Page 82 of Forgotten Vows
“Look at you,” Luka drawled. “Mr. Romantic. Propose. Make it fancy. But Gabriella is stubborn about having your wedding in a church. A ‘proper’ ceremony, since ours was simple. I guess she wants to live voraciously through you and Raisa.”
Allan collected the things to take them off Luka’s desk. “You could always renew your vows in a ‘proper’ ceremony.”
Luka nodded, dismissing it. “Yeah, yeah. But right now, we need to keep things in motion for you to marry Raisa.” He frowned at me. “What else can we do about that fucker?”
“It’s a shame he didn’t show up at the meeting.”
Luka rolled his eyes. “Of course he didn’t show up. He knows that he’d be shot dead on the spot if he showed his face.”
Luka would have to get in line if he wanted that honor. I didn’t have to wonder if Raisa would kill her own father. I bet she would love the opportunity. That was how protective she was of Lev, a bold and brave mother.
“In all seriousness,” he said. “We need to have more plans in place.” He folded his hands on top of his desk. “I’ve already got more men tracking him.”
“To no avail, I bet. If he spent eight years hiding well enough that half of us assumed the rumors were true and that he was dead, he must be good at crawling in a deep enough hole that no one can find him.”
“Emil’s got men on it. Nothing was found from that email or the video file that he sent.”
I wasn’t surprised. Konstantin wouldn’t be stupid about this. Whatever his motivations were to be this determined about attacking us or getting Lev, he’d be calculating to execute his plans.
“Did anyone have luck figuring out where he’d filmed that message?” I asked.
Oddly enough, I had paid attention to those details. During the many times I played and re-watched that short video, I squinted and homed in on what was behind the old man.
He shook his head. “It couldn’t have been his former residence, though. That went up for foreclosure years ago when he first started his downfall, just before that bigger fight with the Cartel. Half was torn down and the other half is being remodeled into a medical facility.”
“He always had those places along the water, though,” I said. “Raisa never talked about him much, but she’d made passing references to Konstantin’s preference to be near the water. When we were traveling together that summer, she was never interested in river tours.”
“I’m sure he’s got somewhere to hide.” Luka drummed his fingers on the desk, pensive again. “I’m just concerned with how furious he’ll be to lose Raisa.”
“Because she dared to defy him at all?”
He nodded. “And because he might be clinging to some stupid idea that she’s still his to give away in marriage. There’s a chance he could still try to do that and get whatever payment he was counting on.”
I held my hands up. “Okay, okay. I get it. No time to wait.”
“You can have your romantic proposal,” he said, almost teasing. “We’ll watch Lev tonight so you can pop the question. But in all seriousness…” He trailed off to chuckle. “Isn’t it a little late? You’ve been hung up on her for eight years. I can seehow much she still loves you. Romance is fine, but take Allan’s advice. Have the romantic gesture later. A renewal of vows.”
I sighed, standing when he did. “I know.”
“If it’s a matter of her safety?—”
“Then I won’t take any unnecessary risks.” I didn’t want to have to explain it to Luka, but I really wanted to do this right. This time around, I wanted to give Raisa whatever she wanted to know I’d always make her dreams come true.
The urgency of our situation could skew my intentions, and that was the last thing I wanted.
“Who do you think he wanted to marry her off to?” Luka asked as he straightened his cuffs.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll beat them to it.”
He nodded. “It won’t be rushed. Not like it was when I made Gabriella my bride.” We left the room to go find them and tour the church. Luka was a man of action, and that included planning a wedding for me and Raisa.
“Ever since she pieced together more about how you and Raisa were together before and how her father is causing trouble, she got it all in her head that she could help out. That since she can’t do much else with her limited knowledge about how our world and politics work, that she’d be the hero and organize this wedding.”
“You can’t blame her for assuming that any time one of us marries, it’s automatic protection in a claim.” That was exactly what he’d done with her. He’d married Gabriella so the rest of the world would know she was his and not to mess with her. Miguel had tried, too. Every time Gabriella left this house, she was in danger. That faded with time, fortunately.
“Yes, I know.” He sighed. “But she’s really gotten it in her head that the second you and Raisa are ready to do this, she’ll have it all planned out and prepared.”
I smiled, seeing Raisa walking down the hallway. She approached with Gabriella, and I couldn’t believe I’d been so lucky to find this blonde beauty, lose her, then find her again.
