Just as I let myself sink into that dangerous thought—wrapped in obsession, heat, and something terrifyingly close to love—the door slammed open.
I jolted upright.
My father stormed into the room, face red with fury, his suit jacket half-buttoned like he hadn’t even finished dressing before charging in.
“Tell meeverythingthat happened yesterday.“ His voice thundered across the room, sharp and cold and terrifying. “Now.”
“S-sorry?”
“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped. “Some guards say you left with Felix yesterday—after school. You were seen in his car. Where the hell did he take you?”
My body locked up completely, breath stalling as panic rushed in. Thoughts tumbled over each other—what does he know? Sashko had made me practice my answers the entire drive home, making sure I had every detail straight. But fear still clawed its way up my back. Normally lying came easy to me—too easy. But right now my nerves were a mess. If he looked too closely, he’d see it.
I sat up straighter, clutching the sheet to my chest. “He took me to a party,” I said. “At the Fairmont. Just to meet some people. His friends.”
“What people?”
“I—I don’t know them,” I said quickly. “I didn’t recognize anyone.”
“Kira.” He stepped closer, his eyes blazing. “Give me names.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep it together. “One of them introduced himself. Kirill. Kirill Stashenko. And… there was another one. Jesus, I don’t know—Ivan? Ivan Ponomarenko, I think. There were others but… I don’t remember their names. I’m sorry, Dad.”
He paced in front of the bed like a lion trapped in a cage.
“You’re sorry,” he spat. “Felix was under my protection. Do you realize what kind of shit we’re in now?”
I tightened my grip on the sheet until my knuckles paled. “I didn’t know anything was going to happen,” I said, my voice barely steady. “He just said he wanted me to meet a few people—some of them might be at the wedding. That was all.” I swallowed, forcing my gaze down. “Then he tried to take me to a room at the hotel. He said he needed to inspect the cargo before marrying me.” My eyes dropped to the crumpled sheets in my lap, shame curling my shoulders inward.
“He what?” My father’s eyes widened, disbelief turning quickly to rage.
“Yes,” I whispered, nodding too quickly. My fingers twisted the fabric tighter. “I begged him to wait for the wedding. I told him you would never allow it.”
“He got angry,” I continued, my voice trembling just enough. “But he let me go. He drove me home around two. Said he’d go back and grab some other girl to use since he’d already paid for the room.”
He stared at me like he wanted to believe me. Or maybe like he didn’t know what to believe anymore.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he said suddenly, his voice low and sharp. “Are you cursed or something? Every man I put near you ends up dead. Fiancés dropping like flies.” Then, with a sound of disgust, he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
I chewed at the skin on my thumb, heart heavy with the truth. Maksym was right. Of course he was. There was no way Felix’s death would be brushed off. This was the start. The opening shot.
I kicked off the covers and climbed out of bed, my heart still pounding loud enough to hear. I slipped into a gray knit loungewear set—soft and oversized, and swept my hair into a loose tie without much thought. My fingers were still unsteady.
I never had a reason to go near my father’s office, and I preferred to stay away. But this morning, something pulled me toward it. I needed to know what they were planning. What came next. And underneath all of it, a selfish, desperate part of me hoped Maksym might be there. Just so I could breathe easier knowing he was okay.
I padded down the stairs slowly, careful not to make noise. As I reached the corridor leading to my father’s study, I heard voices coming through the speakerphone—loud, harsh, and angry.
“You lost control of your territory!” someone barked.
It didn’t take much to figure out who it was. Felix’s father. I recognized the tone—the kind of entitlement only old, powerful men carried like second skins.
“Igavehim protection,” my father snapped back. “Whatever happened out there, I’ll find out. Nobody behaves like that in my city.” He exhaled sharply. “I don’t know who he managed to piss off enough to end up like this, but I will.”
“Your protection means nothing if he ends up butchered in the goddamn woods!”
His voice cracked with rage. “They butchered my son. My boy. Do you understand what that means?” he thundered. “He was my heir. My blood. They didn’t just kill him—they desecrated him.”
A beat of silence, then more venom. “Don’t think for a second I’ll let that slide.”
