Page 56 of Forbidden Vows

I’m about to ask her about those first few months of their marriage when an intense presence clouds the corner of my eye. Slowly, I turn my head and see him approaching. “Oh, shit,” I mutter, damn near crushing my virgin cocktail glass with my bare hand. “Sergei.”

“Relax, nobody’s packing tonight,” Laura whispers.

“What?”

“Guns. Knives. This is a clean event. Everybody got screened thoroughly before they even made it through the gates,” she says.

“Mrs. Karpova,” Sergei says upon reaching us. “It’s nice to see you again; however, I wish it were under different circumstances.”

“Mr. Kuznetsov,” I politely reply, my skin crawling all over. I’m grateful to have Laura by my side in such an uncomfortable moment. My gaze briefly wanders across the room again, looking for Anton. I don’t see him anywhere, which is probably why Sergei decided to approach me. “What do you mean?”

He smiles, but it’s a flat, fake smile. “I mean under different circumstances, you and I as man and wife. Alas, that wasn’t possible. No hard feelings, though?”

“Really? No hard feelings?” I snap, remembering the attack that Ian and I barely survived. “Then what were those goons doing around my father’s house?”

“I can assure you I wasn’t responsible for that. I’ve presented the Karpov brothers with all the evidence they needed to no longer consider me a threat,” Sergei calmly says. “I suppose they still suspect me of dark intentions, but I’ve moved on. As for the goons you mentioned, I don’t know anything about that. As I told your husband, I am not responsible. If the factions within our organization were offended by the whole affair, I greatly apologize, but I had nothing to do with the attack at your father’s house.”

“Whatever, Sergei. I was almost shot down in the middle of the street. While pregnant, might I add.”

“Mrs. Karpova, I understand your frustration and I agree it was a most heinous act. As a gesture of good faith, I offered my security resources to the Karpov brothers to catch the assailants as quickly and as swiftly as possible,” Sergei says.

I have a hard time believing him. Everything about him feels fake, like he’s slithering around me like a snake prepping his prey, but a man of his stature is difficult to take down without any palpable evidence.

“Did they ever catch the assassins?” Laura asks, her tone much softer than mine.

He shakes his head. “I’m afraid not. But I do know they won’t be foolish enough to try again. Especially now that I have been somewhat vindicated.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“You haven’t heard? Oh, I suppose you’re still estranged from your stepsister. Ciara can be remarkably proud, but it’s what I like best about her,” he laughs lightly.

My stomach drops. “I don’t understand.”

“Your father proposed I marry Ciara in light of your unforeseen nuptials. I made her quite an attractive offer,” Sergei says, his eyes carefully searching my face. “I have a good feeling about it, too. I’m confident Ciara and I will forge quite the—what do they call it? Power couple.”

It’s as if the entire ceiling just dropped onto my head.

For a moment, I find myself unable to breathe. My vision blurs, and the room starts spinning. A subtle nudge from Laura brings me back to earth, grounding me as I look at her in sheer horror, then back at Sergei.

“Excuse me?” I ask with a weak voice.

He seems quite satisfied with my reaction. The manipulative prick. “Ciara may very well accept my marriage proposal. If she does, plenty of fences will be mended and we will become family, after all.”

“Ciara would never.”

“I don’t know, after the stunt you pulled with Anton Karpov, I wouldn’t put it past her,” his smile is sinister. “She would suit me better, anyway, and it’s in her best interest, as well, if you think about it. Your father won’t be around forever.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her, either,” Laura mumbles in my ear.

Sergei is clearly pleased with himself as he takes a moment to look around. Yet when he sees Anton coming, quickly carving a path through the thick crowd of guests, his humor fades. No wonder. The look on Anton’s face speaks of bloody murder.

“Either way, it’s a pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Karpova. And I do hope that you and the baby are in good health,” he says.

“Babies,” Laura shoots back. “They’re having twins.”

It’s Sergei’s turn to look surprised. “What can I say, other than congratulations?”

“The Karpov seed is strong,” I reply. “I can’t say I regret my choice.”

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