Page 124 of Deceitful Vows

My decisions are hurting her, and for what reason? The federation wants me to fall in line. Who better to help me do that than the hellion I crave more than air?

It will be harder to protect her when they learn of the wealth she offers my life, but that’ll be easier to achieve since I will no longer have to hide her away.

I also dare them to try. They felt my wrath when I was blindsided by Zakhar’s lineage. That won’t be one tenth of the hell I’ll rain down on them if they try to hurt Zoya.

Mikhail leaves one of the bars dotted around the aquatic wonderland petty criminals were planning to use as their playground when he spots me exiting the pool cabana I dragged Zoya into hours ago.

We didn’t spend the entire time fucking. We talked, and I ate—again. It was the most delicious palette I’ve ever sampled, but it left Zoya so zonked that my numerous attempts to wake her were fraudulent.

Her exhaustion means I have to leave her in Mikhail’s care again. The torment isn’t as bad since I know it will be short-lived.

“Maksim was pissed as fuck that you left your station mid-stakeout,” Mikhail murmurs, his drawl similar to the one he used numerous times during our childhood when he was starting trouble. “But I reckon he might be thanking you now.” He grins when I stare at him with a cocked brow. “Konstantine will explain on the way.” He tosses me a set of keys and a new listening device before he heads for the cabana I just left.

“Mikhail…”

He doesn’t turn around as my stern grumble demands, but he does give me the answer I’m seeking. “I’ll leave your note this time. I promise.”

Mindful he doesn’t hand out promises like candy on Halloween, I tell him I will return shortly, before heading for my sports car parked out front after a brief stop at the giftshop.

The streets are packed, but the joys of owning a high-powered prototype is that you can get anywhere fast. Not as fast as my helicopter, though the rush is almost as blood pumping.

Though I doubt anything will match the rush of euphoria I experience anytime Zoya is quivering beneath me.

Anoushka greets me in the foyer when I enter my home. Since it is warm out, I’m not wearing a coat, so she removes a soft leather briefcase from my grasp and stores it in the coat closet.

“Zakhar?”

One name and her face lights up with fondness. “He is well…considering.” She closes the coat room door and then spins to face me to slacken the groove between my brows with words. “He hasn’t stopped asking for you all morning. There were numerous comments about a promised treat.”

Her smile is as bright as the low-hanging sun when I jingle the chocolates I purchased from the hotel giftshop on the way out. They’re dark and filled with creams only old ladies love, but when you’ve been deprived of sweets most of your life, you don’t care how bad they taste. You devour every piece.

“I better refill hisvodkabefore waking him. We don’t want him up all night with a tummy ache.”

Concern colors my tone. “He’s asleep?”

When she nods, I check the time. It is late enough in the afternoon to serve supper.

Anoushka’s reply weakens the guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. “He heard you sneak out and refused to settle until an hour ago. He is in good spirits.” Her kind eyes say the words my mouth refuses to speak. If only good spirits could fix his heart.“Would you like me to wake him now?”

I almost nod, but I can’t pledge to stop being selfish only to break it hours later. So instead, I shake my head. “Let him sleep. We will have plenty of time for sweets when he gets a new heart.”

There are no ifs or buts when it comes to the last part of my statement.

Zakhar will get a new heart. I will make sure of it.

“Okay.” Anoushka rubs my arms in a motherly manner. “I’ll be in the den if you need me.”

She’s halfway there when I ask, “Is Konstantine here?”

Her gesture mimics the one I made moments ago. “He hasn’t been back since this morning. Would you like me to reach out to him?”

I take a moment to deliberate before replying, “No. I can handle this.”

I also don’t want any witnesses. The last thing I need now is my crew thinking I am a spineless leech.

Anoushka’s smile is a little more hesitant this time. I understand why when I crank my neck in the direction of her gaze. A long fleet of SUVs are rolling down my driveway. The one in the middle of the pack is flagged.

“Move Zakhar into my room.”

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