Page 25 of Deceptive Vows
I pressed my hand to the spot over my heart and failed to keep the tears at bay. Nazar was witnessing me weepy, and that wasn’t something I typically allowed. Normally, that would have fueled my ability to rebuild the walls I worked to keep in place, but this was Mr. Marcello. I treasured him. Missed Isabella.
Almost like he could read my mind, Nazar’s hand found my lower back, and his mouth came millimeters from my ear. “Dark Angels who weep give those who care for them the opportunity to stand guard.” His grip turned possessive as his arm snaked around my waist, and his palm flattened against my stomach. “Your tears are beautiful, and I’ll carry your sword while you shed them.”
His heat enveloped me, sending a tingle down my spine. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I may not be a king, but Idoknow how to protect a queen.” When he leaned back and caught my gaze, it was electrifying. Adding thelopsided, charming smile brought levity to the moment.
The ring should have felt heavy on my hand. Instead, it was light. It was all so confusing and unreal.
I needed to snap out of this. Losing a bet to Claire wasn’t an option. I’d never hear the end of it. This was fake, and we were actors in a play. He was likely aware of Marco’s men keeping an eye on us. Clearing my throat, I shook away all the weird emotions and smiled. My sword was back where it belonged.
“Thank you so much for this gift.” I hugged Mr. Marcello. “Will you be coming to Thanksgiving tomorrow?”
As he bagged up the box, he shook his head. “A lovely offer, but no, I’ll be at the soup kitchen.”
“Well, it’s a standing invitation if you change your mind. I don’t mind taking your place if you want to take this year off.” I took the bag. Knowing I’d have a safe place to keep this art on my finger was a relief. Although, maybe when this was over, I’d put it in a display case. It wasn’t like I’d ever actually use it.
“No. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and give thefamily my love.”
I kissed Mr. Marcello’s cheek. “I’ll tell them. I’ll see you later, Mr. Marcello.”
He looked at Nazar and hesitated a moment. “Take care of her.”
Nazar nodded as he took my hand. “On my honor.”
Hopefully, Mr. Marcello would understand the ruse once this plan was finished, but keeping the truth from him kept him safe. If Marco’s men decided they wanted to poke around, Mr. Marcello would only know what he saw—Nazar and I were getting engaged.
Beyond that, this thing between Nazar and me had a shelf life. Once I’d gutted Marco, Nazar would return to New York. I’d go back to the quiet comfort of solitude. No entanglements.
Chapter Nine
NAZAR
Just an hour ago,I sat across from Thea at Luminous soaking in her company, her laugh, and her smile. She was an incredible woman.
In that jewelry store, I saw a side of her in what I knew was a rare moment. Her claws had retracted, and her walls had come down. To most, they would have said she’d shown weakness. What I saw was a tenderness I could imagine being poured on myself and my future children. A wife. A mother. The very embodiment of a warrior as a partner.
Not surprisingly, by the time we’d returned to the limo, there were no lingering signs of anything soft. My Dark Angel was back, and her shields were firmly in place. I had walked her to her door and would have given anything for another kiss. But a soft goodbye was the only parting gift I received.
On the way to the penthouse, there was a change of plans. Pasha asked me to stop by and pick him up. Marco wanted me to walk him through the location I'd chosen for the auction earlier that day, the old Nightingale Opera House by the Chicago River.
Until now, my job had consisted of vetting security personnel, acquiring equipment, planning routes for the arriving merchandise, and other various tasks.
One of his guys held up a phone while we conferenced via video. "It's going to need a lot of work."
"Yes, but if we set it up as a shell company, we can use it as a front to bring in the necessary equipment and staging to facilitate the auction. It will look as if we're revitalizing the area and give your high-end clients a reason for being here. Plus, with being located near theriver, the ability to transfer cargo would be less likely to be intercepted as well.”
"And you think you can make this happen before the end of the year?" I could hear the questioning in Marco's voice.
I could, but I wouldn't. Of course, to Marco, it would seem as though it was. At some point, I'd have to know the location of the women to provide the necessary security to transport them. Once I found that out, the location wouldn't matter.
"Da. I'll make it happen. When will I find out the location of the merchandise? I'll need to?—"
"That's not your concern at the moment." Marco waved his hand. "I guess the date tonight means they've accepted your proposal for an alliance."
As soon as Lucas and Thea left the penthouse, we called Marco. He didn't hesitate. The idea of a fake wedding seemed to give him a grotesque sense of victory.
Pasha smiled and looked at me. "They fell for it. Even with the sudden infusion of cash they received, they're still weak. They need this."
