Page 20 of Betrayal and Vows

I fumble with the keycard, my hands shaking so badly I can barely get it in the slot. The little light flashes red. Red again. Finally green.

"Hurry," Kira whispers, glancing down the hallway.

I shove the door open and we both slip inside. I immediately start stripping off the silver dress, letting it fall to the floor as I rush toward the bathroom.

"Lena, what?—"

"I need to shower. Now." I'm already turning on the water, not waiting for it to heat up. "If anyone asks, I came up here an hour ago to change. I felt sick from the champagne."

"Where were you really?" Kira's voice is sharp with concern.

I step under the freezing spray, gasping as it hits my overheated skin. "I went for a walk. Got some air."

"Bullshit." She leans against the doorframe. "You smell like cigarettes and sex."

My heart stops. If Kira can tell...

"I don't know what you're talking about." I grab the soap and start scrubbing, trying to wash away any trace of Anton. His scent. His touch. The evidence of what we did.

"Lena." Her voice is deadly serious now. "Please tell me you didn't do something stupid."

I don't answer. I can't. Instead, I wash my hair twice, scrubbing until my scalp burns.

“Someone is at the door,” she hisses.

“Tell them I’m in the shower.”

“They’ll kill us.”

She disappears from the bathroom. I can hear raised voices. I tell myself to be calm. Play it cool.

“You can’t go in there!” I hear Kira shout.

My stomach drops a second before the door is thrown open. The Orlov guard steps inside. I can see him through the glass that is thankfully steamy enough to shield some of my nudity.

I stare at him, raising my chin and refusing to show fear.

“Get out!” Kira demands. “I’ll tell her father! The Pakhan! You can’t be in here!”

He finally seems satisfied and leaves.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I shut off the water and reach for the fluffy robe. Kira comes back in a minute later. She’s pale and I know I’ve just made her an accomplice.

“Do you want todie?” Her tone is accusatory.

I flinch. “Of course not.”

“Because if Orlov finds out—hell, ifanyonefinds out—you’re done. You know that, right? Vadim doesn’t play games. And his son? You think he won’t notice if his beautiful new bride smells like someone else’s cologne?”

“He won’t know.”

“You are getting married in two weeks, Lena.This isn’t like sneaking out for sushi or pretending we’re in Ibiza for the night. This is suicide.”

“I know.”

Kira watches me for a beat. Her expression softens. “Was it him?” she asks, barely above a whisper.

I don’t answer.