And I am about to be my sister’s replacement.
Katarina has always been better suited to this life. Stronger. More versatile. In hindsight, it should have been completely clear that she would escape, and I would not.
I could have tried to join her. Created a plan where we escaped together. But we’ve been trained to be islands.
I close my eyes as tears form in the corners. And then I force my lips to move. To says the words…
“I accept.”
CHAPTER TEN
Ryker
Victory singsin my veins and I have one moment where I want to crow with my win, pump my fist and roar with satisfaction.
That is the exact moment that a tear slips out of the corner of Sasha’s eye, dancing on her long dark lashes before it slides down her cheek, leaving a wet streak on her face.
Fuck.
She starts to tremble, her hands clenched so tightly together, that her knuckles are turning white.
“This is good, Sasha,” I rumble low so only she can hear.
Her chin gives the tiniest nod of assent, more of a jerk, but she doesn’t relax, and, if anything, she shakes harder.
I look down at her, trying to find some small words of comfort that I might give her without revealing the ruse to Dimitri. But none come to mind.
Finally, Sasha takes a step back. “I have to change,” she says, low and soft, but her voice still cracks.
I give a stiff nod and then slowly remove my hands, keeping her steady as I let her go, instinctively understanding that she’s at risk of falling.
I’ve rocked her, I get that. I couldn’t tell her my plan beforehand, though, or she might have bolted. We both know she’s a flight risk. She’s already tried once.
When she stays on her feet, I turn to Dimitri. “There are papers that will need to be signed.”
“Now?”
To say yes, would be to confirm that I did, in fact, plan this all along. As much as I’d like to have this locked down, I need to be smart. “After the ceremony. I’ll call the lawyer now to have them prepared.”
Dimitri snorts. “Does your lawyer always work on Saturdays?”
“For my family? Yes.” I turn on heel and start for the door. I have to pass Dimitri and if he could kill me with just a glare, I’d be dead from the way he stares at me.
He’s sniffed a rat, but unless Sasha cracks, and with the threat of prison, I don’t think she will, he can’t prove anything.
But as I make my way down the hall and back into the chapel proper, I realize I have a new problem when every one of my brothers turn toward me.
“What’s the hold up?” Triston asks, his easy smile no disguise for someone who knows him well. His eyes are sharp and he’s working out what might be happening.
But where I had to openly deceive Dimitri, I only need to delay my brothers.
There aren’t many guests in attendance. My brothers, the wives of the men among us who are married, Dimitri and his wife and daughter.
But it’s enough. Once the ceremony starts…I’ll be free and clear.
“There was a problem, but it’s been handled,” I say smoothly, tugging first one sleeve and then the other at the cuff to straighten the lines of my jacket.
“What problem?” Gris asks, scowling in a way that does nothing to diminish his good looks.
