Page 76 of Fierce Vow

I clench my fists in frustration. “And I love him, too. That’s why I need your help. He’ll only believe me if you back me up. If you help convince Leo, Yulian—everyone—that this is what I want.”

She huffs out a breath. “I think you’re making the wrong choice.”

“There is no choice. Look around.” I gesture in front of me. “Belov’s power is beyond the Kozlovs’, beyond any single faction. He exists in a league of its own. He may be involved in legitimate businesses, but he’s a gangster through and through. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone that got in the way of his plans. Including you.”

Kira is quiet, weighing my words. “I could talk to Leo, explain the situation.”

“To what end?” I take her hand in mine. She needs to hear this. “I’ve accepted that Belov has the power here, and the best thing for me to do is play nice. Hopefully when I’m by his side, I can negotiate small freedoms.”

Even if it means walking away from the man who will hold my heart forever.

In the distance, an imposing figure walks between the vines, heading towards us. Kira motions ahead. “Is that a guard?”

I wish it was. “No,” I say, rising to my feet and dusting off my pants. “That’s Belov.” He moves with a commanding presence that’s hard to miss.

“Jeez.” She rises to stand beside me. Running a hand through her shoulder-length waves and straightening her shirt. “You didn’t tell me he’s so… striking.”

“Guess I forgot to mention it with the five million other things we had to discuss.”

He holds up his hand in greeting, like we’re old friends. I’d like to tell him to go to hell, but I can’t. So I smile and wave back. If this is what is required to keep Leo alive, so be it.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” Maxim greets us, his voice deep and resonant. “Kira Antonov, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure.”

He extends out his hand, and Kira sneers at the gesture. She has some serious lady balls. I’m just not sure giving Belov the big oldfuck youis very helpful. I shoot her a warning look, but her focus is locked on the man before us.

“I go by Kozlov now. Since you seem to know who I am, you probably know why I don’t want anything to do with my father’s name.”

Belov doesn’t appear fazed. A wry smile touches his lips. I wonder if he intentionally used Kira’s father’s name. A man who never loved her, who was willing to sacrifice her for his own gain.

“Ah yes, I can’t blame you for that. Your father was a vicious man.”

“Not unlike you,” she shoots back. Her voice is dark ice.

“Kira, behave,” I hiss in warning. I know firsthand that Belov’s patience only lasts so long.

“No need,” he says, holding out his arms wide. “We’re all friends… and family. Let’s speak openly.”

Kira’s hands clench into fists at her sides. Like it’s the only thing stopping her from gouging Belov’s eyes out. For a five-foot-nothing pixie, she’s as fearless as it gets. She literally staged a coup to take down her father. No one could accuse her of being timid.

“In the spirit of speaking openly, what you’re doing is wrong. Even if you are her biological father, you don’t get to abduct my friend and snatch her life away.”

Maxim regards Kira with a sneer, the predator within him surfacing. “I’m sorry you feel that way. I’d like to think I’m giving Alyona an opportunity to do great things. To be rich beyond her wildest dreams, powerful. Her career was middling at best. She has no husband, no children… I am giving her the life she was destined for.”

Ouch.

“Excuse me?” Kira springs up, bristling like an angry cat, which is my signal to intervene.

“Kira, calm down,” I say softly. I then turn to Belov, my hands on my hips. “You’ve left me with no choice in the matter. I don’t want your life and everything it represents.” My shoulders slump. “But I also don’t want war.”

My father narrows his gaze on me. “And what is it that you do want, Alyona?”

Leonid Kozlov.All I’ve ever wanted. But the only thing in my life that’s an impossibility. “I’m still figuring that out,” I admit.

“You love fashion, I’ll buy you a fashion empire to run. I don’t want you to be unhappy, I just want you to be by my side. Involved in my world. Ready to take the reins when I’m no longer able to.”

“You can hire someone for that, ya know,” Kira mutters, forcing Belov’s eyes back on her.

His smile is arctic. “I’m aware. But that’s not how this works.” His eyes linger on Kira, scrutinizing her, but Kira boldly holds his gaze. “I knew your Aunt Masha,” Belov adds, shattering their silent battle.

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