Page 25 of Ruthless Vows

“Yeah. I’m considering moving back,” I reply. “By the way, don’t tell Nico and Aurora about this yet. Especially Nico. If he finds out, I won’t be able to stop him from going after Hans. And I really don’t want him to die. At least not yet.”

He has to think he’s won. Let him enjoy the next few months of his life. I’ll come for him when he least expects it.

“You got it,” Adrian assures me. “Come on, I’m hungry. Let’s see if Mona can whip us up some breakfast.”

I smile at the thought of the elderly woman who was the closest thing to a mother figure I had growing up.

“I missed being here,” I say quietly, mostly to myself.

“Glad to have you back, princess.”

There’s a certain peace attached to being among people who I know would do anything to do protect me. But that kind of peace can be shattered in an instant.

A couple of days later, I’m having breakfast with my family when Vladimir suddenly rushes into the room, worry in his brown eyes. He only has to look at Nico for my brother-in-law to launch into action.

“Aurora, take your sister and head to your rooms,” he orders in a crisp voice.

My sister doesn’t even blink. She remains seated. “What’s going on?”

Adrian’s the next person to enter the room. His expression is completely blank and unreadable, which makes me a little nervous.

“They should probably stay,” he tells Nico. “Volkov will be here in a couple of minutes.”

Volkov? My heart races at the name and it suddenly hits me why it’s so familiar. Because it belongs to a man I’ve tried hard not to think about the last couple of months.

But there’s no way…

“Nico, what’s going on?” Aurora asks insistently.

“We have a problem,” the Don grits out. “At least according to Adrian’s sources.”

“My sources aren’t wrong,” the brown-haired man states.

I try to catch his eye but he doesn’t so much as look in my direction. His entire demeanor is tense.

“It doesn’t make any sense.”

Adrian shrugs, “You’re right, it doesn’t. Which is why it’s a good thing the man himself will be here in a couple of minutes.” My mouth drops open when he pulls a gun out of his jacket. “Don’t worry, Ramirez. I’ll make it a clean shot.”

My heart starts to race. I have no idea what the fuck is going on.

“You’ll do no such thing. Put the gun away,” Nico hisses.

Adrian ignores that, keeping it firmly in his hand. Aurora gets to her feet, walking over to her husband and forcing his gaze to land on her.

“Explain what’s going on. Are we in danger?” she questions.

Nico blows out a breath. “No. At least not at the moment.”

“So what’s up with trigger-happy Bob over there?” I speak up, pointing at Adrian who still hasn’t looked at me.

Come to think of it, Nico’s avoiding my gaze as well. The Don runs a hand through his hair.

“I can’t explain it, Aurora. Let’s just go and see what he wants,” he says to his wife.

“Who?” my sister asks.

“Ivan Volkov.”

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