Page 37 of Tainted Promise

“I’m the one who forgot.”

She wrung her hands, her breaths coming out in short bursts. “I didn’t tell Leslie to put it on your calendar. I should have told her. This is all my fault.”

Unable to stop myself, I reached over and untangled her death grip from her chest, intertwining our fingers, then resting them on my thigh.

What is happening to me? I don’t hold hands. And I certainly don’t try to calm people down.

Vanna sat unmoving for the rest of the ride. I wasn’t even sure she realized we were holding hands the whole time. Her body went impossibly stiffer once Aleksándr’s house came into view.

The door opened as soon as we stopped in the driveway. The house was even larger than my parents’ mansion. Vanna didn’t have siblings, and for the first time since meeting her, I wondered what her life had been like growing up.

Aleksándr waited in the entry, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face. When I checked my watch, I saw we were exactly thirty-five minutes late.

Vanna stood next to the car, wringing her hands. My protective instinct took over, and I put my arm around her.

Together we walked up to Aleksándr, Vanna’s steps hesitant, her body leaning against mine. I doubt she realized how much trust she put in me at that moment. Trust that I’d hold her up, that I’d have her back.

And I finally understood how much her trust meant to me. How muchshemeant to me.

Aleksándr greeted us with a handshake for me and a nod to Vanna. “You’re late.”

I couldn’t stop the frown from forming, wondering about his odd behavior.

Following him down a long hallway, I gaped at the gold cornices and gold lamps adorning the walls every few feet. “I apologize. It’s entirely my fault. But we’re here now, so why don’t we just enjoy dinner?”

Vanna startled when Aleksándr stopped and whipped around to face us. “I don’t appreciate tardiness. You, of all people, should know how important time is.”

My confusion was replaced with anger. Nobody talked to me like that, not even the head of the bratva. “And I don’t appreciate your tone.”

We were squaring off, our eyes locked in a silent battle. He eventually inclined his head. “Vanna should have known better.”

Her shoulders hunched forward, and she trembled. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

I barely recognized her meek voice.

Aleksándr turned his back to us once again, and we continued our trek past empty rooms and more gold. Our destination was a grand dining room with a table big enough to seat at least twenty people. Three place settings waited for us.

He took a seat at the head of the table, and Vanna and I sat on either side of him. Vanna’s gaze was glued to her plate, her hands resting in her lap, her shoulders hunched.

And that was the start of the most bizarre dinner I’d ever attended. Aleksándr completely ignored Vanna, not even looking in her direction. And she didn’t make a sound, didn’t so much as clink her fork against her plate while she ate.

I never knew it was possible to eat so silently.

Aleksándr talked about business, probing me about alternative delivery routes. But when he mentioned me not living in the house with Vanna, I knew he was having me followed.

Wiping my mouth, I set my napkin on the table. “I work in the city. It’s easier for me to stay at the apartment after a long day.”

Aleksándr wasn’t done yet, it turned out, ignoring my narrowed eyes and clenched jaw. “And why is your wife not staying there with you? Has she displeased you already?”

“Not at all. She’s been nothing but great. But I don’t want to make her go back and forth all the time.”

He scoffed, as if that was a ridiculous thing to say. “So your mistress is staying at the apartment, then?”

I was glad I didn’t have anything in my mouth because I would have spat it out again. Having had enough, I stood up. “It’s time for us to go.”

Vanna shot up as soon as I was standing, nearly toppling her chair over. I took her hand in mine, and she held on so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Aleksándr walked us out, once again stalking ahead of us without looking back.

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