Page 102 of Queen’s Gambit

“You are not welcome here,” she told Christov before addressing the spa staff. “Can you please give us a moment?”

The girls nodded and seemed relieved to be out of the middle of what was about to go down as they slipped out.

Mother turned her glare back to Christov.

“Did you not hear me? I said you’re not welcome here.”

“Fine, I’ll go. But I booked myself for the week, so I’ll be around.”

He turned away, but my mother grabbed his arm.

“You will leave this hotel and this country immediately.”

She snapped her fingers, and not only did Vlad and Mylo walk over, but so did her guards.

“If you don’t, then I’ll make sure that Vadin cancels this farce of a wedding,” she growled.

“You don’t have the power to do that,” Christov snarked, scowling at my mother.

“Oh yeah? Try me and watch how quickly your father is no longer sitting on the board of Mikhailov Industries.” His smirk faded. “And if you ever threaten my daughter like that again, I’ll have my guards gut you. Now are you going to leave on your own, or do you need to be unceremoniously thrown out on your ass?”

My mouth dropped open. I’d never, not once, heard my mother speak so forcefully. For the first time in my life, it felt like she not only understood me but was truly on my side.

Christov’s jaw twitched, and anger filled his eyes as he glanced at me before giving a curt nod to my mother.

“I guess I’ll be leaving.” He looked around. “This wasn’t that nice of a place to stay anyway.”

“Leave the country. That’s an order,” Mother said, but when Christov moved to the side, I spotted Alina by the pool.

“Wait,” I said and then pointed. “That’s his mistress. She needs to go as well.”

Mylo immediately marched over. Alina looked terrified with the massive guard bearing down on her.

“You dare come here to check up on my daughter and bring a whore with you?”

I didn’t know what shocked me more, the fact that my mother used the word whore or that she pushed Christov in the chest.

“You’ll be lucky if Vadin doesn’t have you castrated the moment you step off the plane.”

Christov looked dumbfounded while Frida tried to cover her giggle.

“Take your trash and get out. Don’t ever disrespect my family like this again, Christov, or I’ll make sure you pay,” she threatened before looking up at her guard. “I don’t trust him. Make sure that they are safely on their plane and take off. I want to be notified if he simply buzzes around like a fly before landing again.”

He nodded and snatched Christov’s arm. Vlad didn’t hesitate to grab the other. We watched as Christov and Alina were dragged out, but it was the look in Christov’s eyes that told me he intended to get his revenge. How? I didn’t know, but he would make me pay.

What just happened? I couldn’t read anyone’s lips.

I quickly signed what was said in the exchange, and she covered her mouth.

I don’t trust Christov. He has a darkness inside him.

Neither do I.

“I don’t believe the nerve,” Mother said after they were gone.

“Thank you for making him leave,” I said as I stood up and hugged her. “You have no idea how much what you just did means to me.”

Mother smoothed back my wildly blowing hair.