Page 113 of Deceitful Vows

“Exactly,” I agree. “Someone fucked up. Most likely on purpose. If we can find out who that is, perhaps we can convince them to tell us who else is willing to do the same.”

I glare at him when he mutters, “You’ll just need to keep your bullets out of their skulls long enough to get answers when we find them.” When the heat of my stare becomes too much for him to bear, he huffs out, “I’m not saying I wouldn’t have done the same. Dr. Makarand was getting too big for his britches.” His dark eyes flick up. “As is he.”

I work my jaw side to side when Dr. Fairmont is greeted in the driveway of my home by Dina. She air kisses his cheeks before gesturing for him to come in.

“This is his third visit this week.”

“Fourth,” Konstantine corrects. “He dropped off some pamphlets yesterday afternoon.”

He clicks on his keyboard a handful of times before bringing up the footage he is referring to. The pamphlets are similar to the ones Dr. Hemway gave Zoya during her last visit, but they’re excluding risqué cartoon character art.

Does that mean what I think it does? Was Arabella’s first attempt at conception unsuccessful for reasons other than me praying long and fucking hard for a negative outcome?

If so, perhaps I should be paying more attention to my wife than the occasional grunt I’ve directed at her over the past month.

When my eyes dart from Dr. Fairmont to Dina, the heat of my gaze shifts her focus to me. She startles, as if surprised by my watch, before she bows out of our stare down with a faint smile.

That’s unexpected. She usually fights tooth and nail to gain my attention, even more so when someone keeping her daughter in my favor is close by.

The changeup ensures I was wrong to place an extra set of eyes on only my father. Dina deserves her own shadow, and for once, that cast won’t be instigated by her daughter.

Konstantine looks up from his laptop when I say, “If Dr. Fairmont so much as gets within a foot of Arabella with a vial of my sperm, take him out.”

The federation wants Arabella to be their next First Lady. Their terms state nothing about her birthing an heir. Now that I know why that is, there’s no longer any reason for me to continue with that side of my deception. I will find out what happened to my mother, and with Zak’s fifth birthday looming, it may be soon.

Konstantine’s grin leaps onto my face when he mutters, “It’ll be my pleasure.”

44

ZOYA

There is no better fix for a broken ego than spoiling someone more defeated than you, but I don’t recommend indulging when you’re spending money you didn’t earn.

For how worked up I was when I left my apartment, I’m shocked to announce that my splurge was a little on the lenient side.

I can’t say the same for my guilt.

I spend thousands in mere minutes, and although it is already resulting in my best friend getting a taste of the lavish lifestyle she could live if she’d ever consider placing herself first, I still feel like trash.

I guess that’s expected.

Homewreckers aren’t known for their graciousness.

Also, since I’ve had plenty of time to contemplate during our flight across the country, I may have overreacted earlier. Andrik’s contract blatantly specified his wish for an heir. Why would it be worded like that if he already has a son? It makes no sense, but I’m out of time to deliberate further since I am begrudgingly following Nikita into the elevator of our hotel.

This is my first elevator ride since that fateful one weeks ago.

The elevator is surprisingly packed for the late hour, though void of anyone who shares the same blood as Andrik.

I scan every face—twice—just to be sure.

As I butt shoulders with the lady who hasn’t quit eyeballing me for the past seven hours, I slip on the mask I don’t plan to remove for a single second over the next four days.

This weekend isn’t about me or my stupid ideas of relationships. It is a chance to reacquaint myself with my sister and to make sure my best friend knows there’s more to life than endless bills and cruel medical diagnoses.

I plan to be honest, just not until I’m confident my confession won’t add more circles to the dark ones rimming Nikita’s eyes. Gigi was right. Nikita is one wayward step from burnout, so I need to do anything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Nikita is the foundation of our family.

---