Page 61 of Cruel Promise

After we get on the motorcycle, he has me wrap my arms around his back. Nikolai won’t like this.

Maxim drives me back to Nikolai’s house. The wind whips through my hair, and the intensity scares me. The motorcycle life is not for me.

The moment we arrive at Nikolai’s house, Edmund comes running outside. “Ava. Thank god you’re all right. Get away from her.” He tries shooing Maxim away, but Maxim walks right past him up to the house.

“Mr. Petrov isn’t here,” Edmund explains.

“Then I can wait.”

“Where is he?” I ask Edmund.

“Out looking for you. I’ll call him and let him know you’re back.”

Why does the idea of Nikolai searching for me make my stomach flutter? It’s not from fear.

It’s from that word I can barely make myself admit.Arousal.

After Edmund calls Nikolai, it takes less then fifteen minutes for Nikolai to pull up to the sidewalk. Edmund, Maxim, and I all stand on the front steps. Maxim’s two men stay on their bikes, but I can tell they’re watching.

The air is tense as Nikolai slowly approaches. Without a word to me, he positions his body between me and Maxim. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Maxim nods at me. “I brought her back to you. Her father was trying to sell her to me.”

Nikolai tenses and glances at me. I can feel the heat on my face. Eventually, he turns back to Maxim. “So … you’re saying you saved my wife?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Maxim crosses his arms. “Look, Nikolai, I want peace. I don’t want to fight. I just don’t want to be treated like a fucking dog. Take this as a peace offering. I didn’t harm your wife. She can tell you. I don’t want to be owned by you. This is me saying The Knights will no longer be working for you.”

“You just made that decision all on your own?” Nikolai asks in a low voice.

“I did. Because you made me the president of The Knights. Take the win, Nikolai. I won’t come for you. Don’t come for me.” He doesn’t wait for Nikolai to respond as he gets on his bike and rides away.

Edmund, Nikolai, and I are all quiet.

When I finally try to speak, he walks into the house without even looking at me. The fact he didn’t even check in to see if I’m ok hurts. But then again, Nikolai and I don’t have a real marriage. A real one is built on love and respect.

So, why should it matter how he treats me?

NIKOLAI

Dimitri is dancing with a pretty redhead at his fucking loud club as I storm up to him. After he takes one look at me, he apologizes to the girl, and we head up to his private booth.

“What’s up, Nik?” he asks.

I don’t bother correcting him this time. I have other things to worry about. Mostly, that Maxim thought he could use myown wifeas a bargaining chip against me. He wants peace.

But he just declared an act of war by even going near Ava in the first place.

“I want Maxim Baranov dead. And I want it to be bloody.”

Dimitri slowly smiles, telling me everything I need to know.

Chapter

Nine

AVA

Nikolai storms into the kitchen, his breath heavy and his eyes a little wild.

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