CHAPTER 21

HOLLAND

Every single day, my phone rings. And rings. And rings.

Reporter after reporter, famous television hosts, people all call me trying to get the first interview from Holland, whose famous father was recently murdered, who got married the next day, whose husband was arrested by the CIA the day of her wedding.

I didn’t even get to go out to celebrate the marriage at the club. I really wanted to go to that club, too. I’ve only ever been that one time and I really wanted to go again. And with Danill. We haven’t really ever been on a proper date.

Isn’t that ridiculous?

I’m married to the man and I don’t think we’ve gone on a date together.

I didn’t get to do a lot. I sit on the backyard patio chair, feeling sorry for myself. Reaching for my phone, I send a text to Nate. He hasn’t returned a text in days. I know he’s probably pissed off at me. Completely fucking pissed because I got married and didn’t even invite him.

Next, I call Marie. I almost call Tasha instead, but I feel a little betrayed by her. She could have told me the truth, instead, she let a whole room of men tell me that Danill was Bratva. I still don’t know exactly what all of it means, and what it means for us as a couple.

“Are you okay?” she cries.

I smile to myself, knowing how dramatic Marie can be, but also knowing that she is loyal too. Extremely loyal, almost to a fault. But that’s what makes her an amazing friend.

“I’m okay,” I whisper.

“I saw it everywhere. It’s all over the entertainment shows, the news, my newsfeed. Everywhere. It looked terrifying.”

“It was.”

Admitting that it was, that makes me feel vulnerable, but it was scary. It still is. “Can we meet up for coffee? I really want to see you for myself, know that you’re okay.”

Looking over my shoulder, I see Eriks standing behind me. “Can I invite my friend over for coffee?” I ask him.

He presses his lips together, tilting his head to the side. “Yes,” he says.

I invite Marie over and she rushes me off the phone and says she’ll be here as soon as possible. Once I end the call, I send her a pin of my location and I wonder if this is a mistake or not. I don’t think Marie would tell anyone anything about my life, but I’m also not sure how much she needs to know.

Turning my head, I look over to Eriks. “How much am I allowed to tell?” I ask.

His eyes find mine and they focus on me. He shakes his head once, his gaze never leaving my own. “Nothing,” he says. “Danill is your husband. You are his wife. He was wrongfully arrested. There is nothing much to tell.”

Licking my lips, I nod my head a couple of times. “I think

I can say that now, at least until the trial starts. You know it’s going to be huge because of me.”

He smirks. “You say nothing other than what is public knowledge, yes?”

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Not to friend, not to reporter. To no one.” “Tasha?” I ask, chancing it.

He snorts. “Nyet.”

Sitting back, I let out a puff of air. “I was thrown into this whole world and I know nothing about it. I can’t even talk about it with anyone. Do you know how hard that is?” I ask him.

He smirks, but doesn’t say anything. Then I hear Grisha’s voice. “You have us.”

Turning my head, I look over the back of my shoulder at him as he walks toward me. He’s smiling and I find that it’s interesting he has such an easy smile, unlike any of the other men I’ve met, including Danill. He sinks down in the chair next to me, looking straight ahead.

“We’re family now,” he announces. “So, you have us.”

“A bunch of men,” I grumble. “What are we going to talk about? Want to go shopping, bestie?” I ask.

He laughs, shaking his head before he looks over to me. “Nyet,” he announces. “But you need to ask a question

about Danill, about the life, I’m here for you.” “You’re nice,” I offer.

Eriks snorts at the same time, Grisha chuckles. “No, I’m really not.”

I don’t tell him that I’ve met a lot of scumbags in my time and that all of these men, all of these supposedly bad men, they’re the nicest men I’ve ever known. I’m struggling with that too. Struggling with the fact that I like all of them and I should be scared of them.

DANILL

I DON’T BOTHER ENTERTAINING any deals. I won’t be taking one. I won’t be ratting out anyone in my family, any Bratva at all. I’m not that kind of man. Waiting in my cell, today is the day that Ludis is going to inform me of my court date.

At my arraignment I pled no contest, I’ve gone to a bail hearing, and now it’s time to get this shit started. All of which I did without my wife present. I didn’t want her there, didn’t want her to see me like that, but now that it’s all getting to real shit, I need her. Need to see her.

I’m being held in a small room, knowing that Ludis has already been let into the building, I just have to wait for him to be searched and go through all the bullshit it takes to get back here to see me. I am on pins and fucking needles, wanting to know what he’s discovered since I’ve seen him last.

A few weeks ago, I talked to him on the phone and he said he would be discussing my case with Holland. At least some of it anyway. She’ll never know all of anything. It’s not her place to know everything and there’s no reason for her to anyway.