Free A Tiger's Bride (A Lion's Pride Book 4) by Eve Langlais

still held loads of seductive charm.
    “What about letting me make that decision?”
    The smile he unleashed on her should have come with a warning label—bad decision-making ahead. “You won’t regret it, little kitten.”
    A part of her hoped so, but truly, only time would tell.
    The phone in her hand vibrated, shaking with the fury of the incoming call. It didn’t take the ‘Imperial March’ from Star Wars belting out for her to guess it was from her father. This would prove interesting.
    She waited for Dmitri to snatch the phone from her hand. No way would he let her talk to her dad.
    With a nonchalant wave in her direction, he said, “You should answer that. He’s very worried.”
    “What, no warning to say nothing or else?”
    “The choice is yours, little kitten. An adventure rife with pleasure, passion, and me. Or my sudden death and a return to your boring life of before. Our future resides in your hands.”
    She knew what her hands would rather have a hold of. Not the best thought to have when about to deal with the devil that loved her. Taking a deep breath first, she answered. “Hello, Daddy.” And yes, she did use her most guileless, little girl voice.
    “Don’t hello me. Where the fuck are you? I know something’s happened. I fucking knew I should have killed that goddamn prick when I first saw him eyeballing you like a piece of bloody steak.”
    “Daddy. Language!” She mimicked her mother’s pitch perfectly.
    “Don’t you pull that with me! I’ll say whatever I goddamn please when my baby girl goes missing.”
    “I’m hardly missing. I know exactly where I am. I’m here, talking to you right now.”
    She could almost see the steam blowing out her father’s ears. “Don’t you pull that semantic shit with me. You know I hate it when your mother does it.”
    She grinned. He did, which was why her mother kept doing it. Miss Manners 101—cater to your man but always keep him guessing. “Is there any reason why there’s like a zillion calls and messages to my phone?”
    “You can’t just vanish in the night with all your shit and not expect us to get worried. If that Russian prick has you…” He trailed off ominously.
    She stood and walked away with her phone pressed to her ear, doing her best to ignore Dmitri as he paced her.
    Despite Dmitri affecting a feigned nonchalance, the predator in her could sense the tension coiled in him. If she had to guess, she’d wager if she said the wrong thing he’d lunge to steal back her phone.
    Two words. Two words was all it would take to have Daddy and all of the prides he was affiliated with on a plane to Moscow to get her back.
    Two words such as ‘save me’.
    Two words to change the course of her future.
    “I’m fine. Super fine as a matter of fact, especially since I escaped before disaster really struck. You know what happens when Meena and I stay in one place too long together.” There was a reason their father had learned carpentry, plumbing, and electrical wiring as they grew up. It was cheaper than keeping a handyman on retainer. “Besides, before Meena’s surprise wedding, I already had plans to meet friends in New York. We’re going to do some shopping.”
    “You left without a word to go shopping?” The doubtful tone in her father’s voice almost made her laugh.
    “Prada’s got their new line of purses coming out, and I’ve been saving.”
    “You worried us for a purse?”
    “Not just any purse. A Prada, Daddy. Mother would understand.” When in doubt, toss her mother at him. For some reason, he never argued with her.
    “You’re sure you’re okay?” Aha, there was the crack of doubt she’d chiseled.
    “Never better.” She met Dmitri’s gaze as she uttered the claim, and oddly enough, she meant it.
    Forget trepidation or anxiety over what the tiger wanted from her.
    Excitement coursed through her veins. Anticipation awakened her senses.
    She assured her father a few half-dozen more times she was fine before