Page 69 of Ruthless Vow

“You seem to be taking an inordinate interest in my sister’s fiancé,” I say.

“My uncle Vlasta had a word for men like that.” His tone is derisive. “Shval.”

“Shval?”

“It means scum,” Nikolai says.

“A strong accusation,” I say. “He’s young. Only a year older than Sabina.”

“His youth doesn’t excuse his actions,” Nikolai says. “He can’t protect her. He’s weak. He doesn’t value her. He doesn’t love her.”

I’ve seen the way Damian and Alina look at each other. I saw the way my mother looked at my father, and the way he looked at her, even after years of marriage and five kids. Sabina does not look at Roberto that way. Her face doesn’t light up. Her smile isn’t full and free. Her expression holds no softness. She doesn’t lean into him as if wanting to be as close to him as possible. She offers no personal touch of affection. Her arm rests in his the way it would rest in a stranger’s.

And Roberto… he barely looks at Sabina at all.

As to Nikolai’s assertion that he’s weak, unfortunately, I agree.

“He asked her to marry him and she accepted,” I say. “Sabina is her own woman. She makes her own choices.” I pause. “She says he spoke to my father at Christmas, asked for and was given his blessing.”

“Your father told you that?” Nikolai asks, his tone doubtful.

“No. Sabina said that Roberto told her he asked Papa and that Papa gave his blessing. That he only waited for the right time to ask her.”

“Sabina said that Roberto told her…” Nikolai echoes, and I hear the incredulity in his tone. It matches the doubt already seeded in my thoughts. It seems impossible that my father would have agreed to an engagement but said nothing to me or Damian or Dante or Cass. Said nothing even to Sabina directly. Only gave his blessing to Roberto.

I can’t help but wonder why Roberto decided the right time only came after my father was dead.

“I have some information that might interest you,” Nikolai says after a long moment.

“And the cost?” I ask.

“Consider it repayment for including me in our very enjoyable outing the other night.”

“My pleasure,” I say.

“Several more men from Chicago have arrived in Vegas. And a woman who is their associate. Bianca Moretti.”

My gaze flicks to his face. Bianca is in Las Vegas. I already know, thanks to Dante’s text, but I find it interesting that Nikolai chose to share.

“What can I do for you, Nikolai?”

“Do for me?” His dark brows shoot up, his face the perfect expression of innocence and confusion.

“You want something.”

“In fact, there is a proposition I’d like to present to you.”

“At my sister’s engagement party? I already told you, this is not a night for business. It is a social event.”

“There is always an opportunity for business. In fact, it was your father who told me that many years ago.”

I can hear my father saying those words. I nod. “A valid point. Go on.”

“I want an alliance between our families,” Nicolas said, his gaze briefly flicking to Sabina, who is laughing with one of our distant cousins, a girl her own age.

“What sort of alliance?”

“The marriage sort.”

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