Page 25 of Cruel Honor

“Of course. Let’s go talk in my room.”

“No,” Dimitri says. “We’re going to talk. All three of us.”

Katya gives him a look like he’s delusional. “I’m getting my best friend a new dress. You’re not coming.” She hurries me into her bedroom. It’s bigger and grander than I ever could have imagined. In all the years I’ve known Katya, I’ve always wondered what her house looked like. I knew she came from money, unlike me. My dad wasn’t poor, but he was by no means wealthy either. This mansion and this bedroom are so different from the life I’ve lived.

But because it’s Katya, I feel right at home.

She grabs me a pair of loungewear pants and a soft crop-top. “Here. These will fit.”

I’m a lot shorter than her, so the pants flare out on the ground, but it’s nice to be clothed again.

“So, explain,” she says, sitting down on her bed.

“There’s so much to say,” I whisper as I slump next to her, feeling tears hit my eyes. “I almost died, Katya.”

“That man?”

“Yes. Dima. He’s a serial killer. He had me on his table. I think it’s where he’s killed the other women I’ve seen on the news.”

She covers her mouth with her hand. “God. Evie, are you ok?”

“No. I mean, yes. I don’t know. Dimitri saved my life. I’m so grateful for that. But …”

“But?”

What I’m about to say will change everything between us.

“Evie, talk to me.”

I sigh and rest my head on her shoulder so I don’t have to look her in the eye. “Dimitri said he wants to protect me from Dima … by marrying me.”

“What!?” She stands up so fast that I fall to the bed. “He wants to marry you?”

“Yes,” I respond, pushing myself back up. “I know. It’s crazy.”

Katya is already out the door before I’m finished speaking. I quickly follow her. Dimitri is lounging against a wall in the living room, looking way too nonchalant.

“You,” Katya barks.

He looks up from his phone. “Yes?”

She rips it from his hands and throws it to the ground, making it break.

“Jeez, Katya,” Dimitri mutters. “Now, I need to get a new phone.”

“You can’t marry Evie! She’s my friend.”

“So?”

“So? That’s weird!”

“Weirder things have happened before. Besides, did you consider the fact that Evie would live here? Hell, it would probably just bring you two closer as friends.”

Katya hesitates. I see it the moment it happens. No. She can’tactually be considering this. I need Katya on my side, opposed to this crazy idea of marriage.

“Katya,” I say.

She shakes herself. “Dimitri, it’s still weird. You can’t make Evie marry you.”

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