Page 13 of Solemn Vow

Maybe.

“Tell me what’s going on. Why are you always looking at your phone? Why were you in that neighborhood today meeting with Jimmy? Why have you gotten rid of so many things?” The questions come one after the other and with each he takes a step toward me. I back away, and by the time he’s finished with his questions, I’m backed against the wall.

“I know you feel some sort of responsibility here because my friend is married to your cousin. But I assure you, you havenone.” I swallow hard, trying to keep my heart from climbing up out of my chest.

I tried telling him this when he barged in to secure my locks months ago, but he didn’t listen then, either.

He presses one forearm against the wall, over my head, and uses the other hand to capture my face. His palm is warm against my cheek.

“I don’t feel any responsibility because of Izzy or Andrei. They have nothing to do with us.” His voice softens as he leans closer to me.

“There is no us, Viktor.” I manage to squeeze the words out.

“That’s where you’re wrong,moy sladkiy voin.” His mouth crashes down against mine.

She tastesof honey and innocence. It’s addicting. This woman has done nothing but plague my mind for months.

I’d convinced myself once I tasted her, I’d be able to let her go. Walk away.

But now, as my cock thickens in my pants, as my hand sinks further into her hair, and my insides turn to hot lava, I know it’s not enough.

Only the fact that she knows Jimmy Agosti keeps me from picking her up and carrying her to her room.

I rip my mouth away from hers, gritting my teeth at the immediate loss of warmth.

“How do you know Jimmy?” I fist my hand tighter at her nape, pulling her hair at the roots until she winces. This is an important question. If she has a history with him, there’s going to be problems. She could be part of whatever the fuck happened in our VIP garage.

“Viktor.” My name leaves her mouth on a harsh whisper. “Let go.”

“Tell me. No more lies. No more hiding. Tell me how you know him.” I press the length of my body against her, pushing her against the wall. Her eyes widen. The flush from our kiss drains from her cheeks.

“Please.” She closes her eyes, and a single tear slips from beneath her dark eyelashes. “I can’t.”

“What can’t you tell me?” I wipe away the tear. The little trail it’s left on her cheek pisses me off. She’s afraid, and that really pisses me off. “Where is your TV and the little china cabinet thing you had in the corner, and the table with the glass top?”

Her eyes flick to mine with surprise. There isn’t much I miss when it comes to her. I could list all of the little things she had in the cabinet, too, if it will make her talk.

“You can’t just barge into my life like this.” There’s a tremor in her voice. She’s close to breaking. There’s fear in her eyes, but something else, too. Something that’s weighing her down, crushing her, and she’s at her breaking point. All she needs to do is say the word, and I’ll take all of it off her, but she needs to speak.

“How do you know him?” I question again, keeping my voice hard. I won’t soften, not until she tells me.

Her hands are on my waist, trying to push me away from her, but it won’t work. I’m not going anywhere until I have my answers.

“I don’t want to tell you. I don’t want you here. I don’t want you involved.” She pushes harder. I should punish her for her lies, but I sense there’s fear bubbling beneath her defiance.

“The break-in at Kraze’s garage. Was that him? Did you help him?” I hate the accusation, more so that I’m not sure if she was involved or not.

Jimmy Agosti used to run one of his uncle’s crews, lifting luxury cars for resale and parts. If Marlena was meeting with him today, it could mean bad things. For both of us.

“I didn’t have anything to do with it.” She swallows, breaking her gaze with mine and looking past my shoulder. “I don’t know if it was him.”

“But you think it could be?”

She pauses. Closes her eyes. And nods. “I don’t know for sure.”

“Are you involved with him?”

“No,” she says fast. And hard.

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