“Is the bride’s name Alina Kuznetsova, by chance?” I ask warily.
“How did you know?” he shoots back, curiously.
“Because I know exactly where she is,” I answer. “I put her in a car and sent her home.”
“Well, that’s good then,” he says. “They’re scrambling to find her. We’ll send in our go-team to lock the place down. They need to know we aren’t going to take this sitting down.”
“I want her sent back here,” I tell him. “She’s not leaving my sight until this matter is settled.”
“Understood,” he responds, moving into protection mode. He knows better than to question my decisions.
Her father is an employee of mine, which means her protection is my responsibility. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
I hang up with him and call my driver, Alessandro. He answers on the first ring.
“Hey, boss,” he says cheerfully. “Did you change your mind about staying the night? I’m just about to drop off your guest and then I can come back for you.”
“Cancel the drop-off,” I tell him firmly. “I need you to bring her back immediately, but not to the front. Deliver her to the staff entrance, where one of my guards will be waiting for her. Do not let her out of your sight until she’s safely in the building.”
“You got it,” he responds. “ETA is twelve minutes.”
“Excellent.” I nod, though he obviously can’t see me.
I realize I’m doing exactly what I promised myself I wouldn’t do. I’ve entered into the middle of her mess and I have no idea what the outcome might be. I just know I’m not willing to leave her to the wolves.
5
ALINA
Istare out the window as the driver gets closer to my apartment. When Andrei told me he was going to call me a car, I thought he meant an Uber. I didn’t expect to leave the hotel and see a luxury town car waiting for me. I guess I should have, though. Andrei Markov wouldn’t exactly be taking taxis, would he?
We’re only a mile from my place when I hear the driver take a call. I can’t tell what he’s saying, but after he hangs up, he gets into the left lane. The motion is subtle enough that I almost miss it. Then, we’re making a U-turn and going in the opposite direction. My stomach tightens before my brain fully catches up.
I sit up slowly, every movement exaggerated by the dull throb behind my eyes. The whiskey warmth is still there, but it’s thinning out now, leaving a hollow ache in its place. My mouth feels dry. My head feels heavy. The night presses in on me all at once, the adrenaline finally loosening its grip. We’re headed back in the direction we came.
“Hey,” I say, more confused than angry at first. “You missed the turn to my apartment.”
He doesn’t respond to me. He doesn’t even acknowledge that I’ve spoken.
My fingers curl into the seat beneath me, trying to ground myself. I shouldn’t have gotten into a car with a stranger. I should have driven myself. I’m not usually this stupid. If I get murdered, it’s totally Kostya’s fault.
“I’m serious,” I say, sharper now. “Where are we going?”
The driver’s refusal to meet my eyes sends a ripple of unease through me. I’ve worked enough events, been around enough men with money and power, to know when silence is being used deliberately. He’s not answering me on purpose.
The hotel starts to come back into view, and I feel a strange mix of confusion and relief. At least I can get out here. I’ll open the door as quickly as possible and roll out if I have to. I can run back to the party and get help.
I’m planning my escape when the driver curves around the hotel, forgoing the front entrance entirely. Alarm bells start going off in my head.
“Hey,” I say, my voice hoarse. “What are we doing?”
It’s useless, of course. He still isn’t answering. His eyes flick to the rearview mirror for half a second before pulling around to a back entrance. It’s much darker than the front, and there are far fewer people around.
What the hell is going on?
“Excuse me,” I say more sharply. “You just picked me up from here. You’re supposed to be taking me home.”
Of course, he says nothing to this. He just puts the car in park and keeps the doors locked. My chest tightens. The anger flares first, sharp and immediate, cutting through the fog in my head.
