Page 59 of Deceptive Vows
The question caught me off guard, though it shouldn’t have. Pasha knew me too well.
“I wouldn’t know,”I admitted, unable to keep the frustration from my voice.“I’ve barely seen her in two weeks.”
“That bothers you.”Not a question.
I let out a slow breath, watching snow continue to fall outside.“More than it should.”
“Because you care for her.”
“Yes.”The admission came easily now.“I want this to be real, Pasha. Not just for show, not just for the mission. I want her.”
The silence that followed wasn’t judgmental, just thoughtful. Finally, Pasha spoke.“Then tell her.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It never is.”I could hear the smile in his voice.“But Nazar, if anyone deserves happiness after all these years of service, it’s you. And if this womanis what you want...”
“She may not want the same,”I said, voicing the fear that had been growing these past weeks.“And with everything happening—Marco, the auction, the Wolves—the timing is impossible. Plus, the relationship is built on lies and deception.”
I’d spent my life maintaining barriers, never letting anyone close enough to see beneath the vor exterior. Thea had somehow slipped past those defenses without even trying. This wasn’t mere attraction or convenience—it was deeper, more profound. I’d had relationships before, but none had left me feeling this hollow when apart, this complete when together.
“Timing is never perfect.”Pasha’s tone softened.“Remember what my father used to say? ‘In our world, you take happiness when you find it, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.’“
“I don’t want to lose her, Pasha,”I admitted.
Every hour spent on this mission was a tactical necessity but a personal failure. My training told me to focus, to compartmentalize—the mission before the man. But for the first time in my life, my heart was challenging decades of discipline.
“Then stop letting Marco keep you away.”Pasha’s voice hardened with resolve.“We have enough in place. Delegate. If Marco complains, tell him that he’s theone who wanted this. How can you woo a woman when you’re never around?”
“I have one more meeting tomorrow morning,” I said, decision made.“After that, I’ll make time for her.”
“Good.”The relief in Pasha’s voice was evident.“And Nazar? Don’t wait too long to tell her how you feel. We both know how quickly everything can change.”
After ending the call, I stood at the window, watching snow gather against the glass. Tomorrow, I would see her. Tomorrow, I would begin to bridge the distance that had grown between us.
I thought about Thea choosing a wedding dress and tasting cakes. Playing a role, just as I was. But what if it didn’t have to be just a role? What if, after Marco was dealt with, after the women were freed, after the dust settled... there could be something real?
For the first time in years, I allowed myself to imagine a future beyond duty and obligation. A future with her.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter Twenty-One
THEA
Getting invitedto a Moretti Christmas party wasn’t on my bingo card, but here I was checking that box a little less than a week from Christmas. I had to give it to Gabriele. His commitment to the lie he was trying to sell was commendable.
Like his brother Marco, he had a large estate, but his was nearly an hour west of Chicago in Saint Charles. From what I’d heard through the rumor mill, it was just one of his three homes.
I will admit that after turning onto the private lane, I was nothing less than impressed by the sprawling brick and stucco facade framedby evergreen hedges. Fresh snow blanketed the entire area, giving it an unblemished appearance.
Along with us, two other couples were greeted by a butler on the wide steps. The warmth hit me first, radiating from the heated hardwood floors, and then the grandeur—vaulted ceilings soaring overhead, special millwork lining the walls, and pedestals featuring various pieces of expensive, rare art lining the hallway on our walk to the ballroom.
I glanced up and gasped at the hand-painted ceilings. “Gorgeous.”
The man was evil, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t admire the beauty of his home.
Nazar’s hand settled against the small of my back, his head tilting up. “Neveroyatnyy,” he said and then looked at me. “Incredible.”
