Page 75 of Unbreakable Vow

There’s a black streak down her right cheek where what little mascara she wears has run off from her tears.

I lick my thumb then wipe away the beautiful mess.

“I meant what I said, Cora. You’re beautiful and if I ever hear you say otherwise again, I’ll punish you far worse than a belting. And you won’t find any sort of orgasm at the end of it either.” I lean down, claiming her mouth with my own.

“Careful, Sergei.” She grins up at me. “If you keep saying things like that, you might lose your asshole reputation.”

I arch a brow.

“It’s going to take a lot more than me telling you how beautiful you are for that to happen.” I kiss her once more. “Youneed to get dressed, and I need to find something to clean off this platform.”

“You’re goingto break that glass if you grip it any tighter.” Andrei slaps my shoulder, coming to stand beside me with a drink of his own.

“If his hand creeps any lower, I’m going to cut it off.” I shoot the last of my drink down my throat and slam it onto the first tray that passes me.

We’ve been at this fucking twenty-five-year celebration of whichever charity this is forever. I don’t want to be here.

I want to be at home, in my bed, with my cock stuffed down her throat, or in that hot, wet, tight pussy of hers.

Instead, I’m standing on the side of the dance floor watching my wife be swept off her feet by one of the host’s sons.

“The fingers won’t be enough this time?” Andrei goads me.

“You heard about that?”

He laughs. “Yeah. I heard about it.”

“You disapprove?”

“Fuck, no. If he’d said those things about Izzy, I’d have done the same.” He nods toward the dance floor. “She’s held her own tonight.”

“Bringing her was a mistake.” I fist my hands as I shove them into my pockets.

“Why? She’s played her part perfectly. The sweet side of the asshole Sergei Petrov. She’s even made the alderman more at ease in your presence.”

“I don’t want him at ease. I want him to do what we tell him to do and leave us the fuck alone otherwise.” I don’t take my eyes off her. Most important, I’m watching that fucker’s hand slip another half inch lower on her back.

“Down, boy, someone will think you’re being a little possessive of your wife.” Andrei nudges me. “That would be ridiculous, right? I mean you don’t love her. She’s just a business partner.”

“I should have beaten you harder when we were children.” I tear my gaze away from Cora to shoot him a look that would wet most men’s pants.

My cousin laughs. “Relax. The man she’s dancing with doesn’t enjoy the company of women outside of these public appearances.” Andrei sips his drink.

The tension eases in my neck, but only a little.

“You should have brought Izzy; she would have kept Cora busy and then she wouldn’t have been available to dance with anyone.”

“Izzy is studying for finals.” He rolls his shoulders. “And the last time I brought her to one of these things, I almost had to break a few hands myself.”

“So, you locked her away?” I huff. “And Viktor? Why is he not here tonight?”

“Marlena needed him for something tonight.” He shrugs.

“Any word on Oleg yet?”

“No. But I’ve been given assurances the detective has nothing and is being taken care of internally.”

I turn to look at him. “What does that mean?”

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