Page 77 of Deception

“Because I’m the better man…” He kisses my gaping lips, bringing our hands back to my lap. “And the better man always wins.”

Kissing him in return, I savour the scratch of his stubble and the heat of his breath on my skin while I vow to make sure that we win.

Tomasz may not be perfect, but looking around, he is the best man. And even with the sinking weight in my gut, I’ll be damned if he doesn’t win.

29

TOMASZ

Dinner is dragging, and the hum of the voices filling the air numbs the violence I know is coming. Its foreboding is thick and heavy in the air.

“Dance with me,” I tell Red, holding out my hand for her to take as the waitstaff clear the dishes.

“How romantic,” Lucy sasses back, slipping her hand into mine and standing.

Unlike usual, her gracefulness falters when she stumbles into me. If I didn’t know that she’s not had a drop of alcohol to drink, I would’ve thought she’s tipsy with the way she giggles. But then her hand sneaks beneath my dinner jacket, and she pushes the gun that was secured under the table into the back of my tux trousers.

“Can’t be too careful,” she whispers before pressing a kiss to my lips.

“Anton is watching.”

With a girlish laugh, she walks beside me towards the french doors at the back of the room that lead to the heated marquee boxing the patio from the falling snow.

“Better safe than sorry,” Red says when I spin her into me.

A soft Russian pop song plays in the background, and when we move around the snow globe–like dancefloor, she thaws into me. Meanwhile, I watch as Mikheil and my father disappear into the smoking nook. Anton edges closer, and I know it’s time to let her go.

Mikheil’s men round the room, drawing nearer. There’s no other choice but to get her out of here. It doesn’t matter what my gut tells me or that the marrow of my bones is protesting at the prospect of being parted from her.

For the first time, my steps falter as I pull away and steal one good look at her.

This is the only way she and the child will be safe, I remind myself.

That baby inside her has changed everything. The girl has changed everything—she’s changed me.

“I love you,” I tell her, holding her stare as firmly as my hands anchor on her waist, allowing my thumbs to stroke the slightest swell of her belly.

Contrary to the smile that should quirk her lips, a dread-filled frown twists them instead.

“You told me we could build a legacy together,” I remind her, bringing her body flush to mine and etching every sparkle of her eyes into my soul, every tear that burgeons the surface of the oceans staring back at me. The storm inside her darkens those depths until they’re a moonless night, promising nothing but devastation and terror.

“Not like this,” she finally replies, choked and furious all at once.

“All legacies are built on blood-drenched legends.”

“No… No! You don’t get to decide that it’s your blood…you…you…” Good, her anger is getting the better of her, which means she’ll pull away from me. And this time, I won’t drag her back. “You’re a fool,” she spits at me.

Her venom is a sucker punch to the chest, and when she yanks herself from my hold, it takes all of my control to step back.

“Love,” she scoffs, tears streaming down her face. “Fucking love…it really means nothing.” Swiping at her cheeks, she levels me with a scowl as she tells me, “Watch your back.”

Anton comes to a stop beside us, two of his men flanking him as the flap to the clear marquee is opened, allowing the winter cold around us.

“Gregor will take her to the jet,” Anton murmurs, his head bowed as he takes one of his pistols and looks it over before handing it to her. “I’ll stay here with you.”

“What?” Red barks at me, low enough that when people filter onto the dance floor, it simply looks as though we’re conversing.

Niko escorts Vanya out first, like we discussed. Once she has her hat on and he bundles her into the car that Red and I arrived in earlier, Mikheil’s men on the outside will assume it’s us. It’s the perfect diversion. The armoured car will keep them alive even if she shits herself. A small price to pay for her overstep with my wife. Meanwhile, Emin walks Mama back to her room. She might have a spring in her step, but she’s in no condition to be raced around. Besides, she has a personal entourage of bodyguards that will take care of her.

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