Page 48 of Sinful Promise

“How long have you known about the ring?” she asks.

“I should have checked you when we left the church, but I had other things on my mind. We missed some protocols in our rush to get out quickly.”

“Why didn’t they track me and pick me up immediately?”

“I don’t know.” I rub my hand on her leg possessively. “I can only guess your father may not have told Andrian immediately. Maybe he wanted to give you a week to get this out of your system.” I shrug. “I can’t read his mind. I know that he or Andrain will come for you.”

“You know this for a fact?” Her voice quivers.

“Yes. They’re on a mission to take down the Volkov family.”

“Your last name is Volkov?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I’ve heard them talk about you. They say you lie, and I know they lie as well. I never understood what the feud was about. Why do you hate each other?”

“Years ago, my father found success where Andrian failed, and ever since, Andrian has sought revenge. We think he may have had something to do with my father’s death. And more recently, we had a gun shipment stolen from us, and I think he had a hand in that, too. It won’t ruin us, but it cost us a lot in lost profits.”

“Are you giving me back to him?” She’s playing it cool, sipping her iced tea, but the ice cubes rattle in the glass, even though her hand isn’t visibly shaking.

“No. He thinks I am, but we’re working on a solution.” I lean over and kiss the top of her head.

I slide my arm around her shoulders and feel her relax. I pull her into my chest, and she rests her head on me.

“What about some appetizers?” I say to change the subject.

The dark clouds I saw earlier gather overhead, reminding me that my enemies will be gathering along the shore, waiting for our arrival at some point in time. I need to figure out a way to keep us all alive.

19

DASHA

“Do you think Andrian and my family killed your father?” I bite my lower lip. Oh, my God. What if it’s true and my family did the unthinkable? As time passed, and I saw the malevolent side of my father and his cronies, I developed questions I was not allowed to ask.

“Yes, I do.” His face falls, and he suddenly looks like a man who has lived too many years in a short life.

It hurts to know my family killed my lover’s father. I’ve often wondered what they were capable of doing while they were away on these unexplained trips. Today, the blinders were torn off like duct tape to reveal murder and human trafficking. They were associated with the man who made money from it, even if they didn’t physically round up people to be trafficked. And that alone tells me that my family is no better than Andrian.

“I’m sorry, Roman. I didn’t know.” My stomach lurches. I’m nauseated; my worst nightmare has come true. My father has groomed my brothers to be killers.

“It’s not your fault, Dasha. I’m still waiting for conclusive evidence. Can I ask what happened to your mother?” I see his pain, and yet he’s asking about my loss.

“I don’t know. I have her name. My father is a habitual liar, so I’m not sure it’s really her name.” I lean forward and put my empty glass on the coffee table. “She left when I was very young. I have a few pictures. They’re old, and that ring obviously wasn’t hers.”

“I’ll get you a new ring, a real emerald.”

“I don’t need it,” I quickly reply as my face heats up. Am I blushing? He’s offering to buy me jewelry, which is sweet of him, but all I ever wanted—and still want—is my freedom.

The air is as heavy as the conversation.

I lift my chin and push my shoulders back. Katsia says it conveys confidence. I’ve never felt it until today. Roman was so mad at me for misleading him and about the tracker in the ring, but I stood my ground. Katsia would be proud of me. I miss her and wonder how she’s faring.

Roman dips his head and kisses me, a warm, tender caress. I return his kiss willingly. It reminds me of earlier, and the tingling sensations return between my legs. The hair on the back of my neck stands up as if lightning is nearby. From the look of the darkening sky, it’s either the weather or the man who’s hotter than hell sitting next to me. Roman’s presence cannot be ignored.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he says, his eyes soft, his voice even softer. This is a first. I’ve never had anyone apologize to me before.

“It’s okay. I understand. I had no idea about the ring. I feel so stupid.” I take the palm of my hand and smack my forehead. “I should have thought about it a long time ago. I had no idea he was savvy with that kind of technology.”

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