Page 43 of Bound Vows
“And if she fails your test?” Katarina questions with a hiked-up brow.
“I’ll deal with that situation if it arises. But I suspect Maya will prove more adaptable than any of you expect. She’s survived in this world by being smart, ruthless, and opportunistic. Those qualities serve my interests as much as her family’s. Does anything else require discussion?”
I lock the files in the safe and check my watch. “Maya’s presence in my life creates additional motivations for brutality, not fewer. Anyone who mistakes marriage for weakness will discover their error permanently.”
“When do you leave for the mountain?” Alexei asks.
“Tomorrow morning. The sooner Maya adjusts to her new circumstances, the sooner we can focus on expanding operations rather than defending them.” I walk toward the door, already thinking about the honeymoon that will determine whether my new wife becomes a partner or a beautiful liability. “Katarina, coordinate with security to ensure the mountain facility is prepared. Denis, oversee the Benedetti response. Alexei, continue monitoring Max Mastroni’s coalition-building.”
“And if the coalition moves against us while you’re away?” Katarina asks.
“Then they’ll discover that my absence doesn’t mean my operations have become vulnerable.”
As I leave the study and head upstairs to find my new wife, one thought dominates my mind: The mountain safe house will provide the perfect environment to determine whether Maya Mastroni can become Maya Volkov, or whether I’ll need to find permanent solutions for the complications she represents.
The honeymoon will be educational for both of us.
Chapter 19
Maya
Packing for a honeymoon when you’re unsure whether you’ll return alive requires a special kind of optimism that I’m rapidly losing as Andrei’s men load his luggage into armored vehicles.
“Only essentials,” Andrei instructs from the doorway of our temporary bedroom, though his definition of essentials includes enough firepower to level a small city. “The mountain house is fully stocked with everything we’ll need for an extended stay.”
“Extended stay.” I fold another sweater and slip a small nail file between the layers, just in case. “How extended are we talking?”
He approaches the bed where I’m organizing clothes and picks up a silk blouse, running the fabric between his fingers. “Until you’re ready to embrace your new role as Mrs. Volkov without reservation. The isolation will give us time to develop our… relationship without outside interference.”
“Relationship.” I snatch the blouse from his hands and stuff it into the suitcase. “Is that what we’re calling imprisonment now?”
“It’s a honeymoon in a location where we can focus on each other.” Andrei sits on the edge of the bed, close enough that his knee bumps mine. “No family obligations, no business interruptions, and no competing loyalties. Just us.”
An unwelcome heat flushes through my body, and I despise how my pulse erupts when he touches me even a little. I’ve been with him for weeks now, and I still respond to him like a teenager with her first crush, despite knowing the kind of monster he is.
“Just us and however many armed guards you’re bringing for security.” I close the suitcase and drag it toward the door. “Very romantic.”
Andrei intercepts my path, forcing me to stop inches from his chest. “Security is necessary given recent events. The warehouse attack demonstrates that our enemies view this marriage as an opportunity rather than a deterrent.”
“What warehouse attack?” I look up at him and note the way his face draws tight. “You haven’t mentioned any attacks.”
“The Gallo family tested our defenses during the wedding reception. They discovered that testing me has consequences. Six of my men died because someone wanted to send a message.” His hand moves to cup my face, and his thumb traces my cheekbone.
“What kind of consequences?”
The corner of his mouth quirks up, and he replies, “It seems that Christopher Gallo’s son missed his morning bus until his fatherlearns proper respect.” Andrei’s voice drops to a dangerous whisper that makes my stomach flutter. “No one threatens what belongs to me without experiencing permanent repercussions.”
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I acquired leverage.” His thumb continues its slow path across my skin. “The boy will be returned unharmed once his family atones. A business transaction with clear terms and conditions.”
I should be horrified by his casual discussion of kidnapping children, but all I can focus on is how his touch makes my pussy ache and my skin burn. The headache that’s built since this morning pounds harder behind my eyes, quickly squashing the feeling, and I blink against the dizziness.
“You’re pale,” Andrei observes as his free hand moves to my forehead. “Are you feeling well?”
“Wedding stress. Too much excitement and not enough sleep.” I step back from his touch before I do something stupid like lean into it. “I’ll be fine once we reach wherever you’re taking me.”
“The Blue Ridge Mountains. Three hours southwest of the city, in a location that doesn’t appear on any public maps.” He picks up my suitcase and heads for the door. “You’ll find the scenery quite beautiful, though the accommodations prioritize security over luxury.”
