Page 33 of Ruthless Vows

Me: Not happening, Ivan.

Then, before I can consider the consequences of my actions, I send another message.

Me: Plus, there’s no way in hell I’d be able to get out of this house. I’m being watched like a hawk.

It isn’t until I press send that I realize I unwittingly admitted to wanting to go out with him. I groan, running a hand through my hair. I did not mean to do that.

He replies a mere second later.

Ivan: You’re not a princess locked up in a castle, Lucia. I’m sure it’s well within your capabilities to get out of your home. Let me know once you’re able to manage it. I’ll send a car to pick you up.

Sexy, confident asshole.

Unfortunately, he’s also right. I practically wrote the handbook on sneaking in and out of this compound undetected. My fifteen-year-old self was a menace. After thinking things over for a couple of minutes, I decide it’s in my best interests to meet up with him. I do have a couple of things to get off my chest.

And maybe I can stop this war before any of my family members have to suffer for it. So I get to my feet and hurriedly get dressed.

After ensuring that my sister is busy with her baby and Nico’s in some closed-door meeting with the heads of the outfit, I find my way out of the house.

I know all the blind spots and it’s almost too easy to stay out of the guards’ sight. There’s an opening in the fence at the back of the compound, near the empty stables. I make use of that in getting out of the house.

Once I’m through, I send Ivan a text with the location for the pick-up. There’s no need to saddle Nico with the responsibility of getting me out of this mess.

I’ll just do it myself.

CHAPTER 10

Ivan

Apart of me hadn’t expected Lucia to actually agree to meet up with me. I’d been so sure she’d tell me to fuck off, but the woman is adept at surprising me. Right now, she’s standing in front of me at the lounge, arriving mere moments ago after my driver, Clyde, went to pick her up.

She’s not dressed in anything flamboyant. Baggy jeans and a green blouse that clings to her torso and exposes her belly button. She has a jacket on, as well. There’s a fire in her eyes as she looks at me.

“Are you going to sit?” I ask, gesturing to the seat at my side.

She crosses her arms over her chest as she stands stubbornly in place.

“Did you choose a hotel as our meeting place intentionally? Because if you think you’re getting laid tonight, I have news for you, Mr. Volkov,” she says icily.

I smile. “Relax,milaya. I simply chose this hotel because of discretion. I own it, and you can rest assured that no one will spread word of our meeting.”

“You own the hotel,” she repeats blandly.

“Yes. Now are you going to sit or not?”

She ponders that for a moment before shrugging. I think she’s about to sit down but instead she grabs the chair and moves it to the opposite side of the table so we’re facing each other instead. I smirk, standing up and moving my chair close to hers. She raises her hands in frustration.

“Are you serious right now?”

“I prefer speaking this way, Lucia. Less chance you’ll spill your drink in my face if I’m right beside you.”

Her lips twitch. “How optimistic of you.”

“With you? Always. Would you like a drink? I already asked the bartender to make you a cosmopolitan.”

“No thanks. The last thing I need is lowered defenses around you,” she mutters.

“Why? Scared of what you’ll do?” I ask in a low tone.

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