Page 28 of The Brutal Arrangement

“They won’t,” she said, lacking the confident tone I’d come to associate with her. “No. Listen, Lucy. They’ve got to be countingon this marriage arrangement being a trick from my uncle, so they’ll be cautious with you there. I’m certain they’ll receive you and go through this only long enough until they can figure out what my uncle is up to. They have to know this is a game. They’ll play it to their best interests.”

Agame.

That was what my life was worth now.

She wasn’t comforting me. “And… whatisyour uncle up to?”

So much for not getting involved, huh?

All I wanted was to get out of this. To have my mom covered and to never have to see these people again. Once this was all done, I could go work somewhere normal.

“That remains to be determined. And that is whyIcan’t go to their house and marry one of the brothers. This is why I need this favor from you. I need to be here to try to figure out once and for all what my uncle is plotting and…” She heaved out a deep exhale. “I realize I’m asking a lot, but please, just trust me on this.”

I refused to. “The only thing I want to trust is that you’ll cover my mother’s expenses. In total.”

She nodded quickly. “I will. I won’t break my promise.”

“That is the only reason I’m risking myself like this.” I didn’t relent on my glare.

“I understand. I do. I really do, and I won’t let you down.”

I wanted to believe her, but the mere fact that she was using my mother as blackmail, or as a lure to get my cooperation, tainted my ability to trust her.

“I’m going to finalize the details today. I’ll set up a driver and I’ll ride with you there. I’ll be with you as much as I can be every step of the way. But it might be best for you to visit your mom while you can.”

I’d been looking forward to a day off to visit her. The chance to go see her hadn’t come up yet, so I appreciated that.

“When you’re there, I can’t tell if they’d allow you to visit.”

“I’ll be locked up and imprisoned as a Mafia wife?” I asked dryly. There were too many technicalities to get used to. This was so out of the norm for me, but I had to try to manage for the sake of my mother.

“Not imprisoned… but they’ll be cautious of what you say and do.”

“No shit. Especially when they realize I’m not you.”

She shook her head. “No. I think they’ll see it as another move in this game my uncle is playing with them. I’m certain they’ll wait and see.”

I looked away, needing a moment to try to let all of this sink in. It was just too much to digest, and every time I replayed what I knew, I grew uneasy all over again. Doubts would flog me. I’d worry that this sounded too good to be true, a complete removal of my debts and woes.

“Go ahead and take the day to see your mother. Then tonight, I’ll ride with you.”

Without any argument, I took her up on that. I was sure she’d smooth it out with Joann. Changing out of my uniform, I saw a text from Katerina that said a driver would be waiting for me out front.

Leaving this mansion felt like a trick. A test. As if Katerina were trying to determine whether I’d run away and flee. I was tempted to. The moment I was past the gates, I debated just disappearing from all of this.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t abandon my mother. And after visiting her for a few hours, watching her sleep, I knew that I had to sacrifice whatever I could to make sure she’d be cared for. When she woke up, she didn’t really recognize me, and it hurt. But as I visited and sat with her, I spotted how filthy and low-quality this facility was. I heard the staff and knew that they didn’t give a damn about their patients. She’d fare much better at Dream Garden, and I resolved to tough out this unusual situation of an arrangement.

For you, Mom.

I held her hand before leaving, hating the increasing nerves that filled me.

I’m doing this for you, and I will see you in a better place soon.

Minutes ticked away, bringing me closer to “meeting” my husband. Locked in a hazy blur of simmering panic, I left the facility and saw the Kozlov man waiting for me in the car. The ride back to Katerina at the mansion was more of a smear of time.

Anticipating this life-altering change, I struggled not to hyperventilate. Going numb was all I could do as Katerina gave me a dress to change into. A thick veil covered my face, but I didn’t try to shove it aside when we were in the car that evening.

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