Page 31 of Betrayal and Vows

"Fifty? Where are we supposed to put them?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Her fingers fly across the keyboard. "The caterer is threatening to quit. And security..." She trails off, shaking her head.

“What about security?”

I’m not naive. I play the part of the airheaded, spoiled girl well, but that’s not me. I know how to stay alive in my world. The men in the Bratva don’t want to hear women. We are there to look pretty and provide sex.

No more. No less.

I have learned to be invisible. To appear too stupid to know better.

And I know my wedding to Mikhail Orlov is a power play.

The marriage makes the other families nervous. That means they will do anything to stop the wedding.

Including killing me or Mikhail.

Or both.

Mom waves a hand. "Nothing you need to worry about."

But I do worry.

"How many guards will there be?" I ask.

"Enough." Her tone suggests I should drop it.

I won't.

"I'm not stupid. If there are security concerns?—"

"There are always security concerns." She finally looks up from her phone. "Your father and Vadim have everything under control."

“That’s why we’re here,” I say.

She finally looks up from her phone. “Yes.”

Bullshit.

My family was moved into the Orlov Estate this morning.

It wasn’t planned.

I woke up to my mother breezing into my hotel room announcing the move.

I’m here to be babysat. Or guarded.

Dread pools in my belly.

There’s a knock at the door.

Not a gentle one.

I try not to jump, but even the seamstress looks scared.

My mother gets up to answer the door.

The moment it opens, my stomach sinks.