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“Then it can wait until morning.” Snaking an arm around my waist, he pulls me back down between the sheets and wraps his arms around me, cuddling close.
I bite my lip and roll over so that we’re facing each other. “Actually, it can’t.”
My heartbeat thrums loudly as my nerves get the better of me. I need answers about a lot of things, and if the pakhan has ordered my boyfriends not to talk, then he’ll have to be the one to give me the truth.
Andrei’s eyes slide open. “You have my attention.”
It’s hard for me to talk with him staring. I try to summon all the anger I held earlier in the day, but it fizzles out the moment I think I’ve snared it.
I’m too tired for a fight.
Sighing, I squeeze my eyes shut. Let’s start with the easy question.
“I know you’ve been handling finding a venue for us . . .”
Andrei hums in acknowledgement.
“But that requires a date. Celia seems convinced the wedding is happening sooner rather than later. I thought we were waiting a few more weeks.” The ring feels heavy on my finger. I slide my hand out from under the covers to see it, but the sun’s dipped so low that it’s impossible to make it out. “Have you moved up the date?”
Andrei holds my hand against his chest. I can feel his steady heartbeat through his ribs. “Something came up, Valentina. I had to push things up.”
My heart skips a beat. “How far up?”
Andrei brushes his thumb across my knuckles. “This week. Our wedding is in three days.”
All the air leaves my lungs.
“Three days!” I sit up in a panic. Three days. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to panic,” Andrei grumbles, already dragging me back down beside him. “Like this. Valentina, I promise you, I’ve got everything handled.”
“It’s no wonder you three have been working around the clock.”
Andrei grunts as his eyes drift closed.
He must be exhausted.
Memories from the past few days flicker behind my eyes. Ezra in the blood-stained morgue. His confession about keeping me safe. Mikhail’s threats on my grandmother’s life. The way he enjoyed taunting me with her death...and Liam’s.
Andrei’s passion is intense for a man who’s never met my ex-slash-boss.
A shiver runs down my spine as the same realization that struck me in Mikhail’s car comes crashing back.
They all know something, and they’re not telling me what it is. They’re keeping me in the dark.
No matter how warm it is in Andrei’s bed, or how safe I feel in Mikhail’s arms, or how treasured Ezra claims I am, they’re all keeping secrets from me.
And that is unacceptable.
I pull Andrei’s arm off me and slide away from him. Dropping my feet over the edge of the bed, I suck in a breath at how cold the air is away from him.
He sighs and reaches for me. “Valentina. You’re restless. Tell me what’s wrong.”
I run my fingers through my hair and tie it into a knot at the base of my neck. How do I ask him what else he’s been doing, other than wedding planning? Sitting up at the far side of the bed, far enough away that Andrei can’t grab me, but close enough that I can drag the edge of the blanket across my shoulders, I locate a bedside lamp and flick it on.
Andrei is wide awake, his expression calm as he studies me.
The cool night air makes me shiver.
