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When the alarm goes off, indicating I need to start working on my hair, I feel like I might be sick. This gets Ivan’s attention while he starts his own preparations. “What’s wrong?”
I hold my curling iron and stare at him in the mirror. “I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling. Can’t we stay home tonight? Doesn’t Adrian have all the protection he needs already in place?”
“Don’t ask me not to be there for him. I can’t do that. When he walks into the fire, I will be at his side.”
The boulder shifts and grows. “But you drag me in as well. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
I finish the curl and set the hot iron on the bathroom counter. “I just worry about what’s going to happen tonight. How will we know if something is up?”
Ivan pulls me close to stare down the line of my body, studying my black lingerie. “I pretty much assume there is always something up. That way, I’m already prepared.”
I turn in his arms and press my chest to his bare one. “What if we stay here, and you punish me for making us miss the event?”
He tilts my chin and wraps his hand around the back of my neck, and I love when he does it. When his fingers close around half my neck, it makes me feel so cherished and owned—but in a way that makes me feel special, not pathetic.
“We have to go, Priscilla. I won’t hear anything else about staying home.”
I reach for his still-open zipper. “Are you sure?”
He snaps his hand around my wrist and pulls my hand away. “If you keep it up, I’ll save your punishment until we get home. So don’t keep pushing me.”
I sigh and face the mirror again, returning to curling my hair. I didn’t think my teasing would convince him, but I had to try. Especially when leaving for this party is making me want to puke.
He watches me in the mirror, but I keep my eyes on my hair, trying to hide the tears building in my eyes. I know this is a bad idea. I feel it in my gut, but I don’t have a way to convince him, and he obviously doesn’t love or trust me enough to believe me when I try to explain.
A few minutes into curling my long hair, he is mostly dressed and staring at me from the doorway. “Why are you so upset, Malyshka? Tell me.”
I shake my head and focus on gathering my curls into an elaborate twist at the nape of my neck. “I just have a bad feeling. I can’t explain it. My stomach is twisted in knots, and I think I’m just being ridiculous. I’ve never been to a society event, but I’ve heard horror stories about complete slaughters that can occur there.”
He takes the pins from the counter and gently slides them in the places I indicate. “The slaughter mostly happens at the beginning of the season, not the end. Most are tired of the bloodshed by the closing party and want to get back to peace.”
“Do you know who is going to be there? Should I be worried I might see a former client?”
His fingers tighten against my hair, then relax. “If you do, and they make you feel disrespected in any way, please let me know.”
I roll my eyes even though he’s not looking at my face. “Why? So you can kill them immediately.”
“Why not? This is my last chance to get it out of my system. I’ll fucking chop him in pieces in the middle of the dance floor, and the entire assembly will simply shift around the growing puddle of blood.”
I pull his hands down to look at him. “Didn’t you say the slaughter is at the beginning?”
He bends down, kissing me gently. Then spins me toward the bedroom. “There are always exceptions. People give me a wide berth. If someone sees me with you, they will do the same for you. At least if they have any sense.”
I dress with his help and occasional groping as he enjoys the different textures over my skin.
Once we are ready to leave, he loads himself up with weapons and slides a knife into my clutch. “Just in case.”
I don’t argue, and we head to the penthouse. Everyone is already there when we arrive. Andrea and Alexei look every inch the twins they are, wearing the same color. My dress is black velvet and hugs every inch of my body. Andrea is wearing silk, and Valentina, with her rounded belly, is dressed head to toe in sparkling knit. Even as pregnant as she is, she looks incredible and so much more poised than me.
Even though my dress is beautiful, I feel like I don’t belong. Kai’s wife, Rose, is wearing a suit like the men, but her curves make it even sexier than they look.
