Page 152 of Filthy Promises

“The inheritance clause requires marriage and an heir,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “This solves half the equation. The more important half.”

Arkady’s eyebrows shoot up. “Don’t tell me you’re really gonna?—”

“Yes, I am.”

“Your father will lose his mind.”

“My father can adapt or he can fuck off,” I reply. “I’m done playing by his rules.”

Arkady whistles low. “Never thought I’d see the day.” He studies me for a moment. “You know, if this was just about the inheritance, you could still marry Anastasia and keep Rowan as your?—”

“That’s not an option.”

“Why not?” he insists. “Seems like the neat solution. Your father gets his alliance marriage; you get your heir; everybody wins.”

“Everybody except Rowan.”

He tilts his head. “Since when do you care about what’s best for someone else?”

I don’t have an answer for that—at least, not one I’m ready to say out loud.

I don’t know when it happened—when Rowan St. Clair became more than just a convenient fuck or a potential solution to my inheritance problem. I don’t know when her happiness started to matter to me more than my own carefully constructed plans.

I just know that it does.

“The security detail needs an upgrade,” I say, changing the subject. “Two men isn’t enough. I want four, rotating in shifts. And I want them experienced—no rookies.”

“Already on it.” Arkady taps at his phone. “Dimitri and Sasha are taking first watch. They’ll be here in ten minutes.”

“Good.” I glance around the street, scanning for threats. “And the apartment across the street—lease it. I want our own men there with eyes on her building at all times.”

Arkady makes a note. “Consider it done. And what about the FBI? They’re not going to just go away, you know.”

“Let me worry about the FBI.”

“They questioned her for three hours, Vince. She might have told them things?—”

“She didn’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

I think of Rowan hiding my laptop in her shirt. “Because I know her. She protected me.”

Arkady studies me for a long moment. “I’ll be damned. You really do trust her.”

It’s not a question, but I answer anyway. “Yes.”

“Well, that’s a first.”

I ignore the implication. “What about Daniil? Any word from him?”

“Not yet.” He takes a long, thoughtful drag on his cigarette. “But if Anastasia isn’t going to be Mrs. Akopov anymore, does it matter?”

“It matters because we need the Petrovs contained. With or without the marriage alliance.”

Arkady nods, understanding. “I’ll keep tabs on him until he decides how he wants to play his cards.”

My phone dings with an update text from one of my men stationed at the hospital:Mrs. St. Clair is stable.Treatment proceeding as scheduled. No visitors besides medical staff.

---