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“A deed that transfers control of his company to me.”
Bree stared down at the paper. “I hereby renounce all shares in Xendzov Mining OAO,” it read, “giving them freely and in perpetuity to my brother….”
She looked up, openmouthed. “He will never sign it.”
“You are a clever girl, with a flair for trickery and deceit.” Kasimir tilted his head. “For your sister’s sake, you will make him sign. Even if it causes you a small twinge of grief.” He walked slowly around her. “Your lies caused me a great deal of grief ten years ago. I am glad to finally see you and my brother suffer—together. I could not have it planned better.”
Bree’s heart gave a sickening thud.
“It was you,” she breathed. “You’re the one who arranged for us to be taken to Hawaii. You’re the one who bribed Greg Hudson to hire us.”
Kasimir smiled. “My brother was stuck there, bored out of his mind, attending the same poker game each week. I knew he had a weakness for you. I hoped seeing you would cause him pain.” Kasimir snorted. “Instead, you created an opportunity for justice I never could have imagined. You insinuated yourself into his life. Like a disease.”
“Even if his signature is obtained through trickery,” she said desperately, “it will never stand up in court.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about, do you?” he said coolly. “Bring the signed document to my house in Marrakech within three days.”
“And if I fail?”
He looked straight into her eyes, like an enemy looking over the barrel of a gun. “Then you’ll never see your sister again. She’ll disappear into the Sahara. And be mine. Forever.”
Bree shook her head with a weak laugh. “You’re joking.”
“I am a madman. Ask my brother. He knows.” Kasimir looked at her blue silk ball gown. “Your sister was frantic about you. She came to me, begging for help. She was willing to do anything to save you, even sacrifice her own soul.” His lips twisted into a sneer. “And for the last two hours I’ve watched you, drinking champagne, dancing in his arms, giggling like a whore.” She flinched as he growled, “So much for Josie’s sacrifice.”
Bree sucked in her breath, lifting her gaze. “You like her, don’t you?” she said slowly. “I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your voice. You don’t want to hurt her.”
Kasimir glared at her, gritting his teeth. “What I want is revenge. And I will have it.” Turning away, he said over his shoulder coldly, “You have three days.”
CHAPTER NINE
WITH a low curse, Vladimir shoved the short fat man out of the palace, into the dark, deserted garden.
“What the hell are you doing in St. Petersburg?” he demanded.
“I’m allowed to visit here, if I want. You don’t own this city, Xendzov,” Greg Hudson brayed in response, shivering in his badly fitting tuxedo. “It doesn’t belong to you!”
“Wrong,” Vladimir replied coldly, shoving him again. Moments before, in the middle of Bree’s innocent, tearful declaration, he’d seen Greg Hudson skulking near the buffet table. Vladimir had been overwhelmed by Bree’s three simple words. He hadn’t known how to react to them.
Seeing Greg Hudson, he’d known exactly what to do.
Fury had filled him at the sight of the man who’d insulted her, offering money to be on her list. He’d dragged him out of the ballroom, wanting to knock him to the ground and kick him repeatedly in his soft belly until he learned to respect women. Especially Vladimir’s woman. “You will leave this city and never come back.”
Hudson quivered like a rabbit. “Think you’re something big, do you, Mr. Hoity-Toity Prince? You have no idea how you’ve been played!”
Ignoring him, Vladimir lifted his fist. “Were you following her?”
The man flinched. “No! I swear! I just happened to be in town—” he looked up slyly “—to see your brother. The other prince.”
Vladimir slowly lowered his fist. “You know Kasimir?”
“He owes me money.”
“For what?”
The man looked smug.
Grabbing him with one hand, Vladimir lifted his other fist and thundered, “For what?”
