Page 10 of Ruthless Vows

I shake my head. “I’m not a fan of most desserts. I don’t have a sweet tooth.”

“So you don’t like Chinese food, neither do you have a sweet tooth. Picky eater?” he asks perceptively.

I nod in agreement. “My food palate is incredibly narrow.”

“How about drinks?”

“I’m sorry?” I ask, confused.

“Would you like to get drinks with me? I’m staying at a hotel not too far from here. There’s a bar on the first floor.”

My eyes meet his dark brown gaze and a thrill goes through me. I could so easily end things here. Go home and look back fondly on this night as the time I met a really hot Russian man who helped save this horrendous day. But he’s also very aware I’m not good at saying no to a challenge or backing down. One ofmy philosophies in life is going for it, in spite of any likely regrets at the end.

I’ll regret it even more if I don’t do something I want to do.

“Okay,” I say on a short nod after several moments of thinking it over.

He doesn’t look surprised or pleased that I agreed. He doesn’t look much of anything. The man keeps his emotions closely guarded to his chest. I’m not sure he even has them, if I’m being honest. That blank look in his eyes should be turning me off, but it’s doing the exact opposite.

“One minute,” he says, holding up a finger and pulling out his phone simultaneously.

He types something out on it and exactly a minute later, he’s getting to his feet. He rounds the table over to my side and stretches his hand out for me to take, like a perfect gentleman. I hesitate for only a second before slipping my hand into his.

Ivan leads me out of the restaurant. We only stop to pick up our coats and for him to speak to the manager.

“The waiter from before,” he starts once we’re standing in front of the woman who welcomed us, “don’t fire him.”

The order leaves his lips easily enough. A man used to giving them and having them followed. The manager’s eyes shift nervously but she nods quickly.

“Of course, sir. We won’t.”

I’m a little happy he took the time to do that one humane thing.

“Maybe you’re not such an asshole after all,” I say as he leads me toward the valet parking.

A car is already waiting there and a hulk of a man stands outside of it, holding the door open. He’s dressed in all black and is waiting as still as a stone for Ivan and me to approach.

“Careful,krasavitsa. The one thing you should never do is assume you know anything about me,” he murmurs in an even tone.

Shivers break across my skin at the dangerous edge to his voice.Turn around, Lucia. Run.

And yet I do neither of those things. I let him lead me into the car. He slides inside after me and the hulk of the man gets in the front without a single word to me. He doesn’t even look me in the eye. But it’s made immediately clear that he’s a bodyguard.

I swallow softly. “Why do you need bodyguards?”

Ivan smirks. “A little late to back out on me, Lucia.”

“What do you do for work?”

I must have gone crazy and it must have skipped my mind that although I play at living a normal life, I’m still a Maranzano. And it suddenly hits me that Ivan reminds me too much of a world I used to belong to.

Who are you?I want to ask. But I don’t think I’ll be getting an honest answer.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he promises. “We’re just going for a drink, Lucia. Relax.”

His cool tone shouldn’t have that much of an effect on me, but it does and I find myself leaning back in my seat. I already got myself into this situation, no use acting like a chicken about it now. The drive to the hotel is pretty short, barely ten minutes. Once I’ve confirmed exactly which hotel it is, I surreptitiously send my sister a text with the location attached.

Me: In case I end up getting murdered, you’ll know where to find me.

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