Page 70 of Ruthless Vow

“Marriage,” I say. I am rarely surprised. But Nikolai has succeeded in surprising me. “And who would marry whom?”

“I would marry Sabina,” Nikolai says, his tone flat.

I stare at him for a moment, studying his expression, and I realize that despite his usual mask of cocky indifference, there is something else…a flicker of something genuine, something raw. As if he is nervous, as if my answer matters a great deal. Is it vulnerability?

No.That can’t be right.

“Sabina should be with a man, not a boy,” he says. “She should be with someone who can match her strength. Someone who can withstand her fire and her temper. Someone—”

“You seem to have a large number of opinions about my sister, a woman you barely know,” I say.

He shrugs. “She deserves better than what’s standing next to her.”

The problem is, I agree with him.

Roberto has no value to the family. He has no people, no allies, no standing. If Sabina truly loved him, I would have no issue with any of that. But Nikolai isn’t wrong. Sabina doesn’t look at Roberto as if the sun rises and sets with him, as if he is her joy, her everything, she doesn’t look at him the way Nicole looks at me—

What the fuck am I thinking?

The silence between us stretches, thick and tense as we study each other.

This proposal could just be Nikolai angling for power. But I think not.

“Sabina’s made her choice,” I say. “She’s engaged.”

Nikolai laughs, a low, humorless sound. “Engagements can be broken. You know that.”

“This engagement will not be broken by you, or me, or anyone other than Sabina. If she wants out, she’s out. Otherwise, this marriage is a go,” I say, my voice like ice, my eyes locked on his.

He studies me for a long moment, and then he smiles, a slow, deliberate smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Of course,” he says. “I believe I have monopolized your time long enough, Leonardo. Enjoy your party.” He offers a polite bow.

I watch him as he leaves.

Nikolai Ivanov wants my sister. At least, he wants the alliance that marrying my sister would bring. An unexpected and possibly dangerous turn of events, because Sabina definitely does not wanthim.

My gaze scans the crowd until I catch sight of Nicole. She stands to one side looking out at the fountains. Then, as if sensing my regard, she turns toward me, my wolf in designer clothing.

And she looks at me as though I am her moon and stars.

She is beautiful, alluring, strong.Mine.I want to fuck her, right here, right now.

24

Nicole

While Leo’s gone,I distract myself by drinking champagne and enjoying the view of the Bellagio Fountains, focusing only my four senses—the warm night breeze, the scent of the fancy hors d’oeuvres, the pinch of my high heels, and the sound of the band—a popular group whose lead singer is a good friend of Sabina’s—playing loud enough to nearly block out any of my swirling thoughts.

I know many of the people here. At least, I knew them in my capacity as Salvatore’s and then Leo’s assistant. But only two people so far have recognized me. I’ve received several speculative looks, the tipped-head, frowning, confused sort of looks that people wear when they think they recognize someone but can’t quite place them. I kept moving through the crowd so I didn’t get stopped and put on the spot to offer explanations.

I don’t see Sabina, but I see her fiancé. He’s by the bar, gazing out at the crowd. He doesn’t look particularly thrilled to be there. Nor is he making any effort to mingle. I don’t know anything about Roberto. Sabina announced her engagement on the yacht over dinner the night before my aunt’s failed plan went intoaction. She’d seemed nervous but firm in her decision, but there had been no passion in her eyes when she spoke about Roberto.

If you ask me, she’s been more passionate when talking to Nikolai, someone she rightfully despises, than her own fiancé.

Leo comes to my side. His eyes are cold and black, like shards of obsidian.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

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