Page 28 of A Devious Arrangement
Me: …
Matthias: Send me the address. I’ll be there in an hour.
Chapter 12
Anastasia
The kitchen island’smarble is cool on my cheek. I managed to drag myself from my bed, only to collapse onto the stool. I’m absolutely, undeniably fucked. There’s a heavy weight pushing down on my shoulders at just how badly I screwed up. Not only did I get caught, but it was by a freaking Lord. The only saving grace is that it was Bash. Which is a double-edged sword. A quick glance in the mirror showed my still-swollen lips from the force he’d kissed me with last night. I didn’t know it was possible to be both this grateful and this pissed off at someone.
What’s worse is there’s no way I can tell Nikolai. I’d fired him off a short text when I got home, lying that everything was fine, and I got home safe with no issues.
Except there was a very large, very risky, very hot issue.
Not only did I get caught, but I kissed him. I’d kissed him so long I forgot how to breathe. Forgot who I was. Like an idiot, I’d let him take over, and my brain went weak.
Don’t even get me started on what happened when I got home.
A shiver tingles down my neck, raising my hair. I am not turned on by that asshole. I lift my head only to drop it on the counter with a hard thud, wincing.
My phone buzzes for the fifth time this morning, but I don’t dare pick it up. Not when I know I can’t hide a lie from Nikolai to save the life of me. My best shot is to ignore him.
It vibrates again, and I finally grab it, hitting the Ignore button before opening up the texting app. If I don’t respond soon, he’ll do something stupid. I can’t put it past him to try to escape and show up here. Successful or not, that’s a bad plan.
Me: Sorry. Busy. Can we talk later?
Nikolai: Not a chance.
I swallow hard and run through my possible answers. I can’t tell him the truth, but I have to make sure I don’t overcomplicate things either. Best to keep it as close to the truth as possible.
Me: Found the tiara in one of the chambers. Unfortunately, it was locked and alarmed so I couldn’t grab it.
Nikolai: Fuck.
Me: Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.
Not quite, but I will.
Nikolai: Why don’t I like the sound of that?
Me: Because you’re overprotective. We agreed I’d take care of this. Just trust me for once.
A hint of guilt gnaws at me. Even this conversation is breaking his trust. I just have to come through. None of this will matter once I get my hands on that freaking tiara.
I glance at the clock. Shit, I’m going to be late.
Me: I’ve got class. I’ll message you later.
Nikolai: You better.
I get out of the Uber, happy that I’m still not so broke that I can’t afford it. My personal security and driver were the first togo. The fact that the only people who would want to hurt me already have enough leverage to have me crawling on my knees just shows how pointless they were to begin with. No one cares about a struggling family. Not even one of the Saints.
There are already several girls lined up at the entrance, all wearing matching pale pink dance leotards with fluffy tutus.
“Miss Ana!” The one closest to the door runs up to me, grinning, two matching dimples on either side of her mouth. I pull her into a hug, and I’m quickly tackled by six pairs of tiny arms.
A laugh bubbles up from my chest, tension already dissipating from my muscles. “Okay, okay. I know you’re excited.”
The key turns easily, and I haul the large glass door open, allowing the young dancers to enter one by one like ducks in a row. The studio’s longer than it is wide. I repurposed it from its prior clothing store. The walls are lined with mirrors, with polished wood dance bars.
