Page 62 of Unbreakable Vow

“I’m not sure I learned my lesson, Sergei. You may have to teach me again,” I say between gulps of air as he nuzzles into my neck. “In the morning. If I’m not dead.” I laugh.

He bites my shoulder. “Brat.”

“There’s been nothing?How can one man be this difficult to find?” I flex my fingers, trying to ease some of the tension from my joints.

It’s been a week since Cora saw my shit for brains cousin at the coffee house with the detective, and no matter how many stones we turn over, the maggot isn’t under any of them.

“Because he’s using your grandmother’s connections to keep him hidden.” Viktor frowns at the cards fanned out in his hand. “You’re sure it’s him?”

“Cora described the scar I gave him perfectly,” I explain, looking at the door of Andrei’s study. Cora and the girls are in the living room watching a movie. Every now and then there’s an eruption of laughter, and my ears perk up each time I hear Cora’s laugh.

She deserves to have a night of fun. Most of her time is spent sitting with her mother and helping the nursing staff. I’m not sure bringing her mom to live with us was the best decision for Cora. She’s exhausted by the end of the day. The doctors haveexplained the disease is progressing rapidly, and her mother has lost more mobility in the last week.

“If it’s Boris, then he has no information that would help this detective with anything.” Andrei throws his cards down on the table, folding his hand.

I toss a chip onto the pile and raise the bet before looking to Viktor. “It could all be bullshit. Anything to try to fight my grandmother’s will. I’ve met with the board already. He has no claim, she left clear instructions of what she wanted. But he’s one of them, so who knows what lengths he’ll try to get his way.”

I lay my cards down after Viktor meets my bet. “Ah. I win.” I shove the cards into the discard pile and pull the tower of chips toward me.

“I didn’t know you had such interest in the company.” Andrei shuffles the cards. “Other than the arms division, what need do you have for the jewelry and scraps?”

“I have none. You know that.” I stack my chips neatly.

“Still going to destroy the whole thing?” Viktor cuts the deck for Andrei.

“Yep.” I check the door again.

“She’s fine.” Andrei catches my gaze as he deals out the next hand.

“I know,” I snap, picking up my cards and fanning them out.

“Do you? You keep watching the door. Is it because you want to be in there with her and the girls, or is because you expect her to come running in here at any moment?” Viktor studies his cards, shuffling them around into some sort of order.

“It’s been quiet, that’s all.” There haven’t been any sounds in the last half hour.

“Maybe the movie ended.” Andrei shrugs and checks his watch. “We’ve been playing for a while.”

“Do you want to go check on her?” Viktor mocks with his tone.

“She’s fine.” I toss my ante into the pile.

“You sure you don’t miss her?” Viktor teases more.

“I’m surprised you’ve gone this long without going in there to make sure Marlena hasn’t run off.” I give it back to him.

He laughs. “I’ve already admitted I love that woman. It’s you who has issues in that department.” He slides three cards toward Andrei, who deals another three to him.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. As usual.” I slide over my two discards and take what Andrei deals back.

“So, you admit you care for her?” Viktor pushes.

“I admit it’s none of your fucking business.” I fan out the cards and put the bad cards to the left in my hand.

“Hmmm. So, you won’t admit you like her, or worse, love her?” Viktor gives a fake shiver.

“Love has nothing to do with our arrangement.” I give Andrei a pointed look. “You gonna bet?”

He tosses three blue chips in.

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