Page 43 of Then We Shatter

“Technically, I won’t be twenty-one until the week after, by which time…”

“You’ll be building a new life without me.”

We continue to stare up at the ceiling. I can only endure the pain if I don’t look at hers.

“I haven’t gone yet,” Katarina tries. “I promise, I will make time for you. Assuming you can stay in Chicago.”

“There’s no question of me leaving you now,” I say gruffly. “Haven’t you heard? Ignacio Valera was behind another drug shipment currently being sold on the streets of Chicago.”

“There’s only so long you can make up stories like that,” she warns. “Your Dad’s going to catch you out eventually.”

It’s not Dad I’m spinning stories for, it’s Katarina. She’d kill me if she knew I’m following my father’s orders, mostly, but I ignore my twinge of guilt. Or I would if Katarina would only drop the subject.

“The longer you’re here, the more likely it is the Valeras will show up somewhere else. And then what? There are enough people working against us without adding your family too.”

She’s not wrong. “I’ll worry about it when it happens.” My gut hollows out. I’m not ready for this to end. “As much as I love Ash Griffin, I hate his guts right now for taking you from me. Do you know where you’ll go?” I ask. It’s worth a try.

“I’ve said they can choose. I don’t care as long as Vasili can never find me. Can you imagine what he’d do if he knew what we’d been up to?”

I can imagine. I have to. It’s the only way I’m going to be able to let her go. My swallow is painful and loud as I turn my head to meet her gaze. “As long as you’re safe.”

Her eyes are glassy. “And miserable.”

My jaw locks as anger finally breaks through the numbness of my initial shock. “Fucking Duke.” He’s the reason any chances of prolonging the engagement indefinitely have gone up in flames. “Maybe we can’t exactly blame him for fooling around when we’re guilty of the same, but taking another woman on a business trip? What was he thinking?” He was thinking of spending a whole fucking night with the woman of his dreams. I’m not just pissed, I’m jealous. The Moncriefs aren’t the only ones who can flit around on a private jet. I would have whisked Katarina around the world twice already. If I could.

Katarina strokes a thumb over my palm. “She’s an interior designer who’s just started working with him and he didn’t think anyone would notice, or care if anyone did. It’s a well-known fact the Barkov men don’t rate fidelity highly.” Barkov men. Not women. She’s making a point. “But until my uncle sees a wedding band on my finger, he’s not going to want another woman interfering with his plans.”

“Thank fuck you put a stop to it before he found out.”

Vasili is unpredictable at the best of times, and the only risks we should be accepting are the ones we’re taking. Risks like me fucking his niece while her bodyguards are a floor below us.

“Can you be sure Duke won’t take more stupid risks?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve sent a message loud and clear to Grace Hamel. She can find herself another job or another Moncrief.”

I haven’t had a chance to tell Katarina about my meeting with Ash and Rory, and I suspect it would freak her out even more if she knew Grace, the legend isn’t some meaningless dalliance. If she knew, she might come to the conclusion that delaying by another month is too long.

It’s not.

It’s too fucking short.

I turn onto my side and smooth back her hair before tracing the delicate lines of Katarina’s tensed jaw. Warmth floods that dark cavity deep inside my chest. “You’re alright, you know,” I say softly.

Instead of making some cutting remark to shake me from my stupor, Katarina rests her cheek against my hand. “If that’s sweet talk, you need to work on your technique.”

Personally, I think I’ve said more than I should, but when did that ever stop me from shooting my mouth off? “This could have been the start of something.”

“It was something,” she corrects, emotions catching in her throat.

“And it’s not over yet.” I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her fingers. She isn’t wearing her engagement ring. For this brief time, I can pretend she’s truly mine. “We just need to make sure Duke keeps his dick in his pants for the next few weeks.”

Two lines form between her brows. “I had hoped my uncle’s threats would be enough to keep in him line, but…”

I’m about to ask what threats, when I notice how Katarina won’t meet my eye. “What did you do, Kitty?”

She traces a wickedly long fingernail over my lower lip. “I might have suggested I’d tell my uncle about Grace.”

“You do realize Vasili would probably eliminate her as a potential threat?”