Page 70 of Fractured Vows

Chapter 26 – Briana

Viktor said he washurting in the car, yet the moment we arrived at the gallery, he was his boisterous, happy self. He either knew how to put on a good show, or he was actually enjoying this.

Sophia was sufficiently cowed and followed me like a puppy. While I wanted to kick her into next week, I was soon glad of her presence. She was an excellent buffer for the politicians, wealthy elites, and mysterious individuals of Eastern European descent. This was her crowd, and she knew them well. It was like being back on the East Coast again, either up in the Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard, only these people were oilier and had sharper looks in their eyes. It wasn’t as though suave individuals didn’t exist in the Eastern Time zone, but these people wore their menace on their skin in a way the bluebloods my family rubbed elbows with didn’t.

There were a number of scary men present; thugs and underground soldiers. I’d learned a great deal about organized crime in the past few days. All my questions were answered with honesty, albeit with varying degrees of detail. The scary men might be in tuxedos, but their skin was crawling with ink and scars from the dark lives they lived. They wore obnoxious amounts of gold, and their lascivious looks trailed after us like a second skin.

I stole a moment to ask my friend why none of the underworld soldiers approached us like the slimy businessmen and dirty politicians.

Sophia looked right at the trio of villainous individuals I was currently referencing and barked a short laugh. “They’re all too scared of my brother to talk to us.”

“Hmm,” I muttered, not letting my gaze linger. I didn’t want to temp any of them into coming closer.

“Look, I really am sorry,” Sophia whispered.

“Tell me why, Soph. Why would you bring me to hisengagementparty?” I threw up my hands and rounded on her with a hiss.

Sophia’s delicate shoulder rose and fell. “I can’t stand the thought of you not getting the guy.”

I groaned and let out an exasperated breath. “This isn’t a fairy tale.”

I needed fresh air. This was ridiculous. Marching off down a hall, I pushed through a door. My friend might live in the darker side of society, but it didn’t mean we got three wishes or a fairy godmother who fixed everything. This was real life—as nightmarish as it was.

Unfortunately, I got turned around and ended up in a completely different art exhibit.Who chooses a modern art gallery to have their engagement party?I rolled my eyes at the redundant question. Wealthy elites, that was who. Didn’t the crowds I maneuvered do the exact same thing in Manhattan? Resigned, I continued to stroll through the art pieces, trying and failing to appreciate their garish beauty.

Voices sounded around the partial wall, jarring me out of my inner turmoil. I was about to go back the way I’d come until the sound of Viktor’s pleasant voice stopped me. Hell, that light conversational tone did things to me.I used to look forward to his visits.It was an ugly truth, one I’d never admitted to myself—until now.

I looked down at the floor. Disgusting, I was freaking disgusting.

When he would visit Boston, I’d never given him the time of day, always shutting down any thoughts about him and resisting his attention. I would have denied to the moon and back that I loved his visits, those lies supposedly keeping me focused and driven. Somehow, I’d gotten a wild hair up my ass and spoken to him. I’d invited him to paradise and let myself admit how I really felt about him. And look where it had gotten me. Now there was just heartache. He’d slipped through my fingers.

I stepped away, pushing through another set of doors. There was a balcony around here somewhere, along with an open bar and cocktail tables, and that seemed like a great place to park up for the evening.

This new hall was dark, with a red EXIT sign glowing at the far end. Clearly, it wasn’t the right way.Ah, shit....

I leaned against the wall. This was such a mess. Losing Viktor was too much. I would never try to be adventurous again. Instead, I would keep my nose to the ground and continue inching forward, making sure I stayed in my lane.

I rubbed my hands over my arms, feeling the emotion prick in my eyes. I refused to cry here. I would save it for when I got back to the villa, hidden in the safety of my bedroom.

“Are you lost, kitten?” a male asked from the shadows.

My heart leapt to my throat. “Nope,” I chirped, forcing back the rising panic.

“I didn’t think so. You’ve been teasing me all night, and now you’ve lured me back here. Whatever are you going to do with me?” the man purred seductively, his voice coming closer.

“Look, I think you’ve made a mistake. I haven’t been teasing anyone.Trust me.” I was breathing hard after making out a massive shape in the shadows. I took a step to the side, reaching for the doorknob—it was locked.

“Playing hard to get? You little vixen.” Then his body was against mine, fingers skating up my arm. “I’ll play your game, kitten.”

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