Page 53 of Queen’s Gambit

“What? Why is he coming here now? He wasn’t supposed to fly out until tomorrow?” The loud knock on the door had my heart jumping around in my chest. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. If it was up to me, then you would get to stay,” she said, ending the call.

Eddie opened the door, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

My father stood in the hallway with four of his guards. He glared at Eddie and then at me.

“You made me a promise, Edmundo. You broke it.”

Eddie looked at me before answering my father.

“Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t break your trust.”

“Take her,” Father ordered.

I screamed and ran for the bathroom, but the guards were fast and grabbed me.

“Let her go. You’re hurting her,” Eddie growled and punched one of the guards in the face.

The other guards tackled Eddie to the ground. It was like watching my nightmares play out as I was dragged from the room while Eddie fought and yelled.

“Let go of me,” I demanded and kicked at the guard holding my left arm.

He groaned as I caught the side of his knee. Twisting hard, I broke the second guard’s grip—a move that Paul had taught me—and ran back into my room.

My father knelt by Eddie’s head with a knife in his hand.

“Leave him alone. He’s done nothing wrong, and neither have I.”

More guards appeared, but these were from the school and included Dean Martin.

“What is going on in here,” Dean Martin asked.

“This student has broken your rules. Right under your roof, he has ruined my daughter,” Father sneered.

“Father, Eddie would never do that.”

“I haven’t, sir. I swear.”

“Your word means nothing when I have proof.”

He pulled a photo from his pocket and handed it over to the dean. It was a snapshot of Eddie and I kissing.

“It’s a kiss, so what? That doesn’t mean we slept together,” I said.

“Maybe, maybe not. The phone call I got said that he’s been staying in your room every night. Are you going to deny that as well?”

I swallowed.

“Mr. Mikhailov, I told you that I’d look after Yulianna, and I meant every word. I won’t lie to you, sir. Yes, I’ve spent nights in this room, holding Yulianna as she slept. But I swear we never had intercourse.”

“I don’t believe you,” my father said, glaring at Eddie, but he stood and put the knife away.

I had no idea what came over me, but I stepped into my father’s personal space, squaring off with him.

“Well, you should.”

His eyes narrowed into slits.