Page 38 of Ruthless Vows

“That’s horrible, Adrian,” I say after a few moments have passed.

“My request or what Volkov is possibly responsible for?”

I consider that for a moment. “Both. I can’t believe you’re asking me to marry him. If you believe he killed your mother, then kill him. It’s as simple as that.”

“He’s the second most powerful man in the Bratva, Lucia. I can’t execute him without due cause.”

“So you want me to do what?”

“Enter his home. Find evidence. Anything that links him to my mother. Anything that proves he’s the slimy bastard I know he is.”

“You want me to marry him, Adrian,” I say softly, feeling my heart pound in my chest at the prospect.

Adrian’s jaw tightens and I can see in his eyes that he hates having to ask me this. If I say no, he won’t push this, and yet I can see the reasoning behind his request. I’d been thinking it over, too, wondering if maybe it’s the right thing to do.

I thought I could reason with Ivan when I spoke to him last night. But after that conversation, I’m pretty sure he’s beyond that.

“Lucia, I care about you a lot. You’re probably the only friend I’ve got right now. But for years, I’ve wanted nothing more than to get revenge against the man that killed my mother. I finally have a chance to do that.”

My eyes fall shut and I look away from him to stare up at the sky.

“This is all shades of fucked up. I’m only twenty-four. Marriage was supposed to be nowhere near my future,” I say placing my face in my palm.

“I know. I get that it’s hard. But I swear it to you, the second you ask me to, I’ll get you away from him. I’ll make use of every resource I have in my arsenal to do so.”

“We’d still be married, Adrian.”

“You can’t be married to a dead man,” he says harshly.

I suck in a sharp breath, trying to ignore the clenching in my chest at the thought of Adrian killing Ivan. But I also understand his need to know the truth. If I was in his position, I wouldn’t hesitate to seek revenge as well.

“This is so fucked,” I breathe.

I never would have thought I’d be considering the idea of marrying a literal psychopath. Never in a million years.

Adrian’s about to say something else when there’s the sound of a commotion at the gate. He gets a text and his eyes darken.

“Volkov is here with his men. Nico says to let him in.”

I get to my feet. “We might as well go welcome him,” I mutter. “Let’s go, jerk face.”

His eyes search mine for a moment. He’s probably wondering if I’ve come to a decision. I look away, unwilling to let him know what’s on my mind. We walk back to the main house just before Ivan and his posse arrive.

He looks as cool and unaffected as ever, his brown eyes clear as he glances around the room. He notes the guards standing around with a smirk.

“I’m not here to fight, Ramirez. At least not yet,” he states. “I’m assuming you’ve come to a decision?”

I step forward before Nico can speak. My brother-in-law looks down at me as I appear at his side, but I’m not looking at him. I keep my gaze straight, fixed on Ivan.

“Yes, actually. We’ve come to a decision.”

“And what is that,milaya?” he asks in the low tone he seems to reserve just for me.

I swallow softly before replying. “I’ll marry you.”

The entire room descends into chaos. One second I’m standing beside Nico, and the next he’s pushing me back and my sister’s standing in front of me, her brown eyes frantic.

“What the hell are you doing?” Aurora snaps. “No way in hell I just heard that right.”

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