Page 63 of Betrayal and Vows

He’s not in love.

He’s evil and obsessed. He only wants to possess her.

“Get out,” Vadim says. “You’re drunk! And stupid. Pull yourself together. You’re an embarrassment!”

Mikhail slams back the rest of his drink and walks out with a crooked grin.

But just before I turn to go, Vadim holds up his hand.

“Wait here. A moment.”

He slips out a side door. I glance around. There are three doors in the office. A man like Vadim would need plenty of escape options.

I don’t move. I know there are cameras. I can’t make it obvious I’m studying the layout.

I hear voices in the hallway. Mikhail's voice, slurred and angry, carries through the thick walls.

"...can't stand the way he looks at me. Like he's better than me."

Another voice responds, too low for me to make out the words.

"Anton fucking Malikov," Mikhail spits. "Walking around like he owns the place. Like he owns her."

My blood turns to ice.

"You see how she watches him? How she fucking lights up when he's near? It's disgusting."

I strain to listen, every muscle coiled tight.

"After the wedding, after she's mine and this alliance is sealed, I'm going to put a bullet in his head. Make it look like an accident."

The other voice murmurs something.

The words slice through me.

Termination.

I’m already marked.

The wedding isn’t just Lena’s prison.

It’smyexecution date.

Vadim returns and hands me a knife using a glove.

I look at it, then him with a question in my gaze.

I obviously have my own.

“It’s his,” Vadim smiles. “Use it. Poetic, no?”

I’m sure it’s another test or a setup.

I don’t care.

“It’s done.” I take the knife and leave the room. Mikhail is walking in the opposite direction back to the party.

I push open the door that leads downstairs. I practically jog down. I’ve been down here before. Too many times. It’s one of the only reasons I’ve ever been brought to the estate. I’ve never been invited for dinner or a party.