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“Do what? Give hi a ball and chain? You’re not only ha his chances of getting out of this alive”

Clenching , I turn to face her “What are you trying to say, Dania?”

“If Alex ith one after my fiancé’s attacker By now, the threat to my future husband would be nonexistent”

My grip tightens “Bullshit”

“You don’t realize hoerful my father is” Her expression is rueful “It’s safe to say we’re not going to be friends anyti we have in coree on, aht?”

“Exactly” I narrowto make?”

“Hanging on to him is a selfish move, Kate You’re not from our world I told you that once already, and if you didn’t believe ht Look at the people at our table Do you think you fit in? You can’t even speak our language If you cared about Alex at all, you’d set hiood and long life My father can eet the man who threatens his future son-in-law and therefore his only daughter’s future”

“You’re delusional,” I say,to walk away

She locks her fingers aroundme back “Is this the kind of life you want? Forever under Alex’s thu where he lets you—if he lets you?”

I pull free “You don’t know anything about Alex and me”

“And you don’t knoorks in our world, but I think you’re beginning to realize that St Petersburg isn’t New York You won’t have a job here and go out to ood, you’ll be like a bratva wife You won’t have a say Your opinion won’t ain”

That strikes a nerve, a painful one, but I pullsmile “And it will be different for you?”

“It will be, because enev, and I’ me a pitiful look, she asks, “Who is your father?”

The arrow hits e has never bothered me before, and I hate that this woman has the power to make it matter

“Oneyou need to know about Alex,” she continues, “is that he doesn’t fall in love Ever”

Of everything she’s said, those words hit me the hardest “You don’t know that”

Mybecause her expression turns full of pity “Why do you think he’s never told you that he loves you?”