Page 132 of Wicked Vows (Suvorov Bratva 2)

“Alone,” I say firmly. “If you go, then you’ll play right into his plans.”

“But it’s dangerous, Pavel. What if you—”

I caress her cheek. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take Stepan with me.”

She stares at me for a long time. I know she wants to argue. I know she wants to come with me. But that’s exactly what that bastard wants.

And I will not hand over my wife to him.

After a second, she nods and then leans in to kiss me. Her scent fills my nostrils and beckons me to stay a little longer. It’s the sweetest kiss I’ve had yet, one that I’m reluctant to let go of.

“Please.” She wraps her arms around my neck and whispers, “Come back to me.”

“I will,rodnaya.”

“You better.” She presses her forehead to mine. “Because we still have our own unfinished business.”

When I stand up from the bed, it feels wrong. I hate leaving Liya behind. I hate treating her like this. But I have to, even if it makes my heart ache with guilt.

Because I can’t risk anything happening to her.

“Text me the address that Zoya is supposed to be at,” I say while getting dressed. “And hand me my phone.”

Liya honors my requests. Before I step out of the room, I give her one more kiss, taking my time to savor how our lips curve together so perfectly. It’s easy to kiss her. It’s natural to grant her affection. To resist her is to resist the happiness that could change my perspective for the rest of my life.

And that’s partly why I resisted her for so long.

“Don’t wait up,Lisichka.”

She pushes my shoulder. “Don’t tease.”

Though her expression is serious, I see a hint of a smile growing. And that’s the image of her I leave with as I head into the hallway.

I have my phone to my ear when I reach the top of the stairs. “Stepan, I need you to send Kostya and Gennadiy to look for a Joao Resende.”

“Where was he last located?”

“Newark.”

He speaks to Kostya in the background and then comes back with, “Consider it handled, Pavel Sergeyevich.”

“Thank you, Stepan.”

Click.

Something doesn’t feel right. Cardona is bluffing. I can feel it in my gut. If not about the girls, then about something else.He must be losing control, which means he’s going to fuck up.

And when he does, I’ll be sure to slit his throat myself.

***

The vehicle Stepan loaned me purrs like a dream, quiet and steady. Whoever it belonged to must’ve had an honest life: reliable, secure, a 401(k), and a dental plan. All from sucking up to whatever corporation is eating away at his life.

But not me. That’s not my life. I don’t think it can ever be my life.

The address Liya texted takes me around the Giants stadium. A few train stations pop up around me as I drive deeper into the surrounding neighborhood. Glassy lakes and tall reeds rise up all around.

The Meadowlands.

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