Page 31 of Under Control

After a painfully fake and stiff dinner, Danica waited until Andriy got up to relieve himself, and she politely excused herself from the rest of the guests to refresh herself. She’d endured enough of Andriy’s hand caressing her shoulders and landing on her thighs. The man treated her like he owned her.

She made her way to the edge of the reception hall as fast as she could without causing a scene and without Petrov noticing, as he was off in the distance—likely making business deals.

The first thing on her mind was retrieving her clutch, which she saw was being held by one of the men in suits at the edge of the room. Her second thought was,How the hell am I going to get out of here? Where am I going to go?A rush of emotion overtook her, and she was on the verge of melting down. She didn’t know what upset her more—the thought of being forced to go home with Andriy or the thought of Carrick dancing alone on the patio with that blonde woman.

Trying to be discreet, Danica found her way to a large floral arrangement decorating the edges of the hall next to the man holding her clutch. She smiled, holding out her hand to ask for it back, trying to be natural. The man nodded, speaking to her in Russian, and handed it over. Letting out a breath of relief, Danica slipped away, moving a little farther down the wall—plotting her next move. Fumbling in her clutch, she noticed that the contents were all intact. Why had they taken it? Danica chewed her lip, her only guess being that Andriy was embarrassed his fiancée would carry such a cheap-looking thing and even more embarrassed that she had taken out her dark-framed glasses.

Shaking her head, she whipped out her cell and found her roommate Addie’s name, writing her a text.

I need help.She added a terrified emoji with it.You’re not going to believe this.

Immediately, Addie wrote back.

Girl, where are you? What’s going on?

Like a true sister, her roommate would be there at the drop of a hat if she asked.

My uncle hired a bodyguard to find me and bring me to my cousin’s wedding. And now I’m here.

Holy shit. We need to get you out of there.

I need you to get rid of some of my things. Burn them. I’m not coming home…ever.

Addie stopped writing, and Danica stared at her screen, waiting.

Within five seconds, her cell was vibrating. Addie was calling. Danica answered it quickly, leaning back against the wall and keeping her voice down, though it was noisy enough in the hall that she couldn’t be heard.

“Dani, are you in danger?” Addie’s concerned voice carried through the line, forceful and demanding.

Danica paused, thinking, and finally confirmed, “Yes.”

“I’m coming down to get you,” Addie said quickly, and started planning out loud how to evacuate Danica from LA.

“You can’t, Addie,” Danica pushed back. “I won’t bring you into this.”

Addie paused, and a confused humming noise hit the line.

Danica continued, realization flushing over her, “This is something I have to do alone.”

“You want to keep running?” Addie gasped. “Do you really believe Kosta will let you go?”

Danica’s face grew hot as she thought of her past. She still didn’t know if her uncle knew what she’d done years ago. And that was the most dangerous thing of all.

She replied, her voice shaking, “I have to keep going. It’s my only chance.”

Addie’s next question was worse. “Would this bodyguard help you? Can he be on your side?”

Danica let silence fill the line, the only sound being her breathing.

“Dani?” Addie pushed for a reply.

Shaking her head, Danica replied, “I don’t know.”

Shock flushed over her as she saw Carrick coming in from the patio, looking as calculating as ever. Danica quickly told Addie she had to go, but that she’d call her later. Addie made her promise to text within ten minutes. Her concern was undeniable.

For good reason.

Danica’s heart beat out of her chest uncontrollably, watching Carrick in the distance.

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