Page 13 of Deadly Vows

She stepped closer, her hand gently touching my back. “Loving someone isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength.”

Her words hung in the air, and I wanted to believe her. But the fear, the doubt, was too strong. I turned to face her, forcing a smile. “Let’s just focus on keeping everyone safe. That’s what’s important.”

Talia sighed, a look of disappointment flashing across her face. “Alright. But just know that I’m here for you. Always.”

I let her walk away. As I stood alone in the hallway, I made a silent vow to find Vic and make him pay for his sins until I squeezed his last breath out of him.

Chapter 8

Talia

I closed the door to my bedroom, my sanctuary turned prison again and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. The weight of Aleksandr’s words still lingered, a crushing disappointment settling over my heart. He wouldn’t admit he loved me. I could feel the tears threatening to spill, but I refused to let them fall. I had cried enough for one lifetime.

Aleksandr had tried to convince me that he was keeping me at the mansion to keep me and the baby safe. I wanted to believe him, but his cold demeanor and the way he kept his emotions locked away made it hard. Was he protecting us out of duty or something deeper? I didn’t know.

I crossed the room and sat on the edge of my bed, the luxurious mattress giving way under my weight. My thoughts wandered back to Danny, my ex-boyfriend. He had cheated on me and then stalked me, turning my world upside down. Trusting men had never come easy for me, especially after growing up in foster homes filled with abuse. I had little experience with love, and the glimpses I had seen were tainted by pain and betrayal.

But Aleksandr was different—or at least, I wanted him to be. I craved his love and yearned for the family I had always dreamed of. But was I fooling myself? I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

Feeling the walls closing in, I grabbed my phone and dialed Sandy’s number. She was the one person who was always there for me, no matter how far away we were from each other. The phone rang a few times before she answered.

“Talia? Is everything okay?” Sandy asked.

“No,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “Aleksandr… he won’t admit he loves me. He says he’s just keeping me here to keep me and the baby safe.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Do you love him?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “At least, I think I do. And after everything that has happened, I want to believe he loves me, too, but I’m second-guessing myself.”

“Talia, what do you want from Aleksandr?” Sandy’s voice was gentle but firm.

“I want him to love me,” I said, my voice trembling. “I want him to love the baby and marry me. I want the family I’ve always dreamed of.”

Sandy sighed. “It’s not easy to love a man like Aleksandr, Talia. He’s involved in the criminal world, and men like him keep themselves closed off to love and relationships. You might have to face the fact that although it’s obvious he cares for you, he may never be the man you want him to be.”

Her words were like a slap across my face, but deep down, I knew she was right. Loving Aleksandr was like trying to hold onto a phantom.

“You’re right, sis,” I admitted. A tear slipped down my cheek as I ended the call with Sandy, feeling more lost than ever.

The night was long and restless. I tossed and turned, unable to find peace in the silence. My mind replayed Aleksandr’s words over and over, mingling with memories of Danny and the foster homes. I wanted to believe that Aleksandr was different and capable of love. But the fear of getting hurt again was strong.

Hours ticked by, and I gave up on sleep by the time the sun peeked over the horizon. My stomach growled with hunger, the baby wanting to be fed. I slipped out of bed, put on my robe, and tiptoed downstairs, hoping to find something to eat without waking anyone. As I entered the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. To my surprise, Nikolai was there.

“Good morning,” he greeted me with a nod. “Couldn’t sleep?”

“Morning, Nikolai,” I replied, my voice still groggy. “No sleep for me.”

He handed me a cup of coffee, and I accepted it gratefully. “Thinking about Aleksandr?” he asked, his tone casual but knowing.

“Yes,” I admitted. “And other things.”

We stood in silence for a moment, sipping our coffee. Finally, I gathered the courage to ask, “Has Vic been found yet?”

Nikolai’s expression darkened. A storm brewed behind his blue eyes. “No, he’s still in hiding. But it’s only a matter of time before he’s found and disposed of.”

A chill crept down my spine. Murder, kidnapping, disposing of people…it was ruthless. But this was the world Aleksandr belonged to, which I was now a part of.

“I want to see Sandy,” I blurted out, needing a distraction from my thoughts. “But I don’t know how to get Aleksandr to agree to let me go.”

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