She doesn’t even hesitate before she nods. “He’s tried in the past. Hewalked in on me with one of the maids years ago. He forced me to stripnaked before he whipped me—in front of all his vors.”
My hands fly to my slack-jawed mouth. “No.”
“Oh, yes. I was out of commission for weeks after that beating. WhenDmitri bullied his way into the mansion, I was practically catatonic, staringoff into space like a ghost.”
I blink back the tears in my eyes. “Bee…”
“Oh, stop it. Stop that right now. Don’t you dare feel sorry for me. If there’sone thing I hate more than tears, it’s pity. I’m no victim.” Her voice is curt.“You know who told me that?”
“Dmitri, obviously.” I smile and she returns to take another pull from thechampagne bottle. “Is thi
