Chapter 23

HOLLAND

Eriks stands at the front door, keys in his hand as he watches me walk down the stairs. I bought a new outfit for today. I didn’t want to look like Holland Wanger. I didn’t want to look like a celebrity party girl. I want to look like the wife of this man who is having a pretrial today.

I’m wearing a black pencil skirt that hits right at the top of my knees. Sky-high black heels with red bottoms, because these are what you need to feel like a complete badass. My top is a silk blouse tucked into my skirt and I bought a black jacket that matches my skirt. For the first time in my life, I’m wearing a suit.

“Are you ready?” Eriks asks as he lifts his head, his eyes finding mine and holding them for a moment.

Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “I’m absolutely not,” I say.

He chuckles, reaching forward as he wraps his hand around the door and opens it. “The court awaits,” he announces.

“So do the paparazzi,” I mutter.

He snorts. “They do. Next time I do any guard work, I’m going to ask for someone who isn’t famous.” “It’s overrated anyway.” “No shit.” He chuckles.

I climb into the back of the SUV and stare straight ahead. I don’t know what is going to happen. Maybe nothing, but maybe something. My world is either going to completely shatter today or it’s going to finally begin again. Maybe it’s going to shatter no matter what.

I have no clue what to expect or what Danill is thinking. He hasn’t really talked to me much over this entire thing. A couple short phone calls and nothing more. I’m worried about what is going to happen between us.

The ride to the courthouse is in silence and I’m glad for it. I don’t want to talk to anyone at all. I just want to get whatever this is over with. My phone buzzes in my hand and I look down at the screen. It’s Marie and I slide my thumb across to look at the message.

MARIE: It’s going to be okay.

Pressing my lips together, I stare at the screen and wonder if it really is going to be okay. Is he going to get out? Is he going to want to be with me still? What if he’s not what I want. What if I’m not what he wants anymore?

What if.

What if.

What if. I hope so.

My hope isn’t very hopeful, but I type it anyway. I think to myself, that if I say it enough, if I think it enough, that maybe I’ll believe it. Maybe it will somehow make me feel better or something.

It doesn’t work.

No matter how much I try to tell myself that it’s going to be okay. That everything is going to work out, I just can’t make myself believe it.

When Eriks pulls up to the courthouse, I let out a sigh at the sight of all of the reporters and cameras around. I wish that I wasn’t Barry Wanger’s daughter. I wish that I wasn’t noticed, that I was nobody. Sucking in a deep breath, I curse my entire life all over again.

“It will all be okay. Ludis is the best,” Eriks announces. He looks back over his shoulder and smiles at me. “He’s

the best in the country, it will all work out.” “I hope so,” I whisper.

The door opens and I look over to see Grisha standing there, along with Tasha. I open my mouth to say something, but we’re surrounded by cameras. I don’t try to hide my face, don’t try to look down at the ground. I keep my head held high and I walk with Grisha and Tasha at my side into the courthouse.

I ignore all of the shouts, the questions, ignore them all. I walk straight in, holding my breath the entire time. Once the courthouse doors close behind me, I let out a long breath. Tasha wraps her hand around mine and squeezes.

Grisha clears his throat and I look over to him. “It will be okay,” he announces.

“You and Eriks keep saying that.”

His lips curve up into a grin. “Because it will.”

Together, we make our way into the courtroom. Ludis is sitting at a table and Grisha guides me over to him. As soon as he senses our presence, he turns around and stands. He dips his chin, also assuring me that everything is going to be okay. Then he tells us to go ahead and sit down.

DANILL

THERE IS a long moment of silence. She stands, staring at me, her eyes widening and she looks so innocent. So fucking beautiful and innocent. Then again, I did see her standing on the street, with another man's arms wrapped around her, so perhaps she isn’t as innocent as she portrays herself to be.

Maybe I’m the one who's been fooled?

“Danill,” she breathes.

Licking my lips, I look over to Ludis, then shift back to her. Dipping my chin, I give her a small smile just as the bailiff announces that the judge is going to make his way inside. I turn around, staying standing and watch the judge appear.

Once I sit down, I listen to all of the charges brought against me. I listen to the prosecution, then I wait for Ludis to bring his shit to the table and I smile when he does. Because he was not fucking around. He, without a doubt, has his shit on lockdown.

By the time he’s finished, I can tell by the look on the judge’s face that this ship has sailed. There will be no trial. The judge calls for a recess, then he stands up and walks away. I’m taken back to a room to wait with Ludis.

“Holland can come in. Do you want me to bring her in?” he asks.

Shaking my head, I clear my throat before I lean back in my chair. I haven’t been without chains in weeks. It’s nice to be able to freely bring my hands to my chin and I do. I’m thankful not to hear the clanking of the chains. I think about agreeing to see Holland, then I decide against it.

I’m still pissed the fuck off about whoever that man was that was touching her, the man who had his arms around her. I can’t be alone with her in here, not until I’m free. This conversation isn’t one that I can just not have.

It needs to happen, and it needs to happen when we’re alone.

I’m going to get to the bottom of this shit.

“Not yet,” I say.

He presses his lips together, but thankfully doesn’t say anything. Perhaps he thinks that I’m not ready to see her until I’m free because I want to be free for her. He would be partially right. I do want to be free. I also want to be alone so that I can ask her questions.

Lots of goddamn questions.

Ludis orders lunch and we eat. He is busy making phone calls, working and I enjoy the peace and quiet of the room, aside from him speaking. When I’m halfway finished with my food, another fucking plus because it’s not prison food, there is a knock on the door.

The guard pops his head in, then announces that it’s time to return to the courtroom. The judge is calling us back into session. Shifting my gaze down to my lunch. I growl in anger, it’s food from Pozhaluysta. And granted, it’s only been a few weeks since I’ve eaten it, but I’ve missed it and I fucking wanted it.

Ludis stands, gathering his things, then waits next to the door for me. I reluctantly throw my food away and inhale a deep breath, knowing that in a few moments my life could completely change. I could lose everything that I’ve worked my entire life for or what I’ve stolen…



DISMISSED.

Lack of evidence.

The judge slams his gavel down and I look over to the prosecutor, who drops his head. He failed at his fucking job and that shit is going to goddamn hurt when he gets back to his boss, to the agents who thought they were the fucking shit for arresting me in front of my bride.

Turning to Ludis, I shake his hand and thank him for everything. He grins, then jerks his chin before he walks over to Fyodor and Kazimir. I have a bone to pick with the both of them, but that shit can wait until later.

Right now, my bone to pick is with my fucking wife. She doesn’t say anything. She stands in front of me, on the other side of the low wooden wall that separates us. I should be grabbing her, kissing her, and celebrating.

But I’m not.

Tasha stands next to her, then she steps to the side before she lifts her hand and waves to me. Then I watch as she turns around and walks out of the courtroom leaving Holland standing there alone.

I take a step toward her, then walk around the wall before I extend my arm and wrap it around her waist, pulling her against my chest. Dipping my chin down, I touch my mouth to hers.

“I’ll be home later. Eriks can drive you back to the house.”

Lifting my hand, I motion toward him, then jerk my chin toward Holland. He doesn’t need me to clarify anything, he understands, and he swiftly walks over and then ushers Holland out of the room. I don’t know if she realizes what’s happening, but it doesn’t matter. I will deal with her when I get home. And deal with her, I fucking will.

Ludis lifts his hand, waving to Kazimir, Fyodor, and Grisha, who joined them a few moments ago. Making my way up to them, I clear my throat. They all slap me on the back and congratulate me.

“Let’s go to Pozhaluysta, I have some things that I need to discuss with you all,” I state.

Their eyes widen simultaneously, and they nod their heads once. Together the four of us walk out of the courtroom. The paparazzi have left, obviously only here for my wife and not for me. Which is fucking fine by me, my next few moves do not need to be documented.

At all.