Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Sasha
The Vegas sunshine that greets me the moment I open my eyes mocks my dark mood.
Today is Katarina’s wedding.
I’m sure she’s in a far worse state than myself, but still. Her about-to-be husband made it clear that he’d let me know exactly how he’s going to punish me, after I become his sister-in-law.
The suspense is near killing me.
Asshole.
I sit up in bed, catching my reflection in the mirror. I’ve got dark circles under my eyes from the lack of sleep the past few nights.
Between worrying about Ryker and trying to come up with a new escape plan, I’ve barely slept.
Dimitri’s questions yesterday didn’t help. There was a bunch of cryptic bullshit about how I “felt” about Ryker. I feel like he’s the devil in an Armani suit.
I scrub my hands down my pale skin.
It’s all right. I don’t need to look good, I just need to get up there and stand next to my sister.
Pretend to be the dutiful bridesmaid.
And search for an opportunity to escape. Which is such a long shot.
With a groan, I push myself out of bed. The wedding is scheduled for midafternoon. It’s already late morning.
The Smiths offered to have the ceremony in the garden of their home, but Dimitri chose a local chapel for the service instead.
I’m sure he thought adding a religious element made the union more meaningful, and maybe it does. Maybe it will help Katarina better accept her future. Enter into the arrangement with grace.
I turn on the shower. Enter is the wrong word. The proper term is forced. There can be no mistaking that and my gut twists again, trying to imagine how I’d feel if I were her.
I scrub myself down, using a whole bunch of fancy face cream to try and treat my puffy skin.
Then, wrapping myself in a robe, I head out to the kitchen to make myself a cappuccino.
I’ll give this apartment credit on one account. It’s equipped with excellent appliances along with the top-of-the-line finishes.
Making my way out into the kitchen, I fill the milk container to froth the milk, and then fire up the espresso maker, the smell of the double shot of espresso already infusing me with a bit of fortification.
I think I’m going to need a second cup. I take the large mug, gulping down the foamy milk and dark espresso with a sigh. Small pleasures.
“What a beautiful day for a wedding,” Ava, Dimitri’s wife, chirps behind me.
I turn to look at my sister-in-law and try not to frown at her wide-open smile. When did she get here? When did she start visiting so much?
Like I said, she’s very nice. But today is not a day for optimism. “Today is exactly as sunny as the day before, and the day before that. Vegas is strange and the optimism the sun brings is manic.”
She gives a small laugh. “Right. Russia probably doesn’t have this much sunshine.”
It does not. I thought more sun would make me happier. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I take another big gulp of cappuccino, noting that Ava’s hair has been artfully arranged already. “Who did your hair?”
“I did it myself,” she pats the strands. “Dimitri said he’d hire someone, but I’m just used to doing these tasks without spending money.”
I nod. I really like that about Ava. She worked her way through college, got a job on her own, a good one, saved loads of money. “It looks really nice.”
I’ve been imprisoned for all my adult life. I’d love a chance to prove myself, take a crack at really living.
Not that Ava didn’t pay dearly for her independence. I know Ava had a really tough childhood in a completely different way from mine. She’s an orphan and that must have been awful.
But she’s also been free to make her own life, and I admire that so much.
It’s exhausting, being at the mercy of every man in my life.
“Thank you, Sasha.” Then she hesitates. “I could help you with yours if you want.”
Now I do frown. Katarina and I have never done the sister bonding thing. We did a bit when we were little. But our father would separate us every time we’d get close. At some point, I guess we gave up.
And as much as I’d like to take Ava up on her offer, I’m not sure I can trust her. She is Dimitri’s wife.
What if she’s only offering to pump me for information? Use what she learns to help Dimitri seal some awful fate for me?
What if years of living with my father has turned me into the kind of person who can never connect with anyone? “I’m not sure I need…”
“Nonsense. We’re both standing up there as bridesmaids. Let’s having matching updos.”
And then she claps her hands, giving me a wide-open grin.
With only the smallest wince, I nod. With another clap, she follows me into my room.
Another double shot of espresso and an hour later, my hair is elaborately arranged in artful pieces at my nape.
It’s elegant, sophisticated and, pulled back, it accentuates my large eyes and delicate features.
It would be easier to resent Ava if she hadn’t done such a wonderful job.
“Should we get our dresses on?” she asks, her enthusiasm evident. I get it. I think.
Marrying my brother has brought her great joy. She sees matrimony as a blessed event, whereas Katarina and I both view it as a life sentence.
Speaking of my sister…
“I will. In just a moment. I should check on Katarina.”
“Of course,” Ava agrees with a quick nod. “I went in earlier, but it was clear she didn’t want help.”
My brows lift, realizing I was second choice for sister bonding. That tracks. Leaving my room, in full hair and makeup, but still in a robe, I knock on Katarina’s door. “Kat?”
When she doesn’t answer, I knock again, some sick dread settling in the pit of my stomach. Katarina was always better equipped for escape than I ever could be…
But ten seconds later, she opens the door, and relief makes me curl forward as I lean against the door. Her makeup is also done, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail at the nape that looks chic and sophisticated.
The only word to describe her is stunning. “Hey, Sash.”
Something in the way she says my name pricks at the back of my brain. I swear there is a note of pity. For me. Today. I must be wrong because that makes no sense. “You hangin’ in there?”
“I’m fine,” she says, looking as calm as I’ve ever seen her. “You?”
“Me? Of course,” I lie, my grin of support surely plastic. “It’s you I’m worried about.”
Her mouth hardens. “Don’t worry about me, little sister. Take care of yourself.” And then she closes the door.
Katarina and I have always had an “every woman for herself” dynamic but even for her, that was…
Why did I offend her as I attempted to offer her some support?
I go back to my room, Ava gone, probably to change, and I pull my own dress out of the bag. We’re wearing gowns of shimmering gray green, which highlights my eyes.
I run my hand over the strapless, floor-length gown and sigh. At least I’ll look good.
I haven’t eaten yet but I’m not hungry either, my stomach churning with nerves.
So I toss off my robe and pull on the dress and strappy silver sandals.
I didn’t bring any jewelry from Russia. Unlike Katarina, who came to get married, I didn’t think I’d be staying, so most of my things are at my father’s house.
It doesn’t matter today though. There is a simple appeal to my neck and chest being exposed. Drawing in a breath, I leave my room at the same time as Katarina enters the hall.
She’s still in leggings and a tank top, a bag over her shoulder and a suitcase behind her. My gaze narrows. I was under the impression that she and Ryker would be living in the penthouse apartment above us. “Why the suitcase? Aren’t you coming back to this very building?”
Her jaw hardens. “I never intend to step foot in this apartment again.”
I stare at my sister, my senses tingling with danger once again.
“There you both are,” Dimitri rumbles from the other end of the hall. “We’ve got to leave or we’re going to be late.”
Katarina draws in a breath and starts toward him. But as she passes me, she stops and looks down at me, her features tight with tension. “Take care of yourself, Sash.”
I shake my head. “I’m just going to be two floors below you, Kat. There’s no need to—”
“Everything is going to be different after today,” she says, her gaze sliding away from mine, before she starts down the hall again.
I stare at her back, her words ringing in my ears. They’re true. It will be different. The brother we thought would save us, is delivering her to her doom. No one is going to save either of us, and we can’t pretend a white knight is on his way.
The loneliness of our predicament hits me full in the chest. I wish I’d done more to help Katarina. I should have been a better sister. We could have helped each other. “Katarina,” I call as she turns toward me, “I’m sorry that—”
“Don’t be sorry, Sash. You and me, we’re going to be all right.” Then she starts down the hall again. I stand there for another moment wondering what in the world she means by that.
Drawing in a breath, I follow her out to the living room, where she hands the gown to Ava. “Would you be a dear and bring this to the chapel for me?”
“I’d be happy to,” Ava chirps with a wide smile. “You know I’ll help in whatever way I can.”
Dimitri checks his watch. “The cars are waiting. We should go.”
Katarina gives the smallest nod. “I’ll take the second car.”
“I’ll go with you,” Dimitri offers, stepping up next to her.
“I’d rather go alone,” she says, drawing herself up. “I need a minute to myself.”
“You’ve been by yourself all morning,” Dimitri grouses. “Now is the time—”
“Are you coming with me into the marriage too?” she bites back. “Want to be there when we consummate?”
Dimitri’s lip curls. “That is just ridiculous.”
“I can go with you, Kat,” I say, knowing I’m liable to get my head bitten off, but I do it anyway. “If you need company.”
“I don’t—” she starts, her tone sharp, but then she stops again, settling herself. “Thanks, Sasha, but I’d rather be alone before what I’m certain is going to be a crazy day.”
I give a nod and all of us pile into the elevator, and out to the parking garage where two matching black sedans wait, one in front of the other. A third pulls in, likely for the nanny and Dimitri’s daughter, Anna.
I wish my niece was riding with us. She’s been the brightest part of the last month by far.
Dimitri climbs into the front next to the driver, and Ava and I slide into the back.
Katarina gets into the second car, her driver loading her suitcase into the trunk as we start to pull away.
Strapping on my seatbelt, I smooth out my dress.
Katarina is right about one thing…today is going to be a crazy day, and I am going to sigh with relief when it’s over.