Page 59 of Then We Shatter

I’m not surprised when he grabs what’s left of my hair and forces me forward until my cheek presses hard against a window. The glass shudders, but I don’t cry out. I stare out across acres of lawn towards the spot where I’d been standing when the storm hit yesterday. For now, the skies are clear and the sea crystal blue. There are no landmarks in sight, but the fishing boats are back.

I don’t have much time to plan an escape, but I have more time than Kira had. With a good enough running jump…

Eric presses his face next to my ear. “Don’t even think about it,” he warns. “You’d never clear the rocks.”

When we hear the approach of sharp heels, Eric turns on Sasha. “You, keep away from her. She’s mine to play with. No one else’s.”

“You’re such a party-pooper, Eric. And there I was, about to offer help.”

“What kind of help?”

“You’re not contemplating having your new wife look like that, are you? Let me work on her and I’ll deliver the bride of your dreams by tomorrow evening.”

Keeping his forearm pressed against my back, Eric takes a small step back to appraise me. His blood smears my shoulder, but the wound is already healing. It’s his own fault for not taking the shears from me as soon as he grabbed me. Amateur. He’s lucky I only gave him a nick.

“What do you have in mind? She’s practically feral,” he says to Sasha. “Something else Vasili failed to mention.”

Sasha’s clipped footsteps draw nearer. “For the dress…” I feel her gaze looking me up and down. “Keep the bodice, it’s still intact but we’ll need a new skirt.” Her laugh is more of a chuckle this time. “I’ll ask Vivienne to make it removable to give you quicker access on your wedding night. You’ll already have your hands full keeping that one down.”

“But alas not full enough.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Sasha replies. “You’ve been complaining her tits aren’t big enough. Have you told her she’s booked in for a boob job yet?”

My grip on the shears tightens. I could still stab him, but I don’t need to see the two guards to know their guns remain trained on me. “I’m not going under the scalpel for any man.”

Eric leans in and trails his tongue over my shoulder, lapping up the smear of blood. “You’ll do as your husband tells you, cosmetic surgeries included,” he corrects. “It’s all in the contract.”

“Fuck you.”

“I can see you’re going to be quite a challenge.” He doesn’t sound displeased by the prospect. He’s proving to be one of those men who loves any excuse to express dominance.

“A thought occurs,” Sasha says as if suddenly struck by inspiration, when all her scheming is planned well in advance. “I might be able to ensure she’s in a better mood for you tomorrow.”

I scoff. “How are you going to do that? Will you deliver Grigor’s head on a platter?”

“That I can’t do, dear sestra. But there are the toys I gave you that’ll get you nice and worked up for the big event.”

Toys? Multiple?

I hadn’t looked inside the crocheted eggplant. I’d seen the crown of Killian’s molded cock and…

Eric releases the pressure on my back and checks the wound on his wrist. He’s scowling as I turn towards him, gripping the shears like a knife. Before he can react, I flip them so the handle points outwards, offering them up. If I’m going to die, it won’t be to kill this non-entity. There are others on the island I need to take out first.

My husband-to-be takes the shears. “Good girl.” He’s smirking when he turns to Sasha. “If you can manage to get my bride nice and wet for me by our wedding night, I’ll give you a million dollars.”

“I don’t want your money,” Sasha says innocently. “I simply want my sestra to be happy.”

Eric kisses my cheek before leaving me alone with my friend. Except we’re never alone. Alexei remains alert as I approach Sasha.

“You’re enjoying this a little too much, sestra.”

Sasha shrugs. “Call it pay back,” she replies. “But if you really don’t want to go through with the wedding, make a run for the cliffs by all means. That’s a sight I’d love to see.”

Chapter 22

Killian

Before