Chapter 70

(Dimitri's POV)

Watching the Mercedes-Maybach Exelero exiting from the gate, carrying Emily to my private jet, is like watching the sun sink below the horizon. The light fades away, and all that's left in its place is dark and cold.

The house is silent. No mocking from Emily's sarcastic voice. No hint of her gentle laugh, or her questions to Cleo.

Actually, there's no noise at all. The men are silent, too.

I lay awake all night, watching her sleep.

In the early hours of the morning, when the light turned from gray to gold, her face glowed like a Caravaggio portrait. I thought that out of all the sights I had ever seen, Emily was the most beautiful.

I knew I didn't deserve to have her in my bed. Emily is a Pearl, and I'm just the mud at the bottom of the ocean. She's flawless and pure, talented and smart, while I'm an uneducated criminal. A monster who's done horrible things.

But strangely, I may be the best person to truly appreciate her. Because I've seen the ugliest parts of the wor