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My breath leaves my lungs. “No!”
“You let a child talk back to you, Alexei?” The man sneers, his beady eyes fixed on me. “I need a wife. I am running for mayor.”
“Here in Astoria?”
“Moscow.”
I stumble back. “Moscow? I don’t even speak Russian. I don’t want to live in Russia.”
“Hush! You will do as I tell you.” Papa’s anger sends chilling goosebumps across my skin. Everything is sharper because he’s crazed over Stasia.
I consider telling him about the postcards from her, but if Papa knows I’ve had a private mailbox all these years and never told him, I can’t imagine what he’ll do to me.
Just like Stasia, who learned of her fate to marry against her will and then left, I already know I must do the same. Perhaps Lachlan will help me. Ask his hacker brother to trace the postcards somehow to help me figure out where my sister is. Then lend me the money to go be with her.
I glance at Papa and then at the ugly man. He doesn’t look too eager to marry me, either. I pray he’ll go back to Moscow to make the preparations, giving me time to escape.
“Yes, Papa,” I say and run to my bedroom.
CHAPTER FIVE
Katya
Allmyassumptionsaredevastatingly wrong.
Since I learned of my forced engagement seven days ago, I quickly became a prisoner in the house. Papa took away my phone and my computer. He learned a harsh lesson from Stasia leaving and put a male guard at my door. There’s a rotation of female guards who watch my every move, even when I shower and pee.
Rahil didn’t go back to Russia. And I’m to wed him tomorrow. My head is spinning, and I feel like I’m caught in a nightmare I can’t wake up from.
A dressmaker showed up with wedding gowns a few days ago. When I refused to choose, Papa picked the most expensive one, but it’s also the ugliest.
With a female guard standing in the corner of my room, I stare out the window. All morning, strangers have been milling over the property, setting up for the engagement party tonight and the wedding tomorrow. It’s the same tent used for Stasia’s party, but doesn’t look as pretty. They dressed the tables with flowers and silk-wrapped chairs. Red roses everywhere make me think of blood.
To men like Papa, everything is a show to send messages. Flaunt his wealth and power. The mayor of Moscow is incredibly powerful, and Papa just aligned with him.
I can’t believe this is happening. Every second of every day I looked for an opening to escape, to run away. But unlike Stasia, I had no opportunity. Papa wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. He’s got me on lockdown. For the first time in my life, I consider violence. Papa carries a knife on him. I’m quick and light on my feet. I can grab that knife, hold it to his throat. Only, Papa is a giant, and I’m small and not very strong.
A gun. I must get my hands on a gun. I shake my head, knowing I could never pull the trigger to kill anyone. Papa says I look like a Koslov, but I’ve only ever feltMaman’skindness in my veins.
I’ve been a good girl all my life. Did what everyone told me to do. Lachlan fills my mind again, and I amble over to my bed to pray. If a man who has all the power in the world prays, there must be some magic that happens from prayers that he sees and feels.
His unique rosary of emeralds and what looked like diamonds comes to mind. I glance at the guard who keeps an even face, not even looking at me.
I don’t have a rosary, but I have my necklace with a gold cross. The only gift I got from Papa for my eighteenth birthday. I hold it and whisper the only prayer I know.
I’m barely one Hail Mary in when the door to my bedroom flies open. The guard pushes forward, but upon seeing Papa, she goes back to being a statue.
“You’re not dressed?” he says to me and stomps into my closet.
“Dressed for what? The party isn’t until tonight.”
“Rahil will be here any minute.” He comes out and tosses a pale lavender dress at me. “Put this on.”
“It would help to know the schedule you’ve created for me.” I stand up to him. “I’m almost twenty-one years old.”
“You’ve grown some courage, I see.” For the first time, he looks at me with respect.
“I have.” I square my shoulders, and consider this is a moment to beg him to tell Rahil to go back to Russia and find a wife there. I also consider telling him about the postcards, but he can accuse me of keeping that information from him.
