Page 71 of Possessive Vows

Artur’s eyes widen impossibly further as Zoya releases her stuffy, pats the back of Camilla’s hand, and nods. He huffs and plops back into his seat while mumbling in Russian about traitorous siblings.

Zoya wraps her arm back around her doll. Maksim bounces in his seat and begins a stream of excited words, unconsciously reverting to Russian as he praises his sister.

Camilla winces as she rises, and she limps her first few steps, but before she reaches her door, she evens out her stride.

I can’t resist, even though I promised to keep my hands off her. Despite my children’s innocent eyes watching, I duck into the car and caress her face.

Camilla performed a miracle, as I knew she would.

The first time she met my children, my wife not only captured my rambunctious second born’s devotion, but she also earned my daughter’s trust.

She gave Zoya the respect I failed to, and in doing so, earned the privilege of holding my daughter’s most treasured stuffed animal and the rare treat of seeing her without her thumb in her mouth.

Now all she has left to do is earn my firstborn’s heart. It may seem impossible with Artur’s stubborn will and wounded soul, but I knowmoyaso´lnyshkawill find success.

She is too resilient not to.

My children must prepare themselves, and our enemies must brace themselves, because as I grow to love my wife more, my need for revenge also multiplies.

They will pray for death.

I will grant it.

Slowly and brutally.

I will relish every moment.

Chapter 17

Camilla Volkov

I try not to fiddle with the pursein my lap, but nervous energy skitters along my spine as Dimitri lifts his face from mine, his kiss too chaste for my libido but too raunchy for the children. As he leaves me alone with his children for the first time, I fight the urge to close my eyes and hide from their judgment and instead fix my hair before looking at them.

Artur’s glare jolts through me.

Dimitri returns with the gifts from the trunk and sets them in my lap before shutting my door and getting behind the wheel.

“Are those for us? Can I have mine first?” Maksim bounces the entire bench with his energy.

“We’d better go in age order,” I decide, not wanting to upset Artur by what he could perceive as an insult.

I pass Artur’s gift up to him before letting Maksim snatch his off my lap and placing Zoya’s on her legs.

Maksim tears his open, gasps in delight, and demands I help put his watch on his wrist.

“Is this a bribe?” Artur snarks.

I glance at his profile, but scoff as I thread the band of Maksim’s watch into the buckle.

“What would I bribe you for? Good behavior? You can’t scare me away, Artur. I married your father,” I say.

Doubt plagues me, and I pour my attention on Maksim to avoid Dimitri’s eyes in the rearview mirror. I’ll lose all face if he seems even the slightest bit upset over my pompous act.

“Well, you will not make me like you with jewelry, so—”

The sound of his display box popping open marks the end of his words. He stares at the knife with longing and excitement.

Noticing Zoya eyeing her present and not wanting to make Artur feel awkward for enjoying the gift, I reach over Maksim and tilt Zoya’s gift bag so she can peek inside, hoping to pique her curiosity.

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