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But if he didn’t…
Oh, God. She couldn’t even think of it.
Going down the hallway, she looked in his office. It was empty. Her cheeks grew hot as she saw the desk where they’d made love so passionately last night. Then she stiffened. With an intake of breath, she rushed into the room and rifled quickly through the documents now stacked neatly on his desk, intending to destroy the contract before Vladimir ever saw it.
Then she gasped. Lifting the page, she stared at his scrawled signature.
He’d done it.
He must have had no idea what he was signing. But he’d transferred his company to his younger brother.
Bree closed her eyes, holding the paper to her chest. Why had he finally decided to love her now, of all times? It had taken Vladimir ten years to trust her again. It would take a single act for her to wipe that trust off the earth forever.
But what if this was a sign? What if this was the universe telling her what to do?
Midnight tonight was the deadline to save her sister, and Bree held in her hands the golden ticket. And unlike Vladimir’s mercy, it was guaranteed. She could exchange it for Josie, then return to Russia and beg for Vladimir’s forgiveness. After all, if anyone was going to be thrown on his mercy, shouldn’t it be Bree herself, not her helpless younger sister?
Even if I give Kasimir this contract, it’ll never stand in any court, she told herself. Vladimir was powerful, well connected. He would be fine.
Even if he had enemies aplenty who would rejoice to see his downfall….
I’m in love with you, Breanna. She whimpered as she remembered the dark midnight of Vladimir’s eyes, the hoarse rasp of his voice. I never stopped loving you.
With a choked sob, she ran upstairs. Not letting herself look at the mussed-up sheets of the bed where he’d held her last night as she wept, she packed up her duffel bag, tucking the paper beneath her passport.
“Are you leaving?”
Looking up with an intake of breath, she saw Vladimir in the doorway, wearing a black button-down shirt and black trousers. His face was half-hidden in the shadow.
She swallowed. “Yes.” She turned away. “You set me free. So I’m going.” Forgive me. I can’t take the chance.
He exhaled, and came closer. When she clearly saw his face, she nearly staggered back, shocked at the luminous pain in his eyes. Then she blinked, and it was gone.
“I have a plane waiting to take you wherever you want to go,” he said.
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“You knew I would leave?”
“Yes.” Lifting his gaze to hers, he whispered, “But I hoped you wouldn’t. I hoped you could—love me—enough.”
Her heart was slamming against her chest. She wanted to sob, to throw her arms around him, to pull out the contract and rip it up in front of his eyes. “Perhaps I’ll come back.”
“Perhaps,” he said, but his lips twisted. “And Snowy? Are you leaving her behind?”
“Of course not,” Bree said, shocked. “I wouldn’t abandon her!”
“No,” he replied quietly. “I know that. You wouldn’t abandon anyone you truly loved.”
Bree swallowed. “Vladimir, I told you the truth. I do love you. But I—”
“You don’t have to explain.” His eyes met hers. “Just be happy, Bree. That’s all I want. All I’ve ever wanted.”
“Your great-grandmother’s necklace is on the nightstand,” she said in a small voice.
“That was a gift.” Picking up the necklace, he held it out to her. “Take it.”
