Page 8 of Sacred Vow

“I can see that, Isolde. You’re all grown up now. All woman.” I arch a brow. “Is that what you wanted to show me?” Fuck, I want to see more.

She rolls her eyes and drops her hand from her hip. “I had no idea this was your club. I was just coming out for some fun. Now that I know, I’ll steer clear.”

“Oh?” I fold my arms over my chest. This should be interesting. “What sort of fun?” Kraze isn’t known for upper-class entertainment. The young with too much money in their pockets come to burn their daddy’s money. Hookups happen, no fairytale endings come out of here.

She takes a slow breath, like she’s trying to figure out what to say.

“I don’t want anything to do with you, Andrei. I just want to live my life. That’s all.”

I stare at her a long beat. When she was younger, she’d tug on the end of her hair when she was lying. But she’s seven years older now, more mature. She probably has a different tell.

I’m going to enjoy finding it.

“You aren’t supposed to be in Chicago. You know that.”

“I know you said it’s dangerous for us to be here and my mom bought it. But it’s been seven years. Whatever danger you thought there was after Craig’s death has to be gone by now.” Her shoulders drop a fraction.

“It’s not.” I grab her shoe and bring it over to her, thrusting it at her. “You can’t stay in Chicago.”

She yanks the heel from my hand and wobbles on one foot while putting it on.

“You don’t get to order me around.” Some bravado has returned. “I have every right to live here.”

“You’ve been seen in town. It might make some people uneasy having you running around the city walking down memory lane.” I use her words.

And there’s no might about it; her poking at old memories will make people uneasy. And those people aren’t going to wait to see if she has information buried in her lost moments, they’ll want to extract it themselves.

“Dammit, Isolde. You’re not safe here.” My blood heats. She’s the same stubborn girl I buckled into that airplane seat seven years ago, but the rest of her has grown all the way up.

“Why?” she demands, shifting her weight to her other foot. The skirt of her dress rides up her thigh with the movement. The small birthmark on her thigh peeks out. I’d like to run my tongue over that mark.

“Because.” I work my fists open. “If I have to drag you out of town, I will.”

“More threats from the big bad Andrei Petrov.” She waves her hand in the air. “I’m not afraid of you.” She turns like she’s going to walk out of my office.

But I’m not done with her.

Grabbing her arm, I spin her to face me.

“You stubborn girl!” I shake her.

“I hate you!” she seethes. I’m sure she means it.

“That’s fine. Hate me from Nebraska,” I say, looking down at her. I made a promise. A vow. And I won’t go back on it now.

“No!” She tries to rip her arm from my grasp.

“You’re not staying in Chicago.” Nothing she says or does will make that fact change. I will drag her out if I need to. I release her for the second time.

“I’m not leaving.” She raises her chin, putting her gaze in line with mine. “You don’t own me, Andrei.”

She’s right about that. If I did, that dress would be in the fireplace ablaze right now. Her ass would be just as hot, too.

“You need to stop this.” I put my hand up when she looks ready to start with another remark. “I’m giving you until tomorrow. Then I’ll take the matter into my own hands.”

“I’m not one of your little soldiers.” She smooths her dress over her hips. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you.”

She stares at me, waiting for a reaction.

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