Page 12 of Deceptive Vows
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his lips twitching in an almost smile. “A creative method.”
“He killed my baby sister. He’ll be lucky I don’t find a pot big enough to fry him in oil.”
He chuckled. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
It wasn’t what he said, but how he said it that fueled the pounding of my heart. Less caution and more gasoline coating the words. As if he’d enjoy my darkness. “I’ll do that.”
Lucas cleared his throat, shooting me a warning glance. This wasn’t one of our usual meetings where my bloodthirsty suggestions were ignored. “Marco wanted them to propose an alliance… and seal it with a marriage.”
For the first time, I was somewhat caught off-guard. I laughed. “Fascinating. A marriage?”
“Da. He wants Nazar to marry you and kill your entire family at the wedding.” Pasha said.
I touched my hand to my chest and leaned back. “If he wasn’t trying to kill us, I might actually find the idea of marriage charming. Almost.” My lip curled. “If you’ll just give me his address, I’ll happily go kill him for you. No ceremony required.”
“And what would happen to the women and girls he’s currently holding?” Nazar’s gaze met mine as he askedthe question.
The room seemed to still. “We torture it out of him.”
“He strikes me as a man who would rather die and take others with him.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Sadly, I had to agree. Marco was dramatic enough to destroy everything rather than lose. “I wonder why he wants a marriage when any simple occasion that required a gathering would work."
Lucas grunted. "Humiliation. He likely knows your aversion to the idea."
I couldn't stop the smile. At least he wasn't wrong about that. I looked at Nazar. "Then what do you propose?”
Pasha gave him a small nod.
Nazar’s gaze lowered to the floor momentarily and then back to me. “We could let Marco believe we’re willing to go along with his plan. We could get engaged, plan a wedding, and find where he’s holding the women and girls.”
An engagement. The word hung in the air between us.
I wanted justice for my sister, but the thought of tying myself, however temporarily, to a stranger made my stomach churn. Yet there was something else there too. A dangerous curiosity.
Interestingly, I didn’t see revulsion in Nazar’s eyes—mischief danced in them and an almost imperceptible lift of his lips, as if he enjoyed the idea.
His reaction was intriguing. To be fair, it would be a lie that the same idea didn’t flit through my mind. I didn’t trust him. Not fully. But I didn’t need to. Not if I stayed in control.
My brother leaned forward, his protective instincts visibly kicking in. “You expect us to trust you? To allow my sister to go into an unknown situation? That’s a big ask.”
“It is—” Pasha started to say.
“I’m willing to risk it,” I quickly interjected. “To slit all their throats, if it means Gianna, Ma, and Pa get justice.”
“Thea...” Lucas breathed my name, tension lining his face.
I twisted at the waist, leaned forward, and covered his hand with mine. “Do you trustme?”
His eyes locked with mine, unwavering. Lucas had saved my life, given me the family I never thought I’d have, and yes, he loved me. This wasn’t just about owing him. I owed it to myself. The Morettis had stolen somethingprecious and wonderful. Gianna, Ma, and Pa. I’d loved them, still loved them. My family had been my world.
“Let me do this. We deserve justice.”
“I don’t disagree, but?—”
Pasha cleared his throat. “There will never be enough justice, but Marco’s death means others will never have to look for it.” His knuckles whitened around his glass, a flash of old pain crossing his features before he masked it again.
My brother’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Pasha. “It sounds like you might understand.”
