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She puts her hands on her hips and does a little twirl around. Kenzie, Larysa, and Skyla, my other future sisters-in-law, clap and hoot as Alexis twerks in my direction. I nearly choke on my laughter.
“Holy crap, you could bounce a quarter off that thing, it’s so tight,” Tori says with a trace of wistfulness in her voice. She peeks around to her own ass, wincing as she turns back to us. “My ass will never be that perky and tight again. And I haven’t even popped out the kid yet.”
“Look, one thing I’ve learned is that you never know what tomorrow brings, girls.” Alexis turns to face me, her long curled hair draping one bronze shoulder. “So live for the fucking day. That includes pushing the envelope on wedding wear.” She pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “Things can end at any time, Val. When you least expect them to. I won’t waste a second being unhappy or something I’m not.”
Kenzie positions the cathedral-length veil on Alexis’s head and hands her a long-stemmed red lotus, which I know is her favorite flower. “Perfect.”
“At least something is covering me for the walk.” Alexis winks at me. I guess she’s used to being the center of attention since she has her own Netflix show.
Then you have me on the opposite end of the spectrum. I’ve managed to survive the past years by embracing anonymity and being skilled at fading into the background.
Fame is never something I’ve craved. It’s been more of a fear than anything else.
Alexis turns and adjusts her veil with one hand, but my eyes focus on the lotus. Red droplets bead along the sides of the petals and slide onto her hand. My eyes catch each one, watching as they stain Alexis’ skin. I blink fast.
Maybe I reallyhavehad too much champagne.
Tori links her arm with mine. We leave our flutes on a glass table and follow Alexis out of the flowy white tent. She leans her head close to mine. “I love you. Please stay this time.”
I smile, the lie on the tip of my tongue. But instead, I don’t say a word. I told Taras what he needed to hear on the day of his wedding. Let them believe I’m back for good. Soon enough, I will be.
My eyes drop to the white paper leading us to the flower-encrusted arch at the edge of the cliff. Drops of red form a path. I tiptoe around them, careful not to smudge them. When I look up again, Alexis is already at the end of the aisle with Taras.
Maybe this is more of her shaking things up and being unconventional.
Because what kind of bride leads the wedding party to the groom when it should be the other way around?
The officiant stares past Alexis and Taras, his dark eyes latching on to mine, daring me to look away. I stop next to a row of chairs, my flip-flops rooted to the sand. Tori hip checks me into the row and I gather my dress in my hands and sit. He speaks but I can’t hear a word. I just follow the movement of his lips with my eyes.
White and red lotus flowers weave together to form the tight arch over the bride and groom. In the dusky moonlight, droplets of bright red fall from the top of the arch. They land on Taras’s shirt, seeping into the fabric like blossoming flowers. Red beads splash onto the soft white tulle of Alexis’s veil.
But they don’t notice a thing. They just hold hands and stare into each other’s eyes, lost in their own world. My pulse rockets when my gaze scrapes over the neck of the officiant.
I jump out of my chair.
“His tattoo,” I scream, my hands flying up to my throat.
The four-pronged pitchfork pointed downward. I’ve seen it before. I saw it that night.
But nobody moves. They all look at Taras and Alexis, oblivious to everything else.
Did I say it out loud? Or did I—?
Splotches of red explode in front of me like paintballs, hitting Alexis and Taras. They jerk and buckle as if in slow motion. Luka turns and reaches for something behind him, a splash of red hitting him square in the chest. Nik and Danil run to their fiancées… too late. They dive into the sand, sinking into deep red puddles. I yell, but the only sound filling my ears is that of the now choppy sea. It thrashes against the cliff, the waters rising and rising until the waves reach the tip of the cliff like a tsunami.
The water continues to rise. My family lies sprawled all over the sand. The only person still standing other than me is the officiant. He steps over Alexis and Taras, slowly making his way to me. Another wave comes barreling for the cliff. The pitchfork tattoo tugs at my gaze. I grip the back of the chair. Wind picks up speed and strength. The officiant’s lips form words I can’t hear or understand. A deep ache tears at my chest, my lungs squeezed tight like they’re being pressed together in a vise.
I can’t help anyone. I can’t save them.
Sea spray shoots up from the next wave, soaking my face and dress. It practically touches the deep blue sky, swirling over me like a dark and threatening cloud before it swallows me into the abyss.
***
I shoot straight up in my bed, a sharp scream tearing at the sides of my throat as it erupts from my lips. Staggering toward the window, I peer out at the swaying palm trees surrounding my apartment in Las Vegas.
That dream had to be some manifestation of the stress plaguing me. We’re so close to finding Branko Ivanova, the enemy that turned our world upside down and inside out.
He won’t escape this time. I can’t let that happen again.
