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Time is of the essence.

“I’m sorry for marrying him,muzh,” I say, calling him my husband in Russian and resting my palm on his chest.

He rears back, a satisfied smirk on his evil face.

I drop my hand down, massaging his stomach. “Marrying Julian hurt you, but I was so confused. He told me you didn’t want me, that you signed me over to him for the money.”

“Good thing we fixed that then, huh?” He rests his large palm on my face, dragging his thumb over my bottom lip. “Now, you’re mine.”

I tip my head down, making a show of sniffing myself. “I’m all gross from being tied up in that warehouse. Can I shower before we leave?”

He cocks his head to the side.

“Just really quick,alone,” I rush out. “Then, we’ll leave, get married, and have a great honeymoon.”

God, please don’t let him try to join me.

A bang on the door interrupts us.

“Boss!” a man calls from the other side of the door. “We need to talk!”

“A quick shower,” Dima huffs out. “Our flight leaves in forty-five minutes.”

“Thank you.” Lifting on my tiptoes, I kiss his cheek and scurry to the adjoining bathroom. As soon as I shut the door, I lock it, turn on the shower, and begin my hunt.

As quiet as I can, I go through the bathroom drawers first.

All I find weapon-wise is a pair of scissors, and I take them with me.

I run into the attached closet, searching through it next, and smile when I find a gun, stuffed behind a stack of socks in a drawer.

Jackpot.

What an idiot, letting me in here, knowing there’s a weapon.

I grab the gun, inspecting it.

Now, I’m not experienced with guns, but I’ve been doing my fair share of research on them lately. I’ve watched a few videos on proper gun safety and how to use them. I also witnessedJulian kill my father’s attorney and Dima kill Sage, watching how they handled the guns while doing it.

Deep down, I wanted to be prepared in case this ever happened.

I check the gun for bullets, finding it loaded, and snatch one of Dima’s hoodies. I slip it over my head, check the gun’s safety is on, and shove it in the front hoodie pocket. My search continues for any other weapons.

I freeze when there’s a knock on the bathroom door.

“Why’s this locked,nevesta?” Dima asks through it.

I hurriedly strip out of my clothes, tucking the gun and scissors in the back of my pants on the floor, and jump in the shower. “Sorry, can’t hear you!” I soak my hair as fast as I can. “Almost finished!”

I turn off the water and jump out of the shower. Shivering, I redress, move the hoodie from my pants to the front hoodie pocket, and crack open the door just as Dima threatens to kick it down.

“Sorry,” I say, poking my head through the crack. I tug on the hoodie string around my neck. “I borrowed one of your shirts. I like to wear my hubby’s clothes.” I fake a smile.

He pushes the door open, causing me to tumble back a few steps, and enters the bathroom. “You ready to go?”

“Do you have a blow-dryer?” I ask, twirling a wet strand around my finger.

He does. I saw it during my search.