Page 26 of Wicked Vow

“And what about Mikhail?”

My gaze shoots up, and I look at her with surprise. “What about him?”

“I can tell that you’re not as happy to be free of him as you pretend you are. Others might diagnose it as something different, but I know what it’s like to have feelings for someone others might consider cruel. Who perhaps–opens your eyes to a different way of life.” Caterina’s expression is carefully neutral. “I know not everyone would understand, but I wouldn’t judge you if you felt something for him. If your decision over whether or not to keep this baby had anything to do with that.”

“No–of course not.” The words come out in a rush, a lie that I feel compelled to tell, despite Caterina’s reassurances. “I don’t know what I want to do about the baby–but of course, I’m glad to be free of Mikhail. Nothing else makes sense.”

Caterina’s lips press together, and I can tell that she doesn’t believe me, not entirely. But she nods, reaching for her wine glass.

“Well then,” she says finally. “It’s a good thing that Viktor is making certain that he is kept away from you.”

—

The evening of Ruby’s audition, I canfeelthe nervous energy wafting off of her. I sit in her bedroom, watching her get dressed as she holds up a lingerie set she’d purchased for it, her lips pressed together anxiously.

“Is this good? Does it look good on me?” she asks when she comes out of the bathroom, her black silk wrap dress held in one hand to throw on over it. “Do I look ridiculous?”

“Absolutelynot,” I tell her with a laugh. “You look fucking stunning.”

It’s the truth. The set she’d gotten is all black straps and gold hardware, making her look like a dangerous gift waiting to be unwrapped. It suits her figure perfectly and sets off her milky pale skin and red hair, now dyed to a darker, lush, auburn shade from when we went to the salon. She looks elegant and expensive, which I suspect will suit the type of club she’ll be auditioning at perfectly.

“Are you sure?” Ruby turns to look in the mirror, biting at her lower lip. “This isn’t like what I used to wear–”

“No, it’s better.” I smile encouragingly at her. “You’re going to blow it out of the water, I promise. Now finish getting dressed, and we’ll head out. You don’t want to be late.”

Ruby nods, throwing on the black silk wrap dress and belting it at the waist as she slips her feet into the high, thin black heels that go with the outfit. She dabs a little more lipstick on, a shade that nearly matches her hair, and then looks at me as she takes a deep breath.

“Alright, here goes nothing.”

The driver is waiting downstairs. “I’ve never gone to an audition with someone to drive me there before,” Ruby says as we slide into the car, laughing nervously. “I feel like a movie star.”

“You’re going to be the star of the entire club,” I tell her firmly as we sink back into the leather seats, and I squeeze her hand comfortingly. “Trust me. You deserved so much better than the place we used to work at.”

The driver drops us off downtown, in front of the club that Viktor had said he thought would be the best fit for Ruby. “Text me when you ladies are ready to go back home,” he tells me as I step out, and I nod, feeling a little better at the reminder of the shiny new iPhone tucked away in my clutch. I still have that prickling feeling at the back of my neck, that aura of being watched, but I remind myself of what Caterina had said earlier–that it will take time to feel comfortable again.

To feel safe.

The name of the club is in bright neon script above the door,Passion Flower, glowing a hot pink as Ruby and I walk up to the door. The club hasn’t opened yet, and the bouncer standing at the door raises an eyebrow at us.

“Ladies? We’re not open for another few hours yet.”

“She’s here for an audition,” I tell him, speaking up for Ruby, who is starting to look pale again. “I’m her friend. Natalia Obelensky. Viktor is expecting us.”

The bouncer frowns. “Hold on,” he says curtly and pulls out his phone, tapping out a quick text. In a matter of moments, his expression changes, and he steps back.

“Sorry for holding you up. Go on in, ladies.”

“I’ll just find a place to sit,” I tell Ruby as we walk in. “You go find Viktor and get set up for your audition. And remember, you’re going to kill it.”

She smiles weakly at me, but nods, heading towards the back as I look for a place to sit, close enough to the stage that Ruby can see me. The club is all done in black and hot pink with pops of silver, sleek and modern, everything clearly high-end and expensive. There’s nothing shabby or seedy about this club, and it makes me feel good to know that Ruby will almost certainly have a job here. I’d wanted to give her a way out, too, a new start just like what I was striving for, and this will do that.

Ruby had been afraid I wouldn’t want to come tonight because it would bring back bad memories. But the truth is that at that moment, despite my creeping nerves and the lingering feelings of being followed, I feel the furthest away from Moscow I ever have.

The life that I’m starting to create, and starting to help Ruby create, is nothing like either of us could have ever envisioned. But it’s a life that each of us will get to choose.

Right now, that feels like a victory.

Mikhail

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