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“Excuse me,” I mutter under my breath. “You’ve seen my chest, and it’s absolutely hairless.”
He leans over and plucks a remnant of my fried plantain and pops it in his mouth. “I’ve seen all of you, and I can indeed confirm you’re hairless everywhere.” My belly spasms, and heat builds between my legs. “But I look forward to doing a more thorough inspection later tonight.”
If I were more innocent, I’d likely blush. I only pour myself another glass of wine.
Polina makes us take picture after picture and keeps commenting on our future babies. Lev snorts, but I can tell he’s pleased. His brothers each congratulate him, one at a time. I have a growing suspicion that he’s been oppressed by his family, just like I have. They may be closer and less hostile, but he’s had to prove himself to them.
Maybe we have more in common than we thought.
Time flies by until the chop of helicopter blades catches the attention of everyone.
“Time to go,” Mikhail says.He leans and whispers something to Lev, who nods soberly.
“Yeah. I do.” What the hell is that about? Probably something about keeping me in line or whatever. Good luck with that.
“Here,” his mother says, bringing a covered plate over to us. “You can’t leave without your dessert.”
“Thank you,” I say graciously, taking it. Something in me stirs at the sound of helicopter blades.
I’m escaping. Leaving. And even though logically I know it isn’t true—I just took vows to a man who’s a sworn enemy—my brother won’t be able to find me. Even Lev’s brothers won’t know where we are.
They all stand and cheer as we make our way toward the exit. I’m barefoot, having kicked off my painfully tight wedges, and when I lift the edge of my gown, Polina squeals.
“Here!” she says, handing me a pair of black flats. “Take these. Mom buys more shoes than she knows what to do with. I grabbed these from her closet. The tags are still on them.”
I take them, touched by the gesture. “Thank you!”
She leans in. “And I packed everything else you asked me about, too.”
Thank God for sisters. My throat gets a little tight. “Seriously, thank you. I owe you.”
I slide them onto my feet. They’re warm and soft and fit like a glove. My throat tightens. Lev holds the door open in front of him.
“I could carry you if your feet hurt,” he says softly, his brow furrowed. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, taking his hand and joining him as we head outside to the helicopter. I’m not, though. I’m not at all. I’m disarmed and wary, a decidedly unnerving combination.
“C’mere,” he says, shaking his head, and before I know what’s happening, he’s swinging me up in his arms. “I can’t carry you over a threshold so this will have to do.”
Everyone cheers behind us, and I actually feel my cheeks blush.
Am I seeing the man behind the mask? The man behind the monster?
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lev
It’s about damn time all that formality is over.
We took the first step, and I’m so goddamn ready for the next.
We have shit to do.
Polina presses a bag into Isabella’s hand and kisses her cheek, then mine. “You boys do this in the most unconventional ways, but I do love that I have another sister. Be good to her. She has excellent energy.”
Oh, does she? Whatever the fuck that means. I roll my eyes. I’ve already hunted her down trying to escape twice, and even now, I’m on the lookout for any escape method she might use because she knows as well as I do that once she gets on the helicopter, there will be no escape.
I took Mikhail’s reminder to heart. I know exactly how to keep Isabella shackled to me.
