Page 23 of Unbreakable Vow

Getting that business in my name is the priority. No matter the cost.

The Kustov family will not get a penny of it. They turned their backs on my mother, broke her heart.

Rejected by her own family.

It’s time they pay for it.

“Let me know what you find out about the cop.” I leave them frowning at me. They don’t understand what it’s like to have someone turn their back on them.

I quicken my step. Cora wouldn’t have backed out of our agreement like this. She wouldn’t have left.

She needs the money I offered.

She won’t just leave that on the table.

She’ll be back.

And I’ll give her one chance to explain why she feels the need to be so damn disobedient before I teach her a lesson about how things are going to go from now on.

Mrs. Yugov greetsme when I enter the house with a tense smile pressed to her lips.

“You’re back,” she says, relief evident in her eyes. She reaches for my jacket as I slip out of it and takes my purse with it, hanging both in the small closet beside the door.

“Thanks, I’ll take that to my room. Is everything all right?” I ask when she reaches for my computer bag.

“Of course.” She looks over her shoulder. “Sergei is home. He’s been looking for you.”

I bite on the inside of my cheek. I declined three calls from him this afternoon. A man like him probably isn’t used to being sent to voicemail.

“Were you able to get done what you wanted to get done?” she asks, peeking over her shoulder.

I’m not usually a breakfast fan, but Mrs. Yugov had made me a plate before I even came downstairs. It smelled too good to pass up. When she tried to coax me into staying home, Iexplained how much better I concentrate with the busy sounds of the coffee shop around me.

“Not as much as I wanted,” I sigh. There’s not an overabundant job market right now for inexperienced administrative assistants. The three months I worked at the realtor’s office isn’t getting me in any more doors even for an interview.

I spent the afternoon looking for cheap administrative assistant online classes that might help me get a better paying job quickly. Unfortunately, even the cheapest classes are too expensive when you have nothing in the bank.

If the police officer had showed up again, and I had been able to get more information for Sergei—even better.

But I wasn’t able to even settle into my usual table before I got a call from Mom’s facility.

The last two hours have drained me. I’m in no mood to fight with Sergei, and the text I received from him earlier expressed his annoyance that I didn’t stay tethered to his house while he was away for the day.

“He’s in his office,” she warns. “That hall there, the third door on the left.”

I nod.

“So, avoid that, got it.” I give her a thumbs up.

She chuckles. “He’ll find you no matter where you hide. He’s a persistent man when he wants something.”

It’s my turn to laugh.

“Then not to worry. He doesn’t actually want me, he just needs…” I let the words die. I’m not sure if it’s all right for anyone to know that our marriage is to be on paper only. And for only a short period. Mrs. Yugov has been with him for years and years, and can be trusted, but it may not be something he wants known.

“I’m going to go upstairs. I promise I’ll deal with him in a little bit.” I sling my bag over my shoulder.

“No. You’ll deal with him now.” Sergei’s unmistakable voice precedes him. A breath later, he steps around the corner, a sour expression already forming on his face.

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