Page 98 of Betrayal and Vows

His eyes flick to mine for just a second. "Da. She's looking forward to my visit. Says she has something special planned."

Hope flickers in my chest like a match struck in darkness.

"Good," I manage, keeping my voice calm. "It will be a good visit."

"She always said timing is everything." He flips a page, making notes in the margin. "Patience pays off."

I nod, understanding. Whatever he's arranged, it's not ready yet. We're still trapped.

Yuri approaches with that look on his face that has both of us standing a little straighter.

Behind him, three more guards I don't recognize. New faces mean new threats.

"Security briefing. Now."

We follow him to Yuri’s office. There are several of Mikhail’s guards as well as Vadim’s all standing around. I feel the looks.

Which one will kill me? Who’s been given the hit? One? Five?

"Effective immediately," Yuri announces, "the estate is sealed. No one enters, no one leaves until after the reception tomorrow night."

My blood turns to ice. "What about the caterers? The flower delivery?"

"Already here. Everyone who needs to be inside is inside." His eyes sweep the room. "This includes all wedding guests. They'll be staying overnight in the guest wing."

I feel Dmitri’s tension. We’ve been locked in. Like a prison.

There is no escape.

"What's the threat level?" I ask, because it's what Anton Malikov, professional bodyguard, would ask.

"High enough." Yuri answers calmly.

More threats against Lena. All because she happens to be the woman forced to marry Mikhail.

"Guard rotations will be doubled," Yuri continues. "No one sleeps more than four hours at a stretch. The chapel, receptionhall, and all guest quarters will have armed security at every entrance."

Every guard position is a potential obstacle. Every locked door is another barrier between Lena and freedom.

"Questions?" Yuri's gaze lands on me.

“Nope,” I shrug.

I glance at my watch. It’s time to escort Lena to the pre-dinner cocktail hour. The irony isn't lost on me. I’m escorting the woman I love to celebrate her wedding to the man I want to kill.

I knock twice on Lena's door and wait.

Kira opens it, her expression carefully neutral, but I catch the way her eyes dart nervously to mine. She knows.

Maybe not the details, but she knows something about us.

"We're ready," she says quietly.

Lena appears behind her, and the air leaves my lungs.

The dress is worse than I imagined.

She’s nude.