Page 50 of Vows in Violence

And yet, here he is, pausing to listen to me, allowing that rage within him to quiet itself when I touch his hand or arm.

I don’t expect our entire world to change because it’s been softened by love and kindness; I know better. This isn’t a fairytale.

But is it too much to hope that maybe I’m smoothing Ivan’s rough edges, encouraging him to see that there’s another way?

Whatever the case, whatever the reason…it seems to be getting the necessary results.

Unless the other families let Ivan down.

I chew on the inside of my cheek, nerves assailing me. Trust is a scarce commodity within this group, and I can only pray everyone upholds their part of the arrangement. This was my idea, after all, and while I know Ivan loves me, I don’t want to disappoint him.

I want him to see that he can trust someone, that he can depend on someone other than himself.

If no one else, he can depend on me.

“What about Vivi?” Enzo asks suddenly, interrupting the plans that are being discussed for Ivan’s entry to the Weir Greenhouse. “Do you want her to go back to the house with Rowan?”

That’s right.I don’t have a house to go home to.

Ivan is shaking his head before the question has fully crossed Enzo’s lips. “No.”

“What’s the matter? Don’t trust us?” Carina challenges him.

Ivan lifts a single eyebrow. “I trust you implicitly with regard to this plan. After all, it benefits you as well as me.” He lifts his gaze to me, where I sit across the room. “With regards to Vivi…I don’t trust a soul. She will come with me. We can guard her while she waits in the car.”

“I could just stay with Lulu,” I suggest, but the statement is half hearted. I actually like the idea of not being separated from Ivan just yet.

Ivan laughs, shaking his head. “After the stunt Damon Papparado pulled with your family, I wouldn’t trust him to watch a dog for me, let alone my wife.”

Damon had done with my father exactly what Brodie had done to Ivan—infiltrated his household and made himself indispensable. The only difference is that Damon was successful.

Well, successful in hiding his true self and in not getting caught. He failed in his original intent to exact revenge because he fell in love with my sister. His thoughts of vengeance died after that.

I guess it wasn’t really a failure.

“Vivi stays with me,” Ivan reiterates. With that, he pulls his gun free and checks the clip before replacing it at the small of his back. He turns to me. “Ready?”

I nod. “I’m ready.”

“Let’s move.”

With no further discussion, we leave, piling into our respective vehicles and heading toward Brooklyn. In the rearview mirror, I see some cars break off and take a different path. It’s a silent drive, with neither Ivan nor I interested in small talk. The limousine is gone, this time replaced by a silver sedan. Other cars follow us, keeping their distance.

I don’t know who’s in which vehicle, or what will happen when we arrive at the greenhouse.

Ivan grips my hand from his position on the seat next to me, his skin warm and reassuring against mine. He lounges in his seat, his legs sprawled wide and posture relaxed. The only indication that he’s not as relaxed as he appears are his eyes, trained without blinking on the head of the driver. All of his men who remain are survivors. They’ve emerged, still breathing, victorious over threats from Azrael and the burning of Ivan’s mansion. In my world, someone sticking around after all of that means something.

They’ve proven their loyalty, their willingness to die for us.

Ivan doesn’t look at it quite the same way, though. He is always watchful. Always waiting for the pet dog to suddenly bite.

I wonder if thinking that way is as exhausting as it sounds.

Darkness drops on the city before we ever reach Brooklyn. Ivan’s grip on my hand tightens. Despite his earlier statements, my presence here makes him nervous.

The driver pulls into a spot where we can just make out the greenhouse in the distance and the black iron gates of the Green-Wood Cemetery nearby.

Ivan flicks a glance at the driver. “Get out.” The driver obeys, leaving us alone. Ivan squeezes my hand. “The other families are sending their men. There will be guards around you while I am gone.”

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