Page 20 of Forbidden Vows

“Anton, where are you?” Ciara calls out.

I freeze, my eyes wide with horror, but Anton gives me a smile and a reassuring wink. “Give me five minutes, then come back inside,” he whispers before raising his voice so Ciara can hear him. “Right here, darling, hold on.”

He dashes back to the terrace steps, while I remain sheltered under the sycamore tree with its thick, heavy crown. I count my breaths as I listen to Anton and Ciara chatting before they go back into the ballroom.

As soon as I’m alone again, I burst into tears.

Chapter 6

Anton

Iknew I’d see her again.

I just didn’t expect to feel like I’d been struck by lightning. For two months, I’d been telling myself that it was all in the past. One night. A reasonable mistake that was absolutely worth making. Seeing her the other night, however, had proven that it wasnotin the past at all.

“Earth to Anton,” Andrei says, pulling me back into the present. “What the hell is up with you these past few days?”

“I’m fine; relax,” I tell him. “Eyes on the ball, brother.”

We’re seated at a massive conference table on the first floor of the Upton Conference Center—a favorite meeting spot for our organization. Cameras and tight security. State-of-the-art surveillance and meeting services. All Karpov-owned. When we call the Bratva families for a meeting, we make sure it’s on our turf. Our terms.

We’re still waiting for a couple of guests. Most everyone else is here, exchanging pleasantries and gossip.

I find myself focused on the Fedorovs, probably because of Eileen’s mother. She was a Fedorov. Ivan’s sister, to be specific. He’s here with another sister, Petra.

He’s still alive and kicking, still ruling over his family with an iron fist.

Still haunted by her death.

“Seriously, what’s up with you?” Andrei asks in a low voice. “You’ve been distracted since the engagement party.”

“It’s nothing; I promise.”

“It’s not nothing. I saw the looks you and Eileen were giving each other. What happened that night with the Tommy bullshit?”

I give my brother a hard scowl. “This really isn’t the time to talk about that.”

“Fine, we can discuss it later. But right now, I need you here with me, alright? Kuznetsov isn’t playing. He’ll have plenty to say when he arrives.”

“I’m with you,” I reassure Andrei.

But I’m feeling the same uneasiness Andrei is. Kuznetsov has been making a few unsettling business moves across Chicago lately, building up competition against the Karpovs where he shouldn’t. It’s the beginning of a power play, and getting his hands on Eileen Donovan is just the icing on the cake. My instincts are right, at least where Sergei is concerned.

He’s up to something.

“Look at the Abramovic gang, those sneers on their faces,” I whisper to Andrei.

“They always act like pompous, arrogant pricks,” he scoffs, following my gaze.

“It’s different this time.”

“Kuznetsov’s influence?”

“Most likely. The Fedorovs have always been neutral, siding with the family in power, but I can’t trust them anymore. Not with Sergei marrying Ivan’s niece. That’ll make Sergei family.”

“You’ll be family, too, by marriage,” Andrei reminds me.

“Not good enough. Ciara’s not a Donovan by blood. There are times when I think I’m marrying the wrong sister.”

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