possess the power to influence every citizen in St. Petersburg.”
“So naive,” he mocked. “Tell me, Emma, how many merchants would be willing to speak with you once it became known that the goods they purchase from my warehouses were about to double in cost? And how many servants would agree to speak with you once they learn you are a suspected spy for Alexander Pavlovich in search of traitors to the crown? As for society…” His soft chuckle brushed over her cheek, causing her stomach to clench with a startling excitement. “Well, even presuming they would be willing to meet with a commoner, they would have you tossed in the nearest dungeon for daring to implicate a noble in such a wicked crime.”
She clenched her hands, wanting desperately to walk away from the conceited beast and never look back. Unfortunately, she suspected his words were not empty boasts.
Could she truly risk the opportunity to find Anya just because this man threatened to drive her to madness?
“Why are you being so cruel?” she demanded.
“Not cruel—efficient,” he corrected. “As you said, for the moment we have need of one another. I have no intention of spending the next days, perhaps weeks, being flayed by a shrill-tongued harpy. If you behave as a lady and do as I say, we shall rub along quite nicely.”
“So I am expected to be a proper lady while you are at liberty to behave as an ill-mannered brute?”
“You are at least intelligent.” A slow, wicked smile curved his lips. “Do we have a bargain?”
Emma sucked in a sharp breath, not for the first time wishing she had been born a man. How delightful it would be if she possessed the power to knock the arrogant toad onto his backside.
“Do I have a choice?” she gritted.
“Of course.” He peered deep into her eyes, almost as if willing her to obey his words. “You can return to your home where you belong.”
“I will not leave St. Petersburg without my sister.”
“Even if I give my word I will do my best to discover her whereabouts and return her to you?”
“And why would I trust the word of a—” Her insult was sharply interrupted as his head swooped down and he kissed her with a seeking demand that made her heart skip a beat. Dear…Lord. After the death of her father she had resigned herself to becoming an old maid. At the time she had regretted the loss of many things, most notably the lack of a companion who could share her joys and fears and the mundane events that were all a part of life. It had not occurred to her that she might rue the lack of a man’s touch. Not until Dimitri had revealed just how potently addictive that touch could be. Arching back, she struggled to breathe. “Stop that.”
He studied her from beneath his thick tangle of lashes. “I did warn you that I would tame your unruly tongue.”
Emma grimly stiffened her spine, refusing to dwell on her tingling lips or the restless, achy sensation that gripped her body. Obviously she was coming down with a chill.
“I cannot believe that Herrick would request that I meet with you,” she muttered. “Do you make a habit of attacking helpless females?”
“Helpless?” His sharp burst of laughter echoed through the room. “I have hired savage, fully-armed bandits who inspire less fear than having to face your expression of cold disapproval.”
She turned her head to stare at the leather-bound books lining the shelves, determined to hide her reaction. What did he expect? Simpering and batting her lashes was not going to save Anya from disaster.
“You have already assaulted me, there is no need to mock me, as well.”
With a surprisingly gentle touch he forced her face back to meet his searching gaze.
“It was a simple kiss, hardly an assault,” he murmured, his arm wrapping around her waist. “You have been kissed before, have you not, Emma?”
“Release me.”
“What an odd contradiction you are,” he breathed, the golden gaze searing over her face with a disconcerting intensity. “You wrap yourself in fire and brimstone, but beneath that armor is a bewitching innocence.”
Her heart fluttered and she abruptly shoved away from his disturbing touch.
“I came here to discuss my sister, not to indulge in foolish games.”
For a tense moment she feared he might haul her back against his chest. And more important, she feared she might not protest.
Then, with a rueful shake of his head he waved a hand toward the wing chairs.
“Have a seat, and I will order tea.”
She stubbornly remained standing in the center of the floor. “Do not pretend to be civilized on my account.”
He leaned against the desk, the late afternoon sunlight slanting over his elegantly chiseled features.
“Most of my guests find my manners exquisitely polished and my hospitality without equal.”
“Indeed?”
His lips twisted. “It is only you who seems to rouse my more barbaric nature.”
“Do you intend to assist me or not?”
“Tell me of the gentlemen who you believe abducted your sister.”
Unprepared for his abrupt question, it took Emma a moment to gather her scattered thoughts.
“They were obviously noblemen.”
He arched a raven brow. “How can you be so certain? Even the most common criminal can mimic his betters with enough wealth and the proper training. I possess a number of employees who could attend a ball at the Winter Palace without stirring the least curiosity.”
She grimaced. “It was not their fine clothing or their elegant speech that marked them as nobles.”
“Then what?”
“It was their utter contempt for those they considered beneath them, and how they expected others to bow to their every whim.”
He seemed surprised by her explanation. “You are very perceptive.”
“Obviously not perceptive enough,” she said, her voice edged with bitterness. “I should have suspected that such elegant gentlemen would never willingly re main at my modest coaching inn without some nefarious purpose.”
“What explanation did they offer?”
She shrugged. “They claimed to be searching for a small estate to purchase that would be suitable for a hunting lodge.”
Dimitri nodded, as if he’d expected a similar story. “What names did they use?”
“Baron Fedor Karnechev and his younger brother Sergei.”
“And you would recognize them?”
A cold, dangerous smile curved her lips. When she found the men who had taken her sister, she intended to rip out their hearts with her bare hands.
“Without a doubt.”
Amusement smoldered in the whiskey-gold eyes as Dimitri watched fury ripple over her face.
“Does your sister resemble you?”
“There are some similarities, but Anya’s hair is lighter in color and her eyes the shade of a summer sky.” A wistful smile touched her lips. “She is quite beautiful.”
“I was referring to her temperament, not her physical attributes.”
Emma frowned in puzzlement. “What does her temperament matter?”
“Gerhardt divulged the fact that Anya went willingly with her captors, believing she was to become a famous actress.” His gaze swept down her tiny form before returning to study the stubborn line of her jaw. “I find it difficult to imagine you ever allowing yourself to be so easily persuaded.”
She shifted, feeling awkward beneath his relentless scrutiny. “She is very young and gullible.”
“More likely she is vain and spoiled.”
She jerked at the unexpected attack. “You know nothing of Anya.”
“I know that a young lady with the least concern for her family does not abandon her home and allow herself to be carried off by the first gentleman to turn her head with a bit of flattery.”
The very fact he was right did nothing to ease her flare of anger. In truth, she was horrified that Anya had been so easily led astray, but she did not blame her younger sister. No. Any blame should be laid directly at her own feet.
“I have endured enough.” Blinking back hot tears of shame, Emma once again headed for the door. “I do not understand why you agreed to meet with me, but it is obvious you have no interest in helping me.”
She had managed to reach the hallway when a pair of warm, ruthlessly strong arms wrapped around her waist and tugged her back into the room. Bending his head, Dimitri spoke directly into her ear.
“You truly must learn to control that temper of yours, milaya.”
FOR A CRAZED MOMENT, Dimitri savored the sensation of her feminine body pressed against his arousal. Then with a curse at his deranged reaction to an ill-tempered spinster, he quickly released his tight grip, not at all surprised when she spun around to stab him with a furious glare.
“Are you going to rescue my sister or not?”
If he possessed a shred of sense Dimitri knew he should have allowed the woman to stomp away. Herrick Gerhardt could not expect him to force himself on an aggravating woman who was too foolish to appreciate his assistance. Instead, he met her glare with a ruthless smile.
“First we must discover the identity of the gentlemen who abducted her.”
Her glare remained, but she gave a grudging nod. “I can describe them if you wish.”
“There is a more practical means. You will accompany me this evening.”
“Accompany you where?”
“I own a number of gambling establishments that cater to the aristocrats of St. Petersburg. If the gentlemen who visited your inn are truly noblemen and they have returned to the city, then they will eventually make an appearance at one of my clubs.”
Her mouth fell open. “You intend to escort me to a gambling club?”
Thoroughly enjoying her shock, Dimitri shrugged. “I intend to escort you to several gambling clubs.”
“You must be jesting.”
“Tell me, Emma, when you came to St. Petersburg did you expect to discover your sister being kept hostage in a church?” he taunted. “Or perhaps awaiting you in the throne room of the Winter Palace?”
The ready color crawled beneath her cheeks. “Of course not.”
“Then why the maidenly outrage?”
There was a tiny pause before she was jutting her chin in a stubborn angle, her magnificent hazel eyes hardening with determination.
“I was merely caught off guard.”
With a silent curse, Dimitri spun away, disturbed by Emma’s combination of vulnerability and determination.
“If you wish to capture the dregs of society you must hunt them in the gutters,” he said, his voice unnaturally harsh. “Are you prepared to do what is necessary?”
“Yes.”
“We shall see.” Sucking in a deep breath he turned back to meet her guarded gaze. “Where are you staying?”
“Vanya Petrova was kind enough to offer her hospitality.”
Dimitri nodded, already having suspected that Herrick would turn to his dear friend to provide Emma a home.
“Then I will collect you at nine this evening.”
“Very well.” With a stiff nod, the woman headed for the door.
“Emma,” he called softly.
