Page 70 of Forced Marriage Vows

She nods, look completely sure. “He’s yours, Mikhail.”

“Okay. I’m handing over the reins to you, baby. Call Sierra over here. And I’m going to need you to make sure I don’t strangle her,” I grit out.

CHAPTER 21

Anastasia

My heart is pounding in my chest. Mikhail took the news much worse than I thought he would. I was expecting him to listen to me in his cool, aloof way without showing any emotion. But his face was completely open, unguarded when he heard the news.

I saw him go through shock, then surprise, and now he’s angry. I’m not sure I blame him for that.

I meet Sierra at our apartment’s lobby. She’s been ushered in by one of the guards Mikhail insisted on sending to her apartment to pick her up. She doesn’t look happy about that at all.

“Being treated like a criminal wasn’t part of the deal when I said I’d talk to Mikhail,” she mentions as soon as she sees me.

“I know, I’m sorry. He’s just being…” I trail off, but she seems to get it.

“How did he take the news?”

“Much better than I expected,” I lie. There’s no use freaking her out further. “Just relax, okay? Where’s Jalen?”

“He’s with his grandmother. I figured Mikhail and I would hash things out first and decide the next stop before I brought him over.”

I nod. “That would be best. Come on.”

I lead her into the elevator and before long we’re standing outside the penthouse door. I’m nervous again, but for a completely different reason. Mikhail used to be in a relationship with her. They were happy. I guess a part of me is worried about feelings being rekindled now that they’ve found each other again.

Don’t be ridiculous, Anastasia, a voice whispers in my ear.

Which is honestly valid. I’m married to the man and he just spent last night giving me all the reassurance I need while fucking my brains out. We’ll be okay. I open the door, leading Sierra in.

Mikhail’s the first thing we see. He’s standing a few feet from the door, arms crossed over his chest. They both stare at each other for a long moment.

“Morozova,” Sierra finally says, her shoulders stiff.

“Colby.” He nods, blue eyes glittering with rage.

I make sure to stick by Sierra’s side, just in case he decides to do something untoward.

“Is this the part where I fall down on my knees and beg for mercy?” Sierra asks with a grimace.

I’ve noticed she tends to use humor when she’s nervous.

Mikhail snarls, “Don’t tempt me, Sierra.”

I sigh softly, stepping between them both. “How about we all just calm down and take a seat so we can discuss this amicably?”

“Amicably?” my husband grits out. “She kept a child away from his father for three years.”

“Honestly, you should be thanking me. Do you have any idea how stressful newborns are?”

I glance at her with wide eyes. “Sierra!”

She runs a hand through her hair, an apology in her eyes directed at me. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not the person you should be apologizing to,” I say, gesturing at Mikhail. “He has every right to be mad.”

“I know,” she says softly. “He’s just really scaring me right now.”

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