Page 153 of Vendetta Vows

"Would they be standing outside my apartment all night, vetting every guy that I come home with? Yeah, that's not totally unhinged at all."

"They wouldn't be intrusive," I assure her. "But they would be close enough to intervene if needed."

Aurora reaches for Hannah's hand. "Please. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you because of me."

Hannah looks between us, her resistance visibly weakening. She sighs deeply. "Fine. But they stay outside."

"I can agree to that." I turn to Artyom, who has been silently observing our conversation. "Artyom will handle the arrangements."

Hannah turns to Artyom, her eyebrows lifting playfully. "I thoughthewas going to be the arrangement."

I bite back a smile as Artyom shifts his weight, his usual stoic demeanor briefly interrupted by a tightening of his jaw.

In all our years, I've rarely seen anyone get under Artyom's skin so quickly. Hannah Voight with her fiery hair and equally fiery tongue has accomplished that in just a few minutes.

"I have other things to do than play babysitter," Artyom mutters, but there's something in his voice.

A roughness that betrays him.

Hannah's eyes gleam with mischief as the smirk widens on her face. "Sure you do."

She turns back to Aurora, her expression softening. "Take care of yourself, okay? And keep your phone charged." Her voice drops. "I'm just a call away. Always."

"I know," Aurora whispers, and the affection between them is palpable.

Hannah straightens and turns to me, her playfulness vanishing. "And you, Mr. Pakhan." She steps closer, tilting her head back to meet my eyes directly. "If anything happens to her because of you, it won't matter what you are. Iwillcome for you."

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it at this tiny woman issuing threats to me.

"I'm serious," Hannah says, her voice hardening. "Aurora's my best friend, and I'm all she's got. You might have guns and money and whatever else, but I'll burn your world down if you can't live up to your end of the bargain."

My amusement fades as I recognize a familiar fierce protectiveness in her eyes. For all her theatrics, Hannah Voight would indeed burn the world down for Aurora.

"I know," I say solemnly. "And I will."

Hannah nods once before pulling Aurora into a fierce hug. They cling to each other for a long moment, murmuring words meant only for them.

When they part, Hannah dabs at her eye and turns toward the door.

As she passes Artyom, she trails one finger along the sharp line of his jaw.

"Let's go, big guy. You dragged me out of bed tonight, the least you can do is be a gentleman and tuck me back in."

40

AURORA

THREE WEEKS LATER

The sunlight warmsmy skin as I sit in the garden in a pair of Loro Piana shorts and a matching blouse, watching Ruslan pour imaginary tea into tiny china cups. Stella giggles when he pretends to burn his finger on the "hot" teapot, shaking his hand dramatically while keeping his face comically serious.

"Uncle Ruslan! It's notrealhot! It's just pretend!" Sofia protests, her gap-toothed smile widening as she pushes a plate of plastic cookies toward him.

"Not real hot? Then why is my finger melting off?" He wiggles his fingers in front of her face, making her shriek with laughter.

My chest tightens watching him. This hulking, dangerous man who commands an army of criminals, who has killed men with those same hands, is now delicately balancing a tiny teacup on his finger to make his nieces laugh.

Three weeks.

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