Next to him is Triston Smith, CEO playboy of the family, whose looks and charm have made them billionaires. His twin, Griswold Smith, stands next to him. They both have polished looks and charismatic smiles that hide the devilment in their eyes, but I see it. I’ve grown up amongst dangerous men, and I know the markers.
Finally, there is Winston Smith, the Duke of Grandmont. The story goes that his dukedom was nearly bankrupted by theirfather, but Win sent his brothers to America to remake the family fortune.
If his brothers reek of power, Win absolutely glows with it. It’s in every subtle line, every small gesture.
And finally, there is Ryker. I skip over him, the sight of him making my heart tick up several notches.
Just behind them are two men I’ve met once before. Mason Kincaid, builder and mastermind of the tunnel that has created the frenzy that has led to my sister marrying today.
Mason has the same energy as Win. Power radiates off him in waves.
Next to him is a man I’ve met once, on the night my father nearly killed me. Jake Kincaid.
The oldest man of the bunch, he was as kind as a stranger could be that night it all went down, and I feel myself relax to see him here today.
“Nervous?” Triston asks while flashing a row of straight white teeth, set off by his perfectly swept-back dark hair.
“Not at all,” Ryker answers, the deep timbre of his voice moving through me. “Today is going to be perfect.”
Gris clears his throat, grimacing at his brother. “For a man who barely even commits to a girlfriend, you’re taking this whole marriage thing with a great deal of calm.”
Ryker shrugs. “Marriage has a purpose. Or this one does. Girlfriends are just to pass the time, and I can usually find better ways.”
Killian scowls at his brother at the same time I shiver. Katarina is strong. Tough. She’ll take Ryker’s indifference and craft it to her advantage, I’m certain. She’s way tougher than me like that.
But the idea of marrying in this way…of being tied to man who doesn’t care at all, makes me want to hide. If he doesn’t have the emotional pull to even date, I take a step back,shrinking into the shadows, how cold will he be toward my sister?
I blow out a breath. Would my brother do to me what he’s doing to Kat? Of course he would. It’s my reminder to keep looking for my escape route. Today is my chance.
I turn away, starting down the hallway when I hear Dimitri’s voice echoing down the hall. “I don’t know where she is, but the car’s not here.”
“What about her location? Don’t you have it?” Ava asks and I freeze. They can’t be saying what I think…
“It’s showing her at home, but obviously I put her into the car myself so either the phone is off or still at the apartment.”
I press against the wall, my eyes squeezing shut as all my plans evaporate.
“Where could she be? Where could she go?”
Dimitri snorts. “Anywhere. If she convinced the driver to take her to the airport…” The noise of a door closing punctuates Dimitri’s words. I hold my breath as I search for Katarina. Instead, my niece walks into the hall with her nanny.
She’s wearing a dress that is in the same fabric as mine, and she gives me an excited wave, the flowers bouncing in her hair. “Look!” she points down at her dress. “We match.”
“I see,” I answer, the blood rushing in my ears as I hide my distress under a falsely bright smile.
“Daddy?” she calls.
Dimitri appears in a second, his gaze finding his daughter as I remain frozen against the wall. He moves toward her, sweeping her in his arms and kissing her cheek.
Watching them, for a moment, I forget my fear.
Because as shadowed and dark as Dimitri’s intentions are toward me and my sister, I can see that he is very different with his daughter.
He loves her in a way that our father never loved us.
She wraps her arm around his neck and squeezes, squishing her cheek into his.
He hugs back.
