Page 109 of Betrayal and Vows

My throat aches. “I will do what you ask.”

He nods, satisfied, and turns to go.

I wait for my mother to return, but there’s a soft knock at the door.

I open it to find Dmitri.

I don’t give him a chance to say anything. I know why he’s here.

“Tell him I won’t see him.”

Dmitri looks confused. “No?”

“I’m busy. Do not come to my door again, Dmitri.”

I close the door in his face.

No more.

There will be no more secret messages.

Anton and I will never be together.

Chapter 19

Anton

Ipace the perimeter like a caged animal, checking sight lines and exit routes for the hundredth time today.

The wedding starts in four hours.

Four fucking hours until I watch the woman I love promise herself to my half-brother.

The grounds are crawling with security.

Vadim's men, Mikhail's personal guards.

A lot of faces I don't recognize.

Everyone's on high alert, which makes what I'm planning either impossible or the perfect cover.

I catch sight of Dmitri heading toward the main house, and my pulse kicks. He's carrying the message.

Our last desperate play.

I force myself to keep walking, to look like I'm doing my job instead of planning to steal the bride and run like hell.

The plan—if you can call it that—is simple.

Crude.

Raw.

Dangerous.

During the ceremony, when everyone's focused on the altar, I create a distraction.

Dmitri cuts the power.