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It’s hard to speak to someone when you know they’re planning to kill you.

For now, I have to sleep in the beast’s bed.

Chapter

Fourteen

Allegra

Idon’t sleep at all. I lie there the whole night, thinking and worrying and trying not to draw attention to myself.

Lev fell asleep at some point. At least I think so. If he didn’t, he’s a better actor than me—which I suspect.

He gets up just after sunrise, and I listen to him shower and change. All the while, I keep my eyes closed and my body still, pretending to be asleep.

It’s not until he leaves the room that I open my eyes and the tension eases from my body. I can’t believe I managed to keep myself like that all night.

I want to get up, but I decide to stay in the bed a little longer. It’s far too early, and really, what will getting up achieve?

I’ll probably have some run-in with Lev I really don’t want.

Or I’ll see Zoya and have to deal with the awkwardness from last night. Of course, I have to see her at some point today, and I can’t hide away in here forever, but why push myself out any sooner?

Zoya would have definitely told Lev what happened. I can’t imagine that she wouldn’t. That means I’ll have more eyes on me now and I’ll have to watch my back.

The wisest thing to do is keep my head above water. That’s why I need to see that file on my father.

I haven’t decided yet what knowing the contents will mean for me, but at least I’ll know what Papa did to Lev. Then I’ll know what I’m up against. So… I have to find a way to get back into Lev’s office.

I have to get back in there and not get caught. If Zoya or anyone catches me in there again, I can’t use the excuse of looking for paper.

I lie in bed until eleven, then force myself to get up. Lev would have left the house by now.

I can’t stay cooped up here today. I need a change of scenery, so I plan to spend a few hours at the charity. I’d love to venture into Lev’s office now, but at this time of day, there’s no way I’ll be able to get anywhere near it without raising suspicions. Better to wait for nightfall.

I get dressed and head downstairs. To avoid running into Zoya, I take the back hallway. Roman or Konstantin should be smoking in the garden. Hopefully, one of them can take me to the charity office.

Lev’s voice suddenly fills the hall. I stop midstride.

Oh God, no. He’s still here.

“Don’t be late,” he says.

“I’m never late,” a sultry female voice replies. It definitely doesn’t belong to Zoya or one of the maids. “And you know I never disappoint you.”

“Occasionally, you do.”

“On purpose, so I can make up for it.” She laughs, light and airy, the way most women do when they want a man’s attention. “The way I remember it, you always enjoy the making-up part.”

Nope, that’s definitely not Zoya or anyone else around here.

Who is she?

Footsteps echo on the floor, and I realize they’re heading this way. Damn it, I have such rotten luck.

I think quickly and open the nearest door. No way do I want to run into them.

Thankfully, I’m just in time. As soon as I close the door, I hear them walking by, practically where I stood.