But ten seconds later, she opens the door, and relief makes me curl forward as I lean against the door. Her makeup is also done, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail at the nape that looks chic and sophisticated.
The only word to describe her is stunning. “Hey, Sash.”
Something in the way she says my name pricks at the back of my brain. I swear there is a note of pity. For me. Today. I must be wrong because that makes no sense. “You hangin’ in there?”
“I’m fine,” she says, looking as calm as I’ve ever seen her. “You?”
“Me? Of course,” I lie, my grin of support surely plastic. “It’s you I’m worried about.”
Her mouth hardens. “Don’t worry about me, little sister. Take care of yourself.” And then she closes the door.
Katarina and I have always had an “every woman for herself” dynamic but even for her, that was…
Why did I offend her as I attempted to offer her some support?
I go back to my room, Ava gone, probably to change, and I pull my own dress out of the bag. We’re wearing gowns of shimmering gray green, which highlights my eyes.
I run my hand over the strapless, floor-length gown and sigh. At least I’ll look good.
I haven’t eaten yet but I’m not hungry either, my stomach churning with nerves.
So I toss off my robe and pull on the dress and strappy silver sandals.
I didn’t bring any jewelry from Russia. Unlike Katarina, who came to get married, I didn’t think I’d be staying, so most of my things are at my father’s house.
It doesn’t matter today though. There is a simple appeal to my neck and chest being exposed. Drawing in a breath, I leave my room at the same time as Katarina enters the hall.
She’s still in leggings and a tank top, a bag over her shoulder and a suitcase behind her. My gaze narrows. I was under the impression that she and Ryker would be living in the penthouse apartment above us. “Why the suitcase? Aren’t you coming back to this very building?”
Her jaw hardens. “I never intend to step foot in this apartment again.”
I stare at my sister, my senses tingling with danger once again.
“There you both are,” Dimitri rumbles from the other end of the hall. “We’ve got to leave or we’re going to be late.”
Katarina draws in a breath and starts toward him. But as she passes me, she stops and looks down at me, her features tight with tension. “Take care of yourself, Sash.”
I shake my head. “I’m just going to be two floors below you, Kat. There’s no need to?—”
“Everything is going to be different after today,” she says, her gaze sliding away from mine, before she starts down the hall again.
I stare at her back, her words ringing in my ears. They’re true. It will be different. The brother we thought would save us, is delivering her to her doom. No one is going to save either of us, and we can’t pretend a white knight is on his way.
The loneliness of our predicament hits me full in the chest. I wish I’d done more to help Katarina. I should have been a better sister. We could have helped each other. “Katarina,” I call as she turns toward me, “I’m sorry that?—”
“Don’t be sorry, Sash. You and me, we’re going to be all right.” Then she starts down the hall again. I stand there for another moment wondering what in the world she means by that.
Drawing in a breath, I follow her out to the living room, where she hands the gown to Ava. “Would you be a dear and bring this to the chapel for me?”
“I’d be happy to,” Ava chirps with a wide smile. “You know I’ll help in whatever way I can.”
Dimitri checks his watch. “The cars are waiting. We should go.”
Katarina gives the smallest nod. “I’ll take the second car.”
“I’ll go with you,” Dimitri offers, stepping up next to her.
“I’d rather go alone,” she says, drawing herself up. “I need a minute to myself.”
