Page 49 of Forbidden Vows

POP. POP.

A few more shots ring out as I run as fast as my feet can carry me, desperate to survive, desperate for my unborn child to survive.

Ian shoots back. We turn a corner to find a car waiting, engine running. Ian opens the driver’s side door and shoves me into the passenger seat, before climbing in beside me. He guns the accelerator.

“Oh, shit!” I scream when the side-view mirror of the car explodes from another bullet. In a flash, we’re speeding up the road, engine roaring, as we leave our assailants behind. “Oh, God, Oh, God, oh, my God…”

“A simple thank you would suffice,” Ian grunts as he leans into the steering wheel.

“Thank you! Who were those people?”

“Precisely the people I expected to show up as soon as you came here,” Ian says. Beads of sweat bloom across his forehead. He doesn’t look well, and it quickly becomes clear why. Red blooms across his white shirt and grey vest. “Eileen, perhaps now you understand why your husband wanted you to stay put.”

“Oh, my God, Ian! You’ve been shot! We need to get you to a hospital!” I yell.

He shakes his head, eyes sharply focused on the road. “I’m good. I just need to get you home, Eileen. Mr. Karpov is on his way as we speak.”

My blood runs cold as I realize that my reckoning is coming a lot sooner than I had hoped. Glancing back, I breathe a momentary sigh of relief when it appears that no one seems to be following us.

“What about my dad?” I ask.

“They’re not after him, Eileen. They’re after you.”

I shudder, my skin crawling as I struggle with the concept. I was raised my whole life knowing that I’d become a target for one of my father’s rivals sooner or later. But that day never came, and I was always well-protected. It completely slipped my mind until now.

I am still susceptible to violence, and this serves as a grim reminder.

Once back at the mansion, I discover that Anton has doubled the security detail. I was able to speak to my father on the phone—courtesy of Anton calling him. He’s fine, but worried about me. I feel like such a fool, but I’m angry.

“I think you understand now why I’ve been insistent on you staying put,” Anton says, his gaze set on my face.

“I understood that there were risks involved in any sort of outing, but I was careful—”

“Careful? Eileen, it doesn’t matter how careful you think you’re being, because our enemies have eyes on every single point of interest. Your father’s house included. They were already there, waiting for you.

“I didn’t think they’d be at my father’s house,” I say meekly.

“Well, they were. And like I told you before, I will protect you and our child, no matter the cost.”

“I’m the one paying, though, being kept in the dark and locked up in my own home,” I mutter.

“Our enemies will stop at nothing to hurt you.”

“Yourenemies,” I correct him.

Anton gives me a hard look. “Myenemies?”

“You’re the one they’re trying to get to by hurting me. They’reyourenemies.”

“Let me remind you that you were already pregnant with my child, and fully aware of it when you allowed Sergei Kuznetsov to visit and discuss your wedding arrangements,” he shoots back. “Let’s not play saints, Eileen. We each have our share of the blame here.”

I lower my gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“It’s frustrating as hell; I get it.”

“Is this what it’s going to be like from now on?” I ask, my eyes filled with tears. “Constantly looking over my shoulder? Afraid to leave the house? Walking around with an army of bodyguards? Is this my life, Anton? It was never this bad in my father’s business.”

He takes a deep breath and sits on the sofa next to me. “It’s just until I find out who’s behind the threats and the attacks. Right now, I don’t have any conclusive evidence against anybody in particular, especially Kuznetsov. And without proof, I can’t make a case within the organization either.”

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