Page 29 of Forbidden Vows

Every thought of my future.

Every feeling of defeat, knowing there’s no way she’d ever pick me for the long haul.

I predict that, especially after Keith, her next serious relationship will be with a man she perceives as less risky.

She will inevitably marry an accountant named Nathan, who wears fleece vests and has small, round glasses. Perhaps he owns a fluffy white Maltese that he affectionately calls Bernice in memory of his late mother. On weekends, he enjoys hiking and savors a glass of red wine with dinner.

Nathan’s a sure bet.

I’m like a poker game where you know you have a winning hand, but the person you think is bluffing just went all in.

A real gamble.

She’d never go all in with me.

All bets for our future together are off—okay, these bad Vegas analogies have to stop.

She sighs softly, her weight pressing more heavily against me as she drifts off to sleep, trusting me to keep her safe and ensure we arrive in Italy unscathed. That feels good, even without the promise of ‘till death do us part.’

What was the funny word she used the other day? The one that broke my heart in two.

Situationship.

It’s not her fault. Wearetoo different. I have a history. After today's ceremony, we are once again legally related.

Forbidden.

I must accept this and move on. The bachelor’s life isn’t so bad. The brotherhood will have to take me being single until I have gray hair and wrinkled old balls.

There I go again, joking to mask my...‘feelings.’

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I glance at Cleopatra. Haze is calling to update me, but I refuse to disturb her. I’ll call him back as soon as Cleo wakes up.

I think of the Village, a secret little world in the middle of everything, tucked away from the bustling life outside. It is enclosed by a large, tall stone wall, roughly the size of a city block. Heavy black security gates are present behind those plain, windowless building fronts that encircle it.

The Bachman family began acquiring this land in the late 1800s, taking their time with it. Once they owned the entire block, they constructed businesses along the streets, leaving this empty square behind them. They ensured the backs of these buildings had no windows and installed secret doors, setting the stage for the Village. By the early 1900s, they had erected neat rows of houses, completing this hidden gem.

All the shops and businesses around the square are Bachman-owned. Each location has its secret entrance—a hidden closet in the back of an office, storeroom, or cloakroom. Only our family can use them, keeping things private and secure. The gates are large enough for our cars, and they have sensors that open them automatically, similar to a fancy fingerprint scan. This leads to another gate that opens into our tucked-away Village.

Streetlights glow warmly over the square, illuminating the cobblestone paths where a few people relax. Couples stroll hand in hand, sharing sweet kisses beneath the moon's soft light. Others enjoy late dinners at quaint bistro tables, savoring meals of crusty bread, ripe fruit, and rich cheese, all paired with nice wine. It feels like an entirely normal night in a charming little town.

The thing about power is that it's a relentless beast. You might think you can finally breathe easy once you have it, but that's when the battle begins. Clinging to it is far more grueling than the chase. That’s why we have such tight security, cutting-edge technology, and strict rules.

To preserve our power and, consequently, our way of life.

For the first time in decades, there is a real threat- an organized group challenging our hold on the city.

Our perfect utopia is in danger.

I would have thrown her over my shoulder, my hand planted on her pretty ass and carried her kicking and screaming onto this jet if I had to.

It’s terrifying.

Chapter Eight

Cleopatra

I don’t have much experience traveling, but I thought we would land at a bustling airport, surrounded by an anxiety-inducing crowd. I pictured a sternly dressed customs officer staring through me, pulling rumpled underwear from my bag for everyone to see.

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