There was a knock at the door. I craned my neck as a big, bald man stepped into the room wearing a cheap black suit and looking supremely uncomfortable. He had an earpiece and a rifle slung over his shoulder.
“Miss, uh, Winter,” he said, avoiding eye contact. “You have a guest.”
“I have a guest?” I looked at Penny, eyes wide. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
“What’s going on, Pavlo?” Penny stood up and walked toward him.
“Miss Penny, I was told to escort this woman here. She’s been thoroughly searched and is no threat, but I can send her away if you’d rather.”
“Who is it?” I asked, extremely curious.
“Her name is Roza. She is Roman’s personal assistant.”
I exchanged a look with Penny then gestured for her to come in.
Pavlo stepped aside and a young, attractive women with dark hair waltzed into the room.
She was model pretty. Big lips, thick hair. She exuded confidence as she looked around. Her clothes were simple, modest, business casual, and she held a wrapped box under one arm.
Pavlo stepped close to her. “You behave. I will be outside.”
“I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.” Roza smiled at him sweetly.
He left and closed the door behind him.
I stood up as Penny lingered to the side, looking uncomfortable. I guessed she knew who Roza was.
“How is she?” I blurted out.
Roza smiled and shook her head. “I knew you’d ask about her first. Roman said you wouldn’t, but I knew you would.”
Roman’s name darkened my mood. “He can go fuck himself then, that piece of trash. He nearly got me killed twice.”
Roza’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t know anything about that.”
“Then you don’t know your employer. How’s Cassie?”
“She’s doing great. Honestly, she’s as happy as I’ve ever seen her. She’s struggling with this situation and misses you like crazy, but she’s happy.”
I nodded slowly. “Good. That’s what I wanted to hear.” Even if it did hurt. Some selfish part of me wanted her to be languishing inside that big Avalon beach house crying constantly.
“When she heard about the wedding, she wanted to send a present.” Roza held a small box out.
It was thin and wrapped with white paper with a brown satin bow.
I gestured at the side table. “You can put it there.”
She dropped it off without missing a beat. “I wish I could stay, but I was told I’d have five minutes.”
“Can you tell Cassie I miss her? And that I’m okay?”
“I’ll tell her whatever you want. She said to say she loves you and wants you to come home.”
“I’ll come home as soon as I can. And I love her too and miss her. And things are complicated.”
“That’s an understatement.” Roza smiled again and put her hands on her hips. “If it makes you feel any better, Cassie talks about you all the time. Just because she’s happy doesn’t mean she’s not broken up about all this.”
That did make me feel better, but I didn’t say so. I glanced at Penny, who had a strange, clouded look on her face. “Thanks for coming.”
“No problem. I’m not all that important so I doubt Darren would bother murdering me on his wedding day.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I walked with Roza to the door and spoke quietly. “Are you sure Cassie’s okay? She’s not in danger? Roman really did try to kill me.”
Roza shook her head, looking concerned. “I really don’t know anything about that, but I’ll look into it.”
“Just make sure Cassie’s fine.”
She squeezed my arm. “Good luck with the wedding. There’ve been a lot of those lately.”
Then she was gone, slipping out into the hallway.
The door closed again and I stared at it, trying to keep myself from sobbing.
Cassie, my old life, it was all stretched out behind me. No matter what I did, I always seemed to get steered along in whatever direction, lost and tumbling.
No matter how hard I tried to be strong on the outside, I was still myself on the inside. Still that scared, confused girl.
I hated it, but couldn’t change.
“That must’ve been hard,” Penny said gently.
I looked back at her. “I don’t plan on backing out. No matter what.”
“I know you don’t.”
“I never asked for any of this. Your brother kidnapped me. But if being his wife means I can keep my friend alive and maybe help stop this stupid war, I’ll do it.”
Penny walked over and took my hands. “Do you really mean that?”
“Of course. Cassie’s my best friend.”
She shook her head. “The part about the war. Do you really want to end it?”
I blinked and squeezed her hands. “Absolutely.”
“Good. I’ll help you. Whatever you need.”
That surprised me. My mouth opened, but nothing came out for a few long seconds. “Why?”
“Because my brother’s too far gone to see how worthless all this fighting is. The Oligarchs had a rule about not attacking their own, but that rule’s been squashed and thrown aside, and I’m afraid that the violence will only get worse if we don’t do something.”