Page 76 of Twisted Vows

She grabs my glass and takes a sip, watching me over the rim. “So, what happens now?” she asks, her tone casual but pointed. “You kill Nikolai and pretend this never happened?”

I take the glass back and stare into the clear liquid like it holds the answers. “That’s one option.”

Her lips twitch, but there’s no real humor in it. “And the other options?”

I glance at her, my jaw tightening. “You don’t want to know.”

“You think I don’t see the cracks?” she continues, her voice softer now. “You’re not invincible, Maxsim. Even you can’t see everything coming.”

Her words hit harder than I expect, and I respond before I can stop myself. “You think I don’t know that? I almost lost you today. Twice.”

The admission slips out before I can reel it back. My voice cracks slightly on the last word, and the moment it does, I regret it.

Ari’s teasing smile fades, replaced by something softer. She leans forward slightly. “Max—”

Before I can respond, the study door creaks open again.

Alexey steps inside, his presence filling the room like a cold wind. He doesn’t bother with pleasantries, his sharp gaze moving between me and Ari before settling on me.

“I take it you’re brooding,” he says flatly, pulling a chair across from me.

I gesture to the empty glass on the table. “This doesn’t look like brooding to you?”

He snorts. “Anton is finished with the man from the guesthouse.”

I sit up straighter. “And?”

Alexey leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. The firelight sharpens the angles of his face. “Sal is working with people outside the country. Nikolai is just a bit player in a drama with far-reaching consequences.”

The words hit like a blow. I tighten my grip on the glass, the vodka sloshing against the sides.

“Did we have names yet?”

“Not all of them,” Alexey replies. “But we will very soon.”

The weight of his words settles over the room.

“Anything else?” I ask, my voice tight.

“Yes.” Alexey’s gaze shifts to Ari. “Your wife needs to stay out of this.”

My jaw tightens. “She’s not the problem.”

“She’s a distraction,” Alexey counters, his tone sharp. “And distractions aren’t something we can afford right now.”

Ari stiffens beside me, but I don’t look at her. My gaze stays locked on Alexey.

“She’s my wife,” I say evenly. “And this is my decision.”

For a moment, Alexey doesn’t respond. Then he stands, his chair scraping against the floor. “Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment, Max.”

He leaves without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

I glance at Ari, expecting anger, but her expression is calm.

“Distraction, huh?” she says lightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

I exhale sharply, a hint of a smirk breaking through despite myself. “You? Never.”

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