Page 14 of Vows in Violence

“Mrs. Romanov requested a full dinner service tonight.”

“This late? You have to be fucking kidding me.”

“I'm not fucking kidding you.”

“It's bad enough that we have to babysit her brother, but now that spoiled princess is ordering room service in the middle night like she’s at the fucking Ritz.”

“Yeah, well, it's nothing Ivan hasn't done before.”

“She isn't Ivan.”

Brodie laughs, the sound cruel. “Believe me, I know.” I know that he’s playing along, but it’s frightening all the same. It’s all too convenient. What if this was a test? What if Brodie was luring me out of my room just for Ivan to discover me and see that I was ready to abandon him? This all could be part of an elaborateplan to punish me physically and psychologically. Give her some small hope of returning home, only to shatter it.

But to my relief, the cart once again moves forward, the wheels squeaking an aching chorus to the frantic beat of my heart.

When it stops, I can't see light through the tablecloth anymore and know we’re in a dark space. Brodie’s voice comes softly.

“It’s safe. You can come out now.”

Limbs stiff, I crawl out into a stainless-steel kitchen, pristine and perfect. Something made more for a five-star restaurant than a single-family home. Brodie stands beside a door leading to the outdoors, peering into the darkness of the night.

“You just need to make it to the end of the house, and someone will be waiting for you.”

I hesitate on the threshold. “Who?”

Brodie holds the door open for me. “I don't know. I was just told that someone will be there. Now, listen. Ivan has this place covered in cameras. You need to stay flat against the wall until you reach your target. That's the only way to stay out of the cameras' range.”

I continue to hesitate, one hand curling into a fist. This entire plan seems fraught with gaps from start to finish. “How will we get away from the house, then? We can’t stay next to the building the entire time.”

Brodie looks at me, then. “You’re going to be spotted, but the idea is that you will already be exiting the property when it happens. No one will have time to respond, and you will be gone.”

I give a stilted nod. It’s not perfect, but it will work, and the idea of home beckons like flame. “Okay, then. Why? Why are you doing this for me?”

He smiles, a brief upward quirk of his lips. “I don't have your name, but I am Valachi. My father and grandfather both served your family. When I have a son, he will serve you, too. Now, go.”

I do as instructed. I keep to the brick wall, feeling the way the coarse texture seems to grasp onto the fabric of my clothing as I slide toward the end of the house, which is further away than I expected. In the dark, silhouetted against the lights of the front lawn, I can see a shape at the edge of the building, but the lights are so bright beyond this person that I can't make out any details.

Please, if you are there, God, don't let that be Ivan.

When I finally reach them, and my eyes adjust fully to the darkness, I recognize her immediately.

Rowan.

Relief roars through me. If it weren't for the situation, I would be screaming and jumping into my friend's arms.

Rowan turns to me, and I can see the same affection and relief on her face. Rowan swipes at a tear and reaches for me.

“Rowan…how did you convince your brother to let you do this?”

“It wasn’t Cassidy. When you tell a man like Enzo that you want something, he makes sure his wife gets it.”

I draw back just enough to look her in the eye. “Really? I would think that Enzo, especially, wouldn't want you here.” Angel had done much damage to our alliances, and I wasn’t sure how much Ivan was doing to help mend things.

“Vivi, after everything that has happened, would you trust anyone else?”

The truth is, I wouldn't. Most of the people I trust are dead or captured.

I look around, ensuring we haven’t been spotted. The grounds are still and silent around us. “Is it true? About my sister?”

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