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His eyes light up curiously. “Now you’re talking like someone who wants to conduct business. I’m shocked you waited until now to ask for proof.” From his pocket he withdraws his phone. Passing it to me, he makes a small circular motion with his hand in the air. “Scroll through those video clips, or go straight to the live view if you like.”
“Live view?” I whisper. With a mix of relief and horror, I watch the screen. On it is a small video with a red dot, indicating what I’m seeing is either happening now, or a very good fake.
“That’s my mom!” Gasping, I push my face closer until my nose smudges the surface. She’s in the studio’s front room. I’m not sure what she’s doing; putting things in boxes?
She’s packing everything away. Watching her clean up my childhood, preparing for Arsen to bulldoze it into dust, all without me there for support, is like razors in my chest. I stare for another few seconds, but it’s too painful.
I return the phone to him, and I consider what I want to say. “You’re really making sure she’s safe.”
“Yes.”
“Well, why can’t you do that for me?”
“I told you. The less you know, the better it will be.”
“But she’s out there!”
“And nobody has touched her. Confirming my suspicion this has more to do with you than her. I am a man of my word, and my men will never let her out of their sight.”
Running my tongue over my bottom lip, I meet his piercing stare. “You’re going to kill Yevgeniy, yes?”
“Yes.”
“And once that’s done, you’ll let me go.” It doesn’t come out as a question. I can’t let it be.
I hold my breath until Arsen inclines his head. “Once I see Yevgeniy’s life drain from his eyes, you’ll be free to go. I promise.”
It’s a challenge to get enough air into my lungs. Each breath is shallow, painful, like I’m swallowing gravel. “Then … yes. I’ll agree to marry you.” My lips make the shape of the words, but they come from far away. Arsen hears them; I know, because he reaches into his vest pocket. From the depths of it he slips out a silver ring with a massive diamond on top. It’s encrusted along the curves with smaller ones. It must’ve cost a fortune.
He doesn’t kneel. He doesn’t ask permission. He takes my left hand, spreads my fingers, then glides the comically luxurious ring up and over my knuckle. His touch is solid, and he holds on to my hand as he speaks. “We’ll pick out a dress tomorrow.”
It’s good that I’m still gripping the bedpost, because my knees sway weakly. “So soon?”
“We don’t have much time.” Arsen gives me a sly smile before releasing my hand. The heat of his contact lingers. “Get some rest. You look paler now than when you tried to stab me earlier.”
I don’t have a good comeback. The fact is, trying to kill him was easier than accepting his proposal. His footsteps clip around, I vaguely notice the way he bends down, picking up my empty cookie plate. I don’t see him leave because I’m busy gawking at the ring. I know he’s gone when the door closes. Even then, I do nothing but gaze at the diamond.
Something like this … If I sold it, it could pay off the debt on the studio. His wealth has surrounded me since I met him, but I never considered I’d have access to it. I bet I could pretend to lose the ring and he’d simply give me another one.
Being with Arsen might be more beneficial than I expected.
Don’t forget who and what he is! The man is a killer! He’s only doing this to get rid of Yevgeniy, not because he wants to help you!
Yes. I have to remember what I promised myself the first night.
No matter what happens …
I won’t submit to Arsen.
An engagement ring won’t change that.
11
GALINA
The pancakes have no flavor. From a distance, I watch myself lift a forkful of the tender batter into my mouth. It’s heavy on my tongue, like chewing a wet sweater, but I eat it anyway. Partly because I need my strength for what’s going to happen today. The other reason is I’m being watched.
The young woman waiting by the doorway of the breakfast nook is wearing similar garb to Ulyana. Hers is lighter in shade, more sienna than soil, but the dress falls to the same length on her wrists and ankles. She keeps her hair in a pair of blonde braids that reach her clavicle, and unlike Ulyana, she doesn’t have a trace of jewelry on that I can see.
