Page 36 of Unbreakable Vow

“No?” I’d asked him something?

“Your makeup. I wouldn’t prefer if you wore more.” His eyes are soft when he speaks. It’s as close to a compliment as he gets, I think.

“Andrei. Sergei.” Viktor looks up from his phone where he’s sitting on the couch. “I have information we need to discuss.”

“Viktor, they just got married.” Marlena nudges him. “Can’t business wait?”

“It’s fine. Let’s go to my office.” Sergei gestures. “We’ll have lunch after. Mrs. Yugov will have it all prepared.” He squeezes my hand when I don’t let go right away.

He’s leaving me alone with these strangers. I have no idea how to act. Do I pretend we’re an actual couple, or do they know this is just a business arrangement?

“It’s all right. They’re family.” He peels his hand from mine and touches my chin, lifting it a bit until he can look directly into my eyes. The room goes silent for that blink of a moment before he lets me go and moves away from me.

One moment he looks ready to dive into my soul. The next he can’t get away fast enough.

I’m never going to understand this man.

“Behave while we’re gone,” Andrei orders his wife. She rolls her eyes, but her expression softens when his lips brush across her cheek.

Sergei glances at me once over his shoulder before disappearing down the hall, but I can’t tell if he looks more or less grumpy than he usually does.

Marlena leans on the arm of the couch.

“You know Viktor is going to pursue you even harder now,” Izzy says, sitting on the seat beside Marlena.

My eyes widen. “Oh, you’re not married to him? I thought you were both married.”

“No. Not yet.” Marlena brushes her chopped black hair behind her ear as she settles back onto the loveseat. “I will. I just haven’t told him yet.”

“She likes to torture him.” Izzy laughs. “Not that he doesn’t deserve it. You don’t just order a woman to marry you. That’s not how it’s supposed to work.”

“And yet, it did for you,” Marlena points out with a grin. “Besides, I like doing things on my own time, but the next time he asks, I’m going to say yes.”

“What if he doesn’t ask again?” I question. Viktor looks every bit as big and powerful as Sergei, and I can’t imagine Sergei asking anything a second time.

Her smile falters a little.

“He will. He’s too stubborn not to,” Izzy assures her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything. It’s just I can’t imagine Sergei asking anything a second time, much less more than that. He’s so… well… he’s just so…”

“Stubborn?” Marlena offers.

“Obsessive?” Izzy chimes in.

“Bossy.” I sigh. “Viktor and Andrei have the same fierceness about them as Sergei. Are they like that too? Always bossing you around?”

They share a look and laugh.

“Hell, yes. But you get used to it,” Izzy says. “It’s almost always because they’re being overprotective. It comes from a good place, but it’s annoying. I know.”

“Okay, I have to ask.” Marlena moves over to the seat closest to me. “How in the world did Sergei get you to say yes to this?”

“Marlena!” Izzy pinches her.

“Sorry, but we’re both wondering.” Marlena rubs her arm. “Seriously, I know he needed to get married because of his grandmother dying, but how did he find you so fast?”

“Was he close to his grandmother?” I’ve been so caught up in my problem with Mom, I’d forgotten about his grandmother’s passing. It’s the whole reason he’s needed me to marry him, and I haven’t even asked him about it. He’s been grieving and I’ve been taking advantage.

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