Page 42 of Deceitful Promises

“What are they doing?” I ask as Aiden parks across the street.

“We’ve agreed our men can search the premises. No weapons. That’s the deal on both sides.

“My brothers aren’t liars.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm,to you, too.”

He glances at me in the rearview, a smirk on his lips. I have to turn away because, suddenly, I’m smiling too. He makes me do that so easily.

A minute later, a big man in a suit walks out and waves at us.

“It’s time,” Aiden says, pushing the car door open.

I climb out, too, hoping I’m doing a good job hiding the nerves coiling around me. Aiden walks into the bar first, then holds the door open for me. I almost joke about him being a gentleman, but it feels out of place.

Down a corridor, we reach the bar. Dimitri quickly walks over to me, looming and serious. He pulls me into a hug. “Ania. Goddamn, it’s good to see you.”

Mikhail walks up beside us, his floppy hair in disarray, a wild look in his eyes. It’s the same look he got after he tortured the man who was working for one of our rivals. He’s a good and sensitive man, but he can be brutal when he needs to. “Ania,” he whispers, leaning forward and kissing me on the head.

Dimitri looks at Aiden. It’s rare to see my brothers standing eye-to-eye with anybody. It’s a strange sight. “I take it you’re Aiden.”

“The kidnapper,” Mikhail mutters.

Dimitri gives him a look. “Let’s all sit down.”

Mikhail runs a hand through his hair.

The four of us go to a table in the center of the room. Nobody else is in here, but we all know men surround the building, the Bratva’s and Aiden’s, all ready for a fight.

I realize too late that I’ve naturally sat on the same side of the table as Aiden. It puts me and Aiden against my brothers, which I didn’t want.

“First,” Dimitri says, “let’s all be grateful that no lives were lost during all this. If you’d hurt one of our men, Aiden, this would’ve gone very differently.”

“Hmm,” Aiden says, just staring at him.

Dimitri narrows his eyes. He’s never been a bully, but I think he’s used to people being at least a bit intimidated by him.

“How much?” Mikhail snaps after a pause. “Let’s get right down to it. You’ve taken an innocent girl from her home. You’ve dragged her across the damn country. You’ve almost caused a war between us and an East Coast Bratva. How much do you need, Aiden?”

“Money,” Aiden says. “You can’t seriously believe this is about that.”

“Do you expect usseriously to believeyou did this out of the goodness of your heart? All so Ania could meet her mother? If thatisher mother?”

“What do you mean?” I say, which are the first words I’ve spoken.

Dimitri and Aiden look at me like they’re shocked I’ve said anything, which is annoying. Only Aiden looks at me as though he’s ready to hear what I have to say.

“I can’t find anything that connects that woman to you, Ania.”

“My father wiped all of Molly’s records,” Aiden snaps. “She was terrified of your father coming after her—the man who beat a woman bloody and left her for dead. The man who stole a baby from her mother.”

“And we’re supposed to believe you?” Mikhail snaps. “Maybe you’re just some fucked-up folks who want to pick a fight. Maybe you’re twisting my sister’s head.”

“She’s my mom, Mikhail,” I tell him. “That’s not what we’re here to talk about.”

I try to keep my voice steady, but it feels almost sick that he’d say this about my mom.

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