The sound of the door slamming open made Svetlana jolt upright in bed, her heart leaping into her throat. She had barely managed to sleep a couple of hours, lost in a haze of confusing thoughts and emotions she couldn’t name.

“On your feet, girl!”

Giulia’s commanding voice snapped her out of her daze.

Svetlana blinked, trying to clear the fog of sleep. Giulia stood before her with arms crossed, a deep frown on her brow. Behind her, two young women waited in silence, holding clothes in their han