Page 45 of Tangled Vows

Leonid cheerfully adds, “That’s so much better. It’s a lot more believable than the bullshit you just suggested, Dmitri.”

“Come with me,” I tell Leonid before turning around. I step out of the bridge and onto the deck in anger, waiting for him to follow. Once we’re almost halfway across the yacht, I turn to him.

“Is something wrong with that moron in there?” I ask, tossing a glance at the bridge. “Because something must be very wrong with him if he thinks his stupid plan would work on a henchman like Simeone. And you, Leonid...” I stop talking and shake my head in a quick manner. “You disappoint me, bratishka. Did you actually okay that plan of his?”

“No.” His response is sharp. “He mentioned it to me yesterday, and I asked him to think of something more convincing. I knew it wasn’t good.”

“Thank God,” I groan and suck in a deep breath. “There should be surveillance cameras in that hotel. We need to—”

“I’ll have Rurik disable them remotely,” he interrupts. “Ivan, I’ve been meaning to tell you this. Simeone is mine. You don’t get to kill him. I do. I’m his target. I want to know why he came after me.”

“You got your wish,” I accept, understanding his point. “There’s something else we haven’t discussed yet. What if his Don put out the hit on you? What do we do in that case?”

“Then, fuck Viktor,” Leonid grumbles, anger dripping from his voice. “I’ll kill that motherfucker.”

“We,” I correct him. “We kill him. If Viktor has a problem with that...”

“Let’s not go there yet,” he suggests, throwing his arm forward. This is the best assurance I’ve got from him. We don’t have to say, “I’ve got your back,” to one another. I know he won’t fail me, and he knows I’ll be there to support him. This is our way—the Bratva way. Brothers to the very end.

Clare

“Leonid left this for you.”

I stare at Yuri in a mix of surprise and disbelief. That must be the longest sentence he’s given me in the time he’s been guarding me. Furthermore, the envelope in his hand is a puzzle. Up till now, I had no idea that Leonid was into letters. I thought he was more of the verbal type, since he didn’t like to talk on the phone much, either.

“Thank you,” I say to Yuri, taking the envelope. I pry it open with steady fingers and go back to my bed. Laying down, I bring it close to my face.

“My dear Clare,

First, let me apologize for not spending time with you lately. I was a busy man before I met you. I’m even busier these days.

I wanted to let you know about something. Your ordeal will soon be over. Tomorrow night, we’re hunting down the man who tried to have us both killed. I wish I could guarantee you the outcome of this showdown, but I can’t. He’s a tough son of a bitch.

I’ve been missing you, gorgeous. Every single thing about you. Your voice, your hair, the feel of your skin against mine... I’m going to do my best tomorrow, Clare. For you. For us. Finding you was one of the few joys I’ve had in all my life in the Bratva. So, I’m going to do everything in my power to stay alive. To come back to you in one piece and discover more of the joys of being with you.

Love,

Leonid

I read the letter twice, mixed emotions coursing through me. On one hand, Leonid is demonstrating his caring, loving nature. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more affectionate man than him. He has a way with words and is perfectly capable of moving me. On the other hand, he’s dropped a bomb on me. One way or another, my adventure is coming to an end. Very soon, I’ll know if I can have a future with him and Ivan. Inevitably, a question rises in my head.

What happens if one of them doesn’t make it?

The answer hits me hard in a matter of seconds.

I won’t stay in Miami. I’m going back to Oregon. Life is simpler there. It doesn’t move as fast. I won’t have the same amount of sunshine, but that’s the least of my worries. Not having Leonid or Ivan is going to tear me apart. I won’t settle for one of them, because I know something in my heart. The survivor of this conflict will only remind me that one of them is dead. One of them perished in his attempt to keep me safe. To punish our wannabe killer. To me, this is not acceptable. I’d rather get back to my hometown than stay in a place where I lost someone so close to my heart.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Leonid

At first, the receptionist refused to disclose anything.

He wouldn’t even tell my men if Simeone was actually staying at the Palms Hotel & Spa. Normal policy for a hotel.

It all changed when they offered him a thousand dollars in cash. The prick took the money smiling and promising to help us out. Money talks. Bullshit walks.

Truth be told, that receptionist kept his word.

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