Page 103 of Royal Deception
“I’m nobody’s good girl.”
Aleksey laughs, a sharp, delighted sound, like he’s genuinely amused. “That’s not true, little rabbit,” he says, tilting his head. “We all know you’ve been whoring yourself out for Rory Brannagan for months now.”
My stomach twists, but I force myself to keep my expression blank. I glare at him, refusing to react, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how his words cut.
“And we know,” he continues smoothly, “that you’re carrying his baby.”
My breath catches.
I school my face into something unreadable, but Aleksey sees the flicker of emotion, and his grin deepens.
“How do you know that?” I demand, voice steady despite the cold dread settling over me.
Aleksey shrugs lazily then lifts a hand in a slow, deliberate wave.
From the shadows, someone steps forward.
A woman.
I freeze.
Slender. Platinum blonde hair. Wearing a sleek, expensive coat, her lips painted in the perfect shade of deep red, her smirk as sharp as a knife.
Kate.
Or…
“Katerina Orlov-Woodcrest,” she says, her voice rich with satisfaction, her Russian accent stronger than I’ve ever heard it. “You always did like to pretend you were better than me, Clarissa.”
Her full name rings in my ears like a gunshot.
Orlov.
Russian.
My stomach drops. My own last name—Woodcrest—is now tangled with hers in a way that makes me sick.
She tilts her head, enjoying my reaction. “You always were so naive, Clarissa.”
I don’t respond. My throat is too tight.
Kate’s smile widens.
“For the last six months, I’ve been seeing Dariy Volkov,” she continues, her voice dripping with pleasure at the reveal.
Dariy Volkov.
Anatoly’s cousin. His right-hand man.
And Kate’s been feeding him information about me.
Kate smirks. “I told you that things weren’t over between us, sweets.”
A cold sweat breaks over my skin.
Every detail. Every step I’ve taken. She’s known.
She’s been waiting for this moment.
