“I’m sorry.” Tears sting my eyes. “But it’s what Mikhail wants.”

Mila turns to him. “Can’t she stay here? Can’t you live here?”

“I’m afraid not,” he tells her. “My business is in Russia, so that’s where Sofiya and I will live.”

“I’ll miss you,” Mila sobs, hugging me. I hold her back tightly. This is what I was afraid of—leaving behind my baby sister to the likes of Boris. She’ll truly be on her own now.

“Mikhail,” I say over the top of Mila’s head. “Can you give us a minute?”

He nods and leaves the room.

“It’s ok,” I whisper to Mila, hugging her tighter. “We can talk all the time. And I’m sure I can convince Mikhail to let you come and visit.”

“You better. I don’t know who I am without you.”

Vik rolls her eyes. “Stop being dramatic, Mila. It’s not like Sofiya is dying.”

“You don’t sound so upset over this,” I say to her, letting Mila go.

“That’s because I’m not. You got Mikhail. You win. But as long as you’re gone, that will give me a chance to find a husband of my own. A worthy one. And since you’ll be gone, you won’t be competition any longer. So, go to Russia. I don’t care.”

I sigh. “Vik, don’t be like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like this.” I wave my hand at her. “Petty. Let’s at least say goodbye on friendly terms.”

“How can I be friendly when you get to marry the man I want to marry?”

“Do you think I want to marry him?” I snap. “With a man like Mikhail, you don’t exactly get a choice. He chose me, Viktoriya. And now I have to leave my home and my family behind. You think I’m happy about this? I’m terrified. And you don’t care.”

For a moment, Vik’s eyes soften, but they quickly harden again. “Just say goodbye and get it over with. I’m tired of talking. I’m the one who’s in pain here, remember? I have a broken ankle, and you’re marrying the man I want. If anyone has the right to be upset, it’s me. I’m assuming you’ll call when you get to Russia?”

“Yes.”

“Then, fine. Bye. Have a nice trip.” She doesn’t mean any word of it.

I stare at my sister a moment longer before turning back to Mila. “Be safe. Be careful.”

“When am I not?” she asks with her large doe eyes.

“If Boris tries to get you alone, you run.”

Mila’s eyes widen. “What?”

“You heard me. Stay safe.” I look at Vik. “You have to keep her safe.”

“I always do,” Vik says.

With a smile for Mila and a nod at Vik, I leave the room and join Mikhail in the hallway.

“Ready to go?” he asks.

“Yes,” I tell him, even though I’m not ready at all.

Chapter

Four

SOFIYA

“How did you find me?” I ask Mikhail after we return to his car and leave the hospital. Is this the last time I’ll ever see my sisters? I keep the hospital in my sights for as long as I can until Mikhail turns a corner, and it’s lost from view.

“Mmm?” He keeps his eyes on the road, for which I’m glad. I can barely think when he looks at me, and right now, I need to be able to think. I’m leaving and moving to another country with a man I don’t know. I don’t speak Russian. I don’t know anything about Russia. My parents are dead, and I’m separated from my sisters. Mikhail has all the power.

“At the church,” I clarify. “How did you find me there?”

“I was at your show and went backstage after Viktoriya got hurt. When I didn’t see you, I knew something had happened. So, I left and saw Boris take off in his car, you with him. I followed.”

I’m unsure if I consider it a good thing or not that Mikhail found me. I prefer being around him than Boris, but something tells me Mikhail is much more dangerous than Boris.

Boris is an insecure man grasping at straws to stay in control, whereas Mikhail is the man in control. He’s the powerful one. He’s the one who owns everyone else.

Mikhail is the one I cannot escape.

And for that reason, I know he’s more dangerous.

“What will happen after we get to Russia?”

“We’ll be married. You’ll live with me. We’ll be husband and wife.”

I’m afraid to ask, but I have to. “What does … being husband and wife entail? To you?”

He flicks his gaze at me and then back at the road. That one small moment has already left me breathless. “You’ll be on my arm at social gatherings. We’ll spend our days together when I’m not working. You’ll support me.”

“Oh. Ok.” Now, I’m too afraid to ask anything else. I wonder what “spending our days together” means to Mikhail.

“I’ll expect you in my bedroom at night,” he adds, making me freeze.

“Your … bedroom?”

“You look terrified. Do I repulse you?”

I find myself leaning toward the door, away from him. “No. You don’t repulse me.” You terrify me, but you don’t repulse me.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about your lips since I first saw you.”

I blush. “At the funeral?”