Page 100 of Double or Nothing

Why is she leaving now?

Skipping out on a great party isn’t Natasha’s style. Especially since she seemed so excited about coming tonight. It’s all she’s talked about the past three days with genuine excitement.

“Natasha is leaving,” I say, dropping Kit’s hand. “I want to catch her to tell her Happy New Year. I’ll meet you at the front entrance in five minutes.”

“Are you sure that’s safe?” Seven asks. “Don’t you dare disappear on us again. Now that we’ve found you, we can’t lose you.”

I lean up to give him a quick, reassuring kiss on the lips. “Never again,” I promise, my breath mingling with his. “I’ll be right back. I’ll make sure no one sees me talking to her.”

I head in the direction I last saw Natasha, my heels clicking on the floor, hoping to catch her before she leaves. After everything we’ve been through together, it doesn’t seem right not to wish her a Happy New Year. I lose her in the crowd before I spot her again; the panic rising in my chest. She’s moving too fast for someone simply bored with a party.

Something is wrong.

Before I can catch up to her, she disappears through the back door of the ballroom.

“Happy New Year!” An inebriated man blows a paper horn in my face and then grabs my arm as I try to move past him. His breath reeks of alcohol and his grip is clammy. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” he slurs. “Want to give me a New Year’s kiss?”

“Hell, no!” I snap, wrenching my arm away in anger.

I shove past him and finally make it to the exit leading out of the ballroom, my heart pounding. Hitting the door’s metal bar hard, I push it open and rush into the hallway.

It’s empty.

She’s already gone.

Disappointed, I abruptly stop walking and turn around to go back inside. In the corner, a crumpled black mask is lying on the floor. Several of the feathers are torn off and scattered nearby. I rush to pick it up, holding it gently.

It’s Natasha’s.

What the hell is going on? Why would she yank off her mask and throw it on the floor? Where is she? My hands tremble as I reach into my clutch purse, to pull out my cellphone to call her.

The screen shows she sent me a text only five minutes ago, the three words screaming at me.

Dimitri is here.

The bone-chilling revelationnearly brings me to my knees, my mind spinning with terror.

Dimitri.

The man powerful enough to snatch Natasha from an orphanage when she was a vulnerable child.

The man who never allowed her to be alone.

The man who unleashed his thugs on her with orders to end her life.

Dimitri is here in Vegas.

And now he has Natasha.