When I reach my room, I kick off my heels and tumble onto my bed as possibilities float through my mind, all of them involving me and Cristian being together.
Just hours ago, I was walking through a garden of roses with Cristian, pretending we were a couple planning our wedding.
The florist cooing over our "obvious chemistry" while we played along with the charade.
His hand in mine felt so natural, so right.
For those brief moments, I'd allowed myself to imagine a future where I walked down the aisle toward Cristian instead of Maksim.
Then reality crashed down like a wave.
Maksim's hands on me.
His mouth too close to mine.
The things he'd whispered about our wedding night, each word more revolting than the last. I shudder, rubbing my arms as if I can scrub away the memory of his touch.
And then Cristian was there, his gun to Maksim’s head.
The steel in his voice as he ordered Maksim away from me. He was willing to risk everything to protect me.
He is willing to risk everything to protect me.
He promised to find another way, to save me from this fate.
I close my eyes, trying to believe him.
Trying to have faith that there's an escape route from this life.
As hopeful as I want to feel, deep down, I know that no one escapes the world we live in without paying a heavy price, usually with blood.
Still, I believe Cristian is sincere, determined to help me.
He just needs a plan.
And for that, he needs time.
Perhaps I can help arrange that.
I rub my temples, willing my brain to come up with ideas on how to help Cristian.
I sit up as an idea comes.
I could forge Alessandro’s signature, something I’ve done before, on a note to Maksim.
I could postpone the wedding.
I could send a message saying there are security concerns and the wedding needs to be moved back.
Nothing that suggests backing out of our arrangement, just a reasonable postponement that would give Cristian and me more time.
It’s an insane idea, and yet, I’m already pulling out a pen to draft a letter.
I can type it up later, print and sign it when no one is around, and arrange for its delivery to Maksim.
God, I must be desperate if I’m willing to risk being caught.
If Alessandro discovers what I've done, his fury would be legendary. If Maksim realizes it's a forgery… I shudder at the thought.
