Page 37 of Solemn Vow

“Acompromise?” Sergei sounds disgusted by the very word.

“What do you know about Marlena’s life before you moved into the apartment across the hall from her?” Andrei asks his wife as he sits back in his seat, pulling her into his lap.

“Not much,” she says. “When I moved in, she was working at Luxe Strands already. She doesn’t really date. She’s had a few fuck buddies.”

I grip the ends of the arms of the chair I’m sitting in. The wood creaks beneath my fists.

“Let’s skip that part. I’m afraid Viktor will break something.” Andrei notes my tension.

“She’s a good friend, Viktor. As far as I know, she has no reason to be in any trouble. After her dad died, she was on her own. Somehow, she managed to get an apartment and wiggledher way into the salon. She’s worked her ass off to get a chair there. I don’t think she’d do anything to jeopardize that.”

I grab my phone, checking her location again. She’s still at the salon.

“She had friends before you knew her; dangerous men,” Andrei fills her in. “They’re looking to make trouble for her now. Viktor is going to do what is best to keep her safe. And you’re not going to get in the way.” He taps her chin. “You won’t get involved.”

“What does that mean?” She narrows her eyes.

“It means I know my cousin as well as myself. At some point that woman might come running here hoping you’ll hide her from him. You will not. Understand?”

Her cheeks redden, and she jumps off his lap.

“You can’t expect me to let Viktor just walk all over her. If she doesn’t want him involved, then she doesn’t have to involve him, Andrei.” She fists her hands on her hips.

“Hmmm.” Andrei steeples his hands and turns his ire to me. “Do you see the trouble you’ve brought here?”

“Your wife is your problem.” I move to my feet. My evening is busy enough without having to deal with my cousins too.

“Wait, I’ll come with you.” Sergei grabs his coat and meets me at the door within a few strides.

“Isolde, stop glaring at me like that,” Andrei orders.

I shut the door behind me as Andrei moves to his feet to go toe to toe with his wife. Good luck to him.

“What are you going to do with your woman?” Sergei asks as we make our way out of the penthouse.

“First, I’m going to find out exactly what Jimmy has on her and how much he wants from her. Then I’ll decide what to do from there. I won’t act against him without you two knowing. But I won’t have her in danger.”

Sergei hits the elevator button with a nod. “Do what you have to to keep her safe. We’ll figure out what to do with Jimmy. I’m tired of the Italians anyway. And now they send men into our garage? No. We shouldn’t tolerate it.” He steps into the elevator.

“I don’t think Agosti knows about that. But when we find out, we have to act. We can’t be seen as weak.”

“Agreed.” He flexes his hands again, groaning at the stiffness I’m sure he’s feeling. “He’ll probably make a call to Andrei about what I did to his little men today, anyway. We should know soon what our next step is.”

I check my phone again. Marlena’s on the move. If I remember the area correctly, she’s headed to the bus stop.

“Are you going to her now?” He jerks his chin toward my phone.

“I have something to do.” I start tapping out a message to one of our trusted men. “I’m sending Igor to pick her up for me.”

“Poor Igor. First babysitting Isolde, and now your girl. Give the man a break already.” Sergei snorts. “This is why I stay single. Women are too much trouble. Better to have a fun time, play hard, fuck harder, and get out.”

The elevator doors slide open, and we step off. I send a message to a personal shopper I’ve used in the past. I don’t typically use her for this sort of thing, but she’ll get it done for me without issue. After I get confirmation from Igor that he’ll take care of what I’ve asked, I put my phone away.

If I give the skittish kitten too much time to react to my plans, she may try to run.

So, we’ll go slow.

At least at first.

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