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Dmitri smiles as the tent is lifted into the air. “I had my doubts,” he says. “He wanted you too much.” Without explaining, he casually walks away into the tent that is collapsing to one side. He begins to shout at the workers in Russian, and I pick up a few words—idiotandwrong.
Smiling, I walk back into the mansion, feeling a little cocky. Have I finally won Dmitri over? I don’t know why it should matter so much, but it does.
Andrei walks out onto the lawn dressed in a tuxedo, looking more gorgeous than ever. Even more than the day we met. I admire him for calling the police and staying with Kenney’s body until the police arrived. He’s right. Would a guilty man do that? And judging by the numerous RSVPs, others agree with me.
“Are you happy?” Andrei asks, holding me around the waist and brushing his lips against my cheek.
I nod. “I actually am,” I say, a little surprised. “I have a feeling that everything will go well.” I hesitate. “When will we tell her?”
“We don’t have to tell her yet,” he says, sliding his hand off me and looking off toward the distance. “Let her enjoy the evening, and in the morning, we talk business.”
Business.The word cuts sharper than it should, and I feel a pang of guilt. Tonight is all about finding a well-connected husband for Emma and not the lie we told her, a party to meet her school friends and connect with their influential families.
Andrei reaches around me; his hands place something cold and hard around my neck. My hand touches a necklace of sapphires and pearls, and I gasp at the heavy weight. It’s the Christie’s necklace.
I wrap my arms around Andrei, overwhelmed with both love and guilt. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He steps back and his fingers brush my cheek softly. “Anything to make you smile.”
My emotions are all over the place, swirling around inside me like the leaves on the ground by our feet.
I’m standing here by an extravagant mansion, wearing a designer dress with an expensive necklace around my neck, and next to my handsome husband.
By all means, I should be more than happy; I should be delirious with joy.
And I would be …
… if I wasn’t fearing for both my baby’s life and mine.
Chapter 27
Paige
The first guests arrive before 4:00 p.m. though the party is expected to last well after midnight. I’ve never seen the tall gates stand wide open before as I step out onto the front steps to greet our guests. I shake hands and welcome them by name, and Andrei stands by my side, looking proud.
I’m finally the wife he has always wanted.
Zhanna arrives with Stefan in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Ghost, and I make my way to the passenger’s side to greet them. She smiles graciously as she steps out of the car with Stefan’s help.
I note that she’s not dressed in the modern clothes I’ve become accustomed to seeing her in.
She is dressed as if she’s twice her age, in a white blouse with a high ruffled collar and a long black skirt. I realize the widow is a role she plays in public to maintain respect.
Longevity in the Bratva is an accomplishment few achieve.
“Welcome.” I bow over her outstretched hand as if we hardly know one another.
She pats my hand. “Thank you, Paige Geraldovna, for the invitation. You’ve met my grandson, Stefan?”
I smile sweetly at Stefan, but he barely returns my gaze. The young man is not as polite as he has been in the past. He cannot afford to be.
He hurries to climb the steps into the house, no doubt in search of Emma. His gaze travels quickly around the main hall, and I dismiss it as him checking out who is here, who might be a threat to him and Zhanna.
“Please, come.” I step aside for Zhanna. “Would you care for something to drink or eat?”
Zhanna glances down the hallway toward the room off the terrace. “Stefan will help me find a place to sit down.” She pauses as her grandson rejoins us. “Your husband has a good turnout. A lot of promising young people are here.”
My cheeks heat slightly, and I have trouble looking them in the eye. “We wanted to introduce more of them to Emma.”
