Page 50 of Blood Oath Christmas
Even if that woman is my wife.
The next morning, I'm in my office reviewing security reports when Viktor knocks on the door. He enters without waiting for permission, a habit that would get anyone else killed but one I tolerate from him.
"It's done," he says simply.
"Good. Make sure word gets back to Kozlov. I want him to know exactly what happens to people who steal from me."
Viktor nods, then hesitates. "There's something else, Boss. About your wife."
I look up from the papers. "What about her?"
"She's going to need protection. Real protection. Word is already spreading that you've married an outsider. There will be those who see her as a weakness to exploit."
The thought of anyone using Ivy to get to me makes my blood boil. But Viktor is right. In marrying her, I've painted a target on her back. Every enemy I have will now see her as a potential weapon against me.
"Put together a team," I tell him. "Your most trusted men. They go where she goes. If anything happens to her, it will be their heads."
"How many?"
"As many as it takes." I lean back in my chair, thinking. "And Viktor? Make sure they understand that she's not just some woman I'm protecting. She's family now. They will show her the same respect they would show me."
Viktor's expression shifts slightly. In all the years he's worked for me, he's never seen me care about anyone the way I care about Ivy. The realization seems to surprise him.
"Of course, Boss. I'll handle it personally."
I nod, understanding. Loyalty in our world isn't given lightly, and once given, it's absolute. It's something Ivy will need to learn if she's going to survive in this life.
After Viktor leaves, I try to focus on work, but my mind keeps drifting to Ivy. To the look in her eyes when she realized what she'd gotten herself into. To the way she felt in my arms, soft and warm and perfect.
I've protected many people over the years. It's part of what I do, part of who I am. But this is different. This isn't just duty anymore. It's personal. It's love, though I'm not sure I'm ready to admit that, even to myself.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway pulls me from my thoughts. I look up to see Ivy standing in the doorway, her hands planted firmly on her hips. She's dressed in jeans and a sweater, her hair pulled back in a short ponytail. She looks young and defiant, and absolutely furious.
"Am I to be a prisoner even now, as your wife?" she demands, her voice echoing off the walls of my office. "Will it be like this the rest of my life?"
I set down my pen and study her face. The fear from last night has been replaced by anger, which is somehow both better and worse. Fear I can work with. Anger is more complicated.
"What are you talking about?"
"The men outside my door. The ones following me around the house. Viktor told me they're my new shadows." She steps into the room, her eyes blazing. "I can't even go to the bathroom without an escort."
"They're for your protection."
"They're for your peace of mind." She moves closer to my desk, and I can see the pulse beating rapidly at her throat. "I'm not some fragile flower that needs to be locked away in a tower, Konstantin."
"No," I agree, standing slowly. "You're my wife. Which makes you a target for every enemy I have. Those men aren't there to imprison you—they're there to keep you alive."
"And how long will this last? How long will I need bodyguards to go grocery shopping or visit a friend?"
The question hangs in the air between us, heavy with implication. She wants an end date, a timeline for when her life will go back to normal. But there is no normal for her anymore. There's only this life, this world, this reality.
"As long as I see fit," I tell her, my voice steady. "Since you're my wife, that will likely be the rest of your life."
The words hit her like a physical blow. She takes a step back, her face going pale.
"The rest of my life," she repeats, as if testing how the words sound.
"At least you have a life," I remind her, moving around the desk to stand in front of her. "Vadim wants to take that from you. I'm giving you security, protection, a future. That's more than most people in your situation get."
