Page 162 of Arrow

“Just checking if you’re still breathing.” He flopped onto the couch beside me. “The knife was a nice touch. Most people would’ve gone for something less . . . penetrative.”

“I’m not most people. Where is he?” I asked.

Orion’s smile faded slightly. “Cleaning up your mess.”

“My mess?” I bristled.

“Our collective mess,” he corrected, pulling a silver flask from his jacket. He took a swig before offering it to me. “The Kovenskis aren’t happy. Svetlana’s father spent all night telling anyone who would listen that the Romanov—heir has no control over his bride.” He stretched, long and lazy. “Arrow’s been in damage control mode since dawn. Had to personally assure old man Kovenski that you weren’t deliberately trying to humiliate his precious daughter.”

My jaw clenched. “I wasn’t trying to humiliate her. I was trying to⁠—”

“—make Arrow jealous,” Orion finished for me. “Yeah, we all got that memo. Mission accomplished, by the way. I haven’t seen him this unhinged since that cartel tried to take over his father’s shipping routes.”

I snatched the flask from his hand and took a deep swallow. The liquor burned my throat, making me cough. “I didn’t think it would become a whole . . . thing.”

“Everything you Virellis and Romanovs do becomes a ‘thing,’” Orion said, making air quotes. “You two are like gasoline and matches playing tag in a fireworks factory.”

“That’s not fair,” I protested weakly.

Orion’s eyebrow shot up. “Not fair? You fucked a stranger in a public cage while half of Manhattan watched, the same night Arrow was trying to secure a multi-million dollar diamond deal with the father of his ex-girlfriend.” He laughed, the sound sharp and genuine. “I’m not judging—honestly, it’s the most entertaining shit I’ve seen in years—but don’t act surprised when there are consequences.”

I slumped back against the couch, reality crashing down like a wave. “So what happens now?”

Orion tucked the flask away. “Now? Now Arrow spends the day kissing Kovenski’s ass, promising him whatever it takes to keep the diamond pipeline flowing. Then he’ll come back here and you two will probably tear each other apart again before putting the pieces back together just in time for your rehearsal dinner tomorrow.”

I winced at the reminder. The rehearsal dinner. A room full of people who hated each other pretending to celebrate our union.

“I should call him,” I said, reaching for my phone.

Orion’s hand shot out, covering mine. “Don’t. He’s in the middle of delicate negotiations. The last thing he needs is his fiancée interrupting.”

“Since when are you his keeper?” I snapped.

“Since he saved my life in Moscow,” Orion replied, his voice suddenly serious. “And since I promised to help him make sure you don’t get yourself killed before the wedding.”

My eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a reality check.” He stood up, towering over me. “You two idiots are playing with fire in a city made of gasoline. Your little performance last night? It was seen by everyone who matters. And now they’re all wondering the same thing.”

“What’s that?”

“If Harlowe Virelli can’t be controlled by Arrow Romanov, what’s the point of having an alliance at all?”

“This alliance isn’t just about me.”

“No, but you’re the linchpin,” Orion said, voice softening slightly. “The whole point of this marriage is to show that Virellis and Romanovs can coexist. That the old blood feuds can end. But if you two can’t even present a united front for one night . . .”

“It was one mistake,” I insisted.

Orion laughed. “A mistake broadcast across every underground channel in the city. The Kovenskis are old school, Harlowe. They believe in respect, loyalty, and above all, control. Arrow losing control of his bride-to-be is like blood in the water.”

I stood up, wincing as my body protested every movement. “I’m not a fucking dog.”

“No,” Orion agreed. “You’re a fucking Virelli. Which means you should know better than anyone how this game is played.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got to go take care of something. Try not to start any more wars while Arrow’s gone.”

“Fuck you,” I said, but there was no real heat behind it.

As the elevator doors closed behind him, I sank back onto the couch, the weight of what I’d done finally settling on my shoulders. I’d been so focused on hurting Arrow that I’d forgotten the bigger picture of the game. The Romanovs. The Virellis. The Kovenskis. Three families with enough power to tear Manhattan apart, and I’d just poked the hornet’s nest with a stick.