Page 64 of Forbidden Vows

I take it back.

As soon as I see the building, I know exactly what it’s about. My heart begins to beat faster, the anticipation quick to take over as I look to Anton for guidance.

“What are we doing here?” I ask him, though I’m already certain of the answer.

Ian waits in the car, while my husband and I go up the stairs, entering through the glass double doors. It’s vacant, plain white walls and an original-looking wooden floor, but I can already picture the renovations. Salmon pink ceramic floor tiles with gold veins, an off-white wallpaper with gold-threaded coffee bean motifs, dark wood furniture, and plush, cream-colored seating. My mind is going is mentally decorating the place as I try to contain my enthusiasm.

“I think you already know what we’re doing here, Eileen,” Anton replies.

“I think I need you to say it. Why must I always ask you to say certain things?”

He stops and looks at me, a look of bewilderment on his face. “Must I always say them, even when you know what they are?”

“Yes!” I exclaim, laughing.

“I know you already know.”

“I think I do, but I still want you to say it. Ineedyou to say it. Tell me, Anton, tell me everything, please.”

“There they are!” Tommy Benedetto says cheerfully as he joins us, his shoes clicking heavily across the floor. “The happy Karpov lovebirds!”

“Oh,” I mumble, surprised. “You’re—”

“Alive? Yeah. I assume Anton told you the whole story.”

“I did not,” my husband says. He gives me a curious side-eye, waiting for my reaction.

I keep my expression neutral, not wanting to ruin the moment. Besides, I’m itching with curiosity. “What brings you here, Tommy? Though I’m obviously glad to see you’re well.”

“This is my place. I own it,” he replies. “Well, not for much longer,” he adds, giving Anton a wink.

“Interesting. I actually tried to lease it a while back,” I tell him.

“Yeah, I told my property manager that I wasn’t interested in leasing this unit,” Tommy says. “I was actually considering a flash sale when Anton approached me.”

He goes on to tell me about how Anton didn’t come alone, but with Andrei by his side, ready to issue a formal apology. I listen with wide eyes, struggling not to burst out laughing as I envision the look on Andrei’s face throughout that conversation.

“His ego must be shattered,” I say with a sly grin.

Tommy chuckles dryly. “It was the right thing to do. I even asked a couple of my cousins to join me as official witnesses, because I wasn’t sure anybody would believe me.”

Chapter 23

Anton

“I’m still in awe of you,” Eileen says, her head resting on my bare chest.

“In awe?”

Running my fingers through her long, red hair, I gaze down at this beautiful woman, silently thanking fate for twisting things to bring us together. It’s all been worth it. I can handle anything, including discord within the Bratva, if it means having Eileen in my arms.

“I was never fully sure you were listening,” she says, “but you were. You were just searching for the right way to prove it.”

“And did I? Prove it, that is?”

“Oh, you most certainly did, and then some.” Eileen laughs lightly. “I still can’t believe it. I’ve been dreaming about having my own café for a long time. My dad kept postponing it, giving me all sorts of nonsensical reasons, and then you came into the picture. The trouble with Sergei, the attempts on my life, the discord between Ciara and me… for a while there, I thought I’d be stuck in this house for the rest of my life. Don’t get me wrong;it’s a beautiful house, but—”

“It would’ve become a cage soon enough,” I reply. “Yeah, I get it. For what it’s worth, I hated having to keep you here like that. Frankly, I’m glad that your father offered Ciara’s hand to Sergei, and he decided to make his move on her. At least it gives him less of a reason to keep coming after you in order to hurt me. Now you can have some peace and the ability to move around more. With bodyguards, of course.”

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