Page 13 of Deceptive Vows
“Da.” The tone made no mistake thatyeswas all the explanation we would get.
I returned my gaze to Nazar. “Just so we’re clear.” I leaned forward. “I’m not the kind of woman who needs saving. If you get in my way, I won’t hesitate to kill you too.”
His grin widened, appreciation rather than mockery in his eyes. For a split second, I thought he might enjoy the challenge.
Nazar stood, and I rose to meet him. Aftershave and sandalwood floated around me. A dangerous lure. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” The way his voice dipped low did things to my insides that no other man ever had.
I cocked an eyebrow. “So, how would we do this?”
“Just like my Pakhan suggested. An alliance. A trade of skills and services, binding it together with blood.”
I considered this. “Acceptable. Do I have a huge argument in front of Lykos patrons about my misogynistic brother forcing me into a loveless marriage or accept my fate since he’s so… threatening?”
His tongue danced over his lips as he chuckled. “I can’t see anyone forcing you to do anything,” he in that dizzying low voice.
He looked at me, through me. At that moment, I had no doubt he knew I’d sensed him watching me at the club. A tremor raced through my stomach. Danger or excitement? Maybe both.
He flicked his gaze to Lucas and back to me. “And I don’t see you accepting fate. So... maybe somewhere in between lies the truth.” His warm, minty breath caressed my cheeks, mixing with the citrus of his cologne.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I smiled. “The truth?”
He slipped his hands into his pockets. “We saw each other during themeeting and knew we were meant for each other. Simple, easy. No lies to keep up with.”
A low burn coiled in my chest, slow and uninvited.No lies to keep up with?Well, that could be partially true. I caught my bottom lip in my teeth, holding his gaze. What was it about this man that set me off-center? “That does seem simple.”
Pasha cleared his throat, and Nazar stepped back. “That’s if my Pakhan and your brother find my plan acceptable.”
“Perhaps we should take a day and discuss it,” Pasha said, pushing back his chair with a soft scrape against the hardwood floor. “Marco gave me until tomorrow to give him an answer. Will that be enough time?” He directed the question to Lucas as he stood.
Lucas pushed out of his chair. “Yes.” He extended his hand to Pasha. “We’ll let you know what we decide.”
Ari opened the door. “I’ll see you gentlemen out.”
“It’s a trap. You know that, right?” Lucas asked.
“Of course it’s a trap.” Even if I believed Pasha, just because he’d suffered loss didn’t mean he’d give a whit about my family. The Russiansweren’t known for their kindness and generosity. “That doesn’t mean we can’t use them to get what we want. They’ve met with Marco. They know where he is.”
Lucas raked his hand through his hair, jaw tight. “The entire family could be at risk. Claire, Aunt Helen, our cousins.”
“Anna,” Ari added as he returned to the office, his voice hardening at his wife’s name. “No. I won’t risk her. Not after everything she’s been through.”
“No one will be at risk but me.” I planted my feet firmly. “We pretend to go through this charade, and I’ll use Nazar to find out where Marco is...and if he’s actually holding women and girls for this supposed auction he’s having.”
Dimitris pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the flame briefly illuminating his face. “I’ve been hearing about an auction. A couple of socialites were lured out of a club the other night. Nothing on the news about a ransom. I’m guessing they’ll fetch more at this live auction.”
My stomach turned. Two girls, terrified, possibly drugged, waiting to be sold. “Okay, so, I find out where the girls are and take out Marco.”
“That’s if Nazar doesn’tkill you first.” Ari strode from the door to stand next to Lucas. “I’m not discounting your skills, but I will not lose another sister.”
I had no reasonable explanation, but my gut said Nazar wouldn’t hurt me. The way he’d looked at me—challenge and interest, not malice. He might lie to me. Mislead me. Maybe even break my almost non-existent heart. But he wouldn’t lay a finger on me.
Lucas crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m leaning more in Ari’s direction. Mom, if she were alive, would kill me for even entertaining the idea. It’s?—”
“But Ma isn’t here, Lucas.” I looked from him to Ari. “And who’s to say that Marco will stick with taking us out all at once? Who’s to say Marco won’t bring it to our homes? You can’t be with Anna all the time.” I returned my attention to Lucas. “And you can’t be with Claire all the time.”
“Thea–”
“Lucas, I need to do this.” I leaned forward, forcing him to meet my eyes. “At least two girls are being kept somewhere. They are scared, alone, and wondering if they’ll ever see their families again. I can’t just stand around and do nothing. This is our best chance.”
