Scoundrel's Honor Read Online Free PDF Page B

striking your master,” he could not resist taunting.
    Flecks of gold smoldered in the hazel eyes. “Master?”
    He kissed her slender fingers. “You are in desperate need of my assistance, which means that while you remain in St. Petersburg you are in my power.”
    â€œI will not be treated as if I am a serf.”
    â€œYou will do precisely as I say and you will do so without complaint.”
    She jerked her hand from his grasp, marching toward the door with her chin high and her back stiff.
    â€œThis is absurd.”
    â€œIf you walk out that door, Emma, I can assure you that you will never find your sister.”

CHAPTER THREE
    E MMA 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?”
    â€œNo, but—”
    â€œThen I will find someone less offensive to help me.”
    He strolled forward, the scent of sandalwood and warm male skin teasing at her senses.
    â€œThere 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.”
    â€œHerrick warned me that you had your share ofarrogance, but you cannot possibly believe you possess the power to influence every citizen in St. Petersburg.”
    â€œSo 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?
    â€œWhy are you being so cruel?” she demanded.
    â€œNot 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.”
    â€œSo I am expected to be a proper lady while you are at liberty to behave as an ill-mannered brute?”
    â€œYou 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.
    â€œDo I have a choice?” she gritted.
    â€œOf course.” He peered deep into her eyes, almost asif willing her to obey his words. “You can return to