I haven’t even met them yet, and they already feel like a part of me, like I’ve been waiting for them all along.
I can’t keep this to myself for sixteen weeks, and I can’t wait that long to decide.
It’s eating away at me, at us, and Mason is bound to notice my growing stomach at some point.
Miss Deveroux sighs. “I got what you asked for. It’s in my office in the first drawer.”
I lift my gaze to hers and grimace. “I’m sorry. I hope no one gave you any trouble.”
Miss Deveroux covers my hand with hers and shakes her head. “I can handle myself. I’ll distract Katia while you get to the office, but make it quick.”
I slide off the stool and straighten my clothes.
Outside the bathroom hallway, I pause and glance back, relief coursing through me when I see Miss Deveroux waving Katia over. The assassin looks annoyed as she crosses to her and scowls. A heartbeat later, I feel my way down the dimly lithallway to Miss Deveroux’s office. As soon as the door clicks open, I dart in and nearly crash into her mahogany desk.
My heart is pounding as I rifle through the drawer, letting the light from the hallway spill into the room. When my fingers close around the boxes, I stuff them into my pocket. I make it back to the bathroom, noticing Katia and Miss Deveroux still locked in a conversation.
With a sigh, I go into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face.
I linger for a bit, waiting for my heart to stop thundering in my chest.
Katia is nowhere to be found when I come back out.
I frown and take a step in Miss Deveroux’s direction as a hand closes around my wrist. The scream dies on my lips when Katia’s face emerges, her expression furious. She tugs, and I lose my footing and stumble against her.
“I know what you’re doing, Princess.”
I tilt my head back to look up at her. “What are you talking about?”
Katia’s grip tightens on my wrist. “Unless you want me to tell Mason what you’ve been up to, you’re going to come with me, quietly.”
Fear and panic claw their way through me.
I shoot Miss Deveroux a panicked look before Katia drags me off.
We move through a maze of corridors until the back door opens into the balmy evening air. I struggle to match my pace to Katia’s, but the assassin doesn’t seem to care. She doesn’t slow down when I plead or beg, and she only quickens her pace when I lose my balance again and slam into her back.
The manor is quiet as we barge through the front door, and Katia pulls me up the stairs. As soon as we reach Mason’s wing, she shoves the door open and throws me in. I wheel to face her,and she kicks the door shut with the back of her leg. I clasp my hands behind my back and hope she hasn’t seen my tremor.
You didn’t honestly think the assassin wouldn’t notice, did you? Katia notices everything. It’s a miracle she hasn’t said anything before.
Will she go straight to Mason?
Or will she leverage the information?
I don’t like knowing my fate is in her hands again.
“I thought you were smarter than that, Blondie. You aren’t as careful as you think, and Miss Deveroux’s attempts at keeping me distracted are pathetic,” Katia says. “Whatever the hell she gave you, this ends now.”
My heart sputters and stops. “You don’t understand.”
Katia advances on me, and her expression darkens. “This only ends one way, Blondie, and I don’t see this going well for you, so let’s do this the easy way.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about, Katia.”
“Let me guess. The pressure is getting to you, huh? You’ve realized that it’s not all wild sex and power. Well, guess what? Everyone warned you, but you wouldn’t listen, and I know Mason gives you a lot of leeway, but I’ll be damned if I stand there and let you ruin things further.”
“Katia, I—”