Page 34 of Deceptive Vows
“Yes, ma’am.” Dimples appeared as he smiled. “Police will need to talk to you before you leave.”
“Okay, thank you.”
As soon as the man left, my family erupted into a raucous conversation. At me, to me, for me. Overwhelming to say the least, and all out of love and concern. I held up my hands. “Slow down. I think I’ll stay with Nazar.”
Lucas’s gaze turned deadly. “Can I talk to you?” His eyes flicked to Nazar and back to me. “Please.”
He took me by the hand and led me away from the group. We were alone for all of five seconds before Ari, Lex, and Dimitris joined us.
“Thea, you’re staying with me,” Ari said, voice hard. “It could be Marco—or Nazar. Wedon’t know him. Who’s to say he isn’t working with Marco?”
“You just got married,” Lex cut in. “She should stay with me.”
“I’m the muscle,” Dimi added with a shrug. “She stays with me.”
I pressed my fingers to my temple. Protective. Sweet. And so damn annoying.
“If I’m staying with anyone,” I said, “it’s Nazar.”
And cue the eruption.
Holding up my hands, I barked. “Stop.” I looked around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard. “Ari, you and Lucas are newly married. Do you really want to put Claire and Anna in danger? No. Dimi and Lex are going to be figuring out how to infiltrate that auction. The best use of my talents is staying close to Nazar. I’ll be right there. There’s no better way to keep tabs on what he’s doing than being in the same space.”
Lex huffed. “But Thea…” He stopped, and his eyes brightened, like he’d just had an idea hit. “You could stay with Aunt Helen. Dimi and I can take?—”
“No. If Marco burned down my home, there is no reason to believe hewouldn’t do it to Ma and Pa’s house. I won’t risk her or their house. Your children need to be able to visit that home, see where they come from. I willnotput them in danger. Ever.”
Lucas sighed and raked both hands through his hair. “I don’t like it. We’re already doing more than I wanted. This… this just…”
“You’re going to have to trust me.” I looked from Lucas to Ari to Lex and then Dimi. “I can take care of myself. Youknowthat.”
“But that doesn’t mean we like it.” Dimi moved closer and put his arm around my shoulder. “You’re our sister. We lost Gianna, and we will not lose you.”
Lex nodded. “Exactly. I lost one sister, and I won’t allow another to be taken from me.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m staying with Nazar. That’s final. I’m going to find out where Marco is keeping those women and girls hostage, and I’m going to free them. Then I’m getting into that auction and finding out who his clients are.”
Lex groaned as Lucas cursed under his breath. Ari grumbled and stomped off.
Dimi stepped back, shaking his head. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you whether you like it or not.”He dropped his cigarette butt on the ground and lit another.
“Yeah, me too,” Lex added before he and Dimi walked away, shoulder to shoulder.
His lips pressed into a line as his gaze met mine. “I hate this. I can’t express…”
I cut him off by hugging him. “I love you too, Lucas.”
His arms circled me and squeezed. “If anything happens to you… I will wipe all of them off of the planet.”
“I know.” I chuckled and stepped back. “Now, I need to do some shopping, check out my new place.” I glanced over my shoulder to find Nazar’s eyes boring into mine. “And see how crazy I can drive him. If nothing else, it’ll be fun, and it’ll take my mind off this tragedy.”
Lucas rubbed his face with his hands. “Okay, but if anything feels off, you get out. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I winked.
He groaned. “I swear, you’re going to give me gray hair before I’m thirty-five.”
I ran my finger through the front. “On the plus side, it’d make you look very distinguished. You shouldbe thanking me.”
