Page 125 of Queen’s Gambit

“What?”

How will Lilya and I escape now?

“Vadin would never agree to that,” Mother said.

“Don’t believe me? Call him. But he is adamant that his daughter not do something stupid that will embarrass us both.”

“I don’t believe you,” she said.

He waved his hand at her. “I’m in no rush. See for yourself.”

“It was very entertaining watching Edmundo land, Yuli. Then, to see the look on his face when soldiers greeted him instead of you.”

I envisioned Christov’s death while he talked. I knew he was capable of the evil things, but this crossed a whole other line. Eddie was a powerful Don from another country with business dealings here. The favor he called in had to have been a huge one. How long had he been sitting on it for a moment like this?

“They gave him an option, you know. He could go to prison and wait for a hearing to have his passport reinstated or leave. In case you’re wondering, he left. Obviously, he doesn’t love you enough to fight the claim.”

My hand cracked across Christov’s face so hard that it burned. His head snapped to the side, and his eyes turned deadly.

“How dare you,” Christov snarled and grabbed my arm.

Suddenly, guns were up on both sides.

“Put the guns down,” I yelled. It took a moment, but they slowly lowered.

“I warned you that if you tried to run, I would make you pay,” Christov growled.

“I wasn’t.”

“Liar,” he said.

“No, you’re the liar. I made that contract with you in good faith. I’ve never interfered with your relationship. I held up my end of the bargain, but no more.” I lowered my voice to a harsh whisper. “If you insist on doing this, then I’ll make sure that everyone knows Sabastian is a bastard.”

“Do you really think I give a shit?” Christov jerked me closer, his nose almost brushing mine. “Let me fill you in on a little secret. No one cares now that my father is dead. I have complete control of the company.”

I laughed, and his face darkened further.

“Another lie. You wouldn’t be worried that I ran off if you didn’t care about appearances. Who are you trying to fool?”

A wicked grin turned up the corner of his mouth. There was a depravity that coated him like a second skin. It had always been there under the surface, but now he wore it like armor.

“Oh no, no, no. I did this to fuck with Edmundo. It felt so fucking good to take what he still thinks is his. But you’re not his. You’re mine, and you’ll never see him again.”

“I was never and will never be yours. Keeping us apart changes nothing.” His fingers dug painfully into my arms, but I didn’t flinch. “You’re nothing more than a bottom feeder. That’s why your father forced you to marry me, so you’d actually have some class.”

He raised his hand to strike me, but I spat in his eye. He yelled like I shot him. I quickly broke his grip and stepped back.

“You’re a weak piece of disgusting filth. You and your prostitute deserve one another,” I said.

He looked like he was going to tackle me to the ground, but my mother returned.

“Enough, both of you. Is this any way to act in front of your daughter?”

Christov’s eyes flicked to Lilya behind me and then back to my face.

“Fine.”

He made a show of pulling leather gloves out from his coat pocket like being hit with a glove would scare me.