Free Dangerous Allies (The Ruby Danger Series Book 1) by Rickie Blair Page B

working the midnight shift in the dining room tonight for Isabel.”
    “Are you crazy? She would not do that for you.” He took another swallow.
    “How do you know?” Mila gave him a playful tap. “We women have to stick together.” Pushing her cardigan sleeves up to her elbows, she drank the last of her cold coffee.
    Dimitri put down his cup and picked up his fork, glancing over at her.
    “Where did you get that sweater?”
    “Miss Delaney, in the Emperor Suite. She gave it to me.”
    “Why?”
    “Maybe she liked me.”
    “Did you talk to her?”
    “A little.”
    He put down his fork.
    “What about?”
    Mila tugged the sweater’s edges together with one hand and leaned back, twisting her empty cup on the saucer.
    “Miss Delaney is from Toronto, did you know that?”
    “Huh. No, I did not know this.” Dimitri pulled the silver lighter from his pocket and placed it on the table. “She gave me something as well, from that shop on the promenade. The expensive one.”
    Mila picked up the lighter and turned it over in her hand.
    “Why did she give you this?”
    “Why did she give you that sweater?” He shrugged. “She’s friendly.”
    Mila touched the silver dial on the lighter. maybe . What did that mean? ‘Maybe’ what? Before she could ask, a burly man in kitchen whites swaggered over and pointed a finger at Dimitri.
    “Still on for tonight, my man? I’m going to clean your clock.”
    “You wish.” Dimitri slapped palms with him, grinning. “But if you have no use for your money, I will take it from you, no problem. As well as sexy woman I saw you with yesterday.”
    “Ah, Isabel.” He leaned over the table, smirking. “A hot number, for sure. But you’re out of luck on that score, for this cruise anyway.” The kitchen worker straightened up and nodded at Dimitri. “Your money, though? I’m happy to take that off your hands.” He strolled to the exit, winking at a woman by the door.
    Mila scowled as she watched him disappear into the corridor.
    “That man is a pig.”
    Dimitri grabbed her wrist.
    “What did you say?” he hissed.
    Cringing, she pulled her arm away.
    “Mind your own business,” he said coldly, returning to his meal.
    Mila bit her lip and looked down, rubbing her wrist. The lighter was still on the table, its indicator pointed to maybe . She nudged the dial and the indicator swung to yes .
    “What do you mean, Miss Delaney is friendly?” she said, tapping the lighter with one finger. “How friendly?”
    “What does it matter?” Dimitri snatched up the lighter and slipped it into his pocket without looking at Mila. Leaning his chair on its back legs, he stared at the ceiling. “She is nice woman. Very pretty. But sad, I think.” He dropped his chair back onto the floor with a thud. “I can get money from her.”
    Mila shook her head.
    “You should leave her alone. Bogdan said Viktor was planning something. Bogdan said—”
    “Bogdan is an asshole,” Dimitri said sharply. He studied her, blowing air through his lips. “I thought you didn’t want Sergei working with Viktor.”
    “What do you mean?” Her stomach twisted. “What does that—”
    He cut her off with a scowl. “Stop. Every night I see you frowning over that book. You will never have enough for Sergei’s tuition. You still owe for last year.”
    “I will get the money.”
    “No, you won’t. Not scrubbing toilets.” He glared at her and Mila held her breath.
    “I will meet Ruby Delaney tonight and you will tell her husband that you saw us together.”
    She twisted the edges of her sweater together.
    “He will be angry.”
    “So?”
    “What if he hurts her?”
    “Why would he do this?”
    Mila rubbed her wrist and said nothing.
    “Tonight. After buffet.” Dimitri pushed out his chair and stood up.
    “I don’t think—”
    “No. You don’t think. You leave that to me.” He turned and left without a backward glance.

Chapter Twelve
    A t the dining room entrance , Antony Carver,