Page 40 of Ruthless Vows

A little extreme. But I get it.

“Understood. She’ll be treated like a queen. I give you my word.”

I want so badly to tell them that I already care so much about Lucia. I can’t help but feel that they wouldn’t be so against this if they had any idea that we already established a connection prior to all this. I’m not a complete sociopath. I wouldn’t barge into the home of a woman I didn’t know and demand she be wed to me. Unfortunately, Lucia seems intent on keeping that information from her family.

Nicolas still doesn’t look happy. Twenty minutes later, Lucia reappears, holding one suitcase while her sister wheels in the other one. I gesture for one of my guards to step forward and grab the bags. Once they’re out of the room, Aurora Ramirez steps forward, rage clear as day in her brown eyes.

“I’m only going to say this once so listen carefully. If you hurt her?—”

I cut her off. “Yes, yes, your husband already threatened to slit my throat in my sleep. I understand.”

“Fuck that, I’ll skin you alive,” she says murderously.

I pause momentarily, realizing for the first time that Lucia might have gotten her fire from her older sister. I’m impressed by the woman who stands tall in front of me, ready to go to war for her sister.

“She’ll come to no harm. I promise,” I repeat, knowing my promises probably mean nothing to them.

Lucia goes around the room saying her goodbyes. My chest flares when she throws her arms around Adrian Rossi. The fucker leans down to whisper something in her ear, and she seems to nod in agreement. I’m not sure I’m a fan of their relationship, considering I don’t know what the constraints are.

Friendship or not, I don’t want his hands anywhere near her again.

It takes a bit but Lucia is finally ready to leave her family home. I lead her into my car and open the car door like a gentleman. I expect the usual fire in her eyes, a glare, but allI get is ice as she slides into the back seat. And that’s simply unacceptable.

She doesn’t say a word the entire drive home and neither do I. Her expression doesn’t so much as change as we drive into the villa. Her suitcases are carried in and the help are ready and on hand to show her around. I leave them to it, deciding to tend to an urgent matter.

I unintentionally leave her alone the entire day because my work runs late. It’s 6 p.m. when I return home. Lucia’s in the kitchen, scrolling through her phone and drinking some kind of green sludge from a cup. I take a moment to observe her, taking in the fact that she’s actually here.

I’ll never tell her this, but earlier today when I arrived at her family’s house, I was prepared to let her go. If she was so intent on not marrying me that she would have risked the lives of the people she loved, then it wouldn’t have been worth it at all.

“What changed your mind?” I ask, causing her head to snap up in surprise.

“You’re back.”

“Yes,” I say, stepping into the kitchen and stopping just before the island where she’s currently seated. “Tell me what changed your mind. Why did you agree to the wedding?”

Her eyes narrow. “You’ve been gone all day and an interrogation is what you want to start with?”

“Careful, Lucia. You almost sound like you missed me.”

Her mouth curls downward in distaste. “I can assure you, I didn’t. Where were you?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay long enough to roll out the welcome mat,milaya. I had urgent business. I trust you were treated well by the staff.”

She shrugs. “They were all nice. I’m going to assume you have their families held hostage somewhere in order to get them to do your bidding.”

I smile. “You go on assuming whatever you want,krasavitsa. Just tell me why you changed your mind.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asks, climbing off the stool and walking toward me.

It’s then I notice the shorts she’s wearing. Tiny shorts that barely cover her ass. My blood heats and I zero in on her exposed skin.Fucking hell. Is this woman trying to push me to the brink?

She must notice the effect she’s having on me because she smirks, stepping even closer. Once she’s within touching distance, she inclines her head, maintaining eye contact.

“Don’t even think about flattering yourself, Ivan. The only reason I’m here is to keep my family safe. I’m not here for you. This marriage is a sham, and I’m going to spend every single waking moment of my time here reminding you of that.”

She tries to step away but I put a hand on her waist, keeping her in place. The way her eyes widen and the light shiver that goes through her tells me everything I need to know. She’s not as unaffected as she’d like me to believe.

I lift my other hand to push back some of her brown hair. She tries to shift from my grasp but falls still when I place my hand on her neck.

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