Page 57 of Deceitful Promises

“We’ll take security,” I say, leaning forward and looking at Dad.

There are four of us sitting on the balcony: my father, Mikhail, Dimitri, and me. When this started, I never would’ve guessed this collection of people would’ve been planning thingstogether.

“It’s still risky,” Dad replies.

“Ania loves ballet. She deserves a chance to practice. If those idiots are stupid enough to hurt her while she’s doing the thing she loves most, well, then that’s their mistake. Trust me, it’ll be their last.”

“I’ve never known you to speak like this,” Dad mutters.

“I’ve never had a reason to before.”

Dimitri and Mikhail exchange a look. Dad turns to them. “What do you think? She’s your sister.”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t gone crazy yet—two days with no ballet,” Mikhail mutters.

Dimitri looks at me. “You understand what it would mean if something happened to her?”

I’m tempted to say something savage, but they’re just protecting their sister. It’s a damn good thing too. I need as many violent, capable men as possible looking out for her as long as everybody understands who she truly belongs to. Hell …belongs. When did that happen? How?

In the back of my head, something tells me it happened the first moment I saw her, but that’s too Hollywood. It’s not my style, even if it feels true.

“I’d expect nothing less,” I tell Dimitri.

He nods, and I’m sure there’s a glint of respect in his eyes. It all feels surreal, but I can’t deny that this is going far better than I ever expected. I never dreamed I’d fall for the petite young ballerina. If Ihadanticipated that, I never would’ve guessed her brothers would’ve approved, even a bit. And I never would’ve thought she’d feel the same.

I don’t want to take advantage of her. That’s why I had to leave after I said that stuff about how she belongs to me. What if I told her—it feels so damn true—and she said she felt the same, felt obligated to, or was drunk on the attention. The termlove bombingwas created for a reason.

Bombs do damage.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Mikhail says. “We’ll keep working away here. Let’s hope these morons see sense. If not, well, we’ll do what needs to be done. In the meantime, there’s no reason Ania can’t have some happiness.”

“Are you going to tell me yet?” she asks.

“Do you know what a surprise is?” I counter.

She shoots me one of her sassy looks. It feels like a million years ago that we were on the military plane across the country, but also too recent, like I could wake up with half a wooden ballerina in my hand, realizing this was all a fantasy.

“I think I’ve had enough of those lately,” she replies as we drive closer and closer to the studio.

Four cars border us on all sides, with two more trailing behind and a helicopter on standby. There’s no way I’ll let anything happen to her—tomy woman. Again, I push that idea away. I can’t let any of that out. It’s not fair. Just because I’m going nuts with desire, it doesn’t mean I need to force it on her, too.

Finally, I pull into the parking lot. Ania gasps when she sees the sign out front:Westside Ballet Academy.

“Aiden, I don’t have my things.”

“Everything you need is inside,” I tell her. “I know how much you must miss it. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve this. I can wait outside or?—”

“No, come in, but just you, yeah?”

I smirk, nudging her playfully. It’s like we can momentarily put everything behind us. We don’t have to think about her brothers, the rival Bratva, the kidnapping, or all the unspoken things between us. “Somebody wants to show off.”

She rolls her eyes at me, but her cute-as-hell smile tells me I might be right. That’s fine with me. A free show from my lady … How can I complain?

Opening the door, I walk around to her side, meaning to open hers for her. But she’s way too keen to get going. She’s already burst from the car, hurrying toward the entrance.

“Wait a sec,” I call after her. “Just let me clear it with security.”

After a quick walkie-talkie conversation, I’m able to confirm that the studio is safe. I lead Ania inside to the changing rooms.

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