Page 13 of Deceptive Vows (Bound by Vows #3)

Chapter Twelve

THEA

Standing outside in the dark, I struggled to comprehend the black, smoldering rubble of my home. I was thankful the fire department arrived quickly and contained the fire before it had a chance to spread to my neighbors.

Now that the flames were out, the cold settled into my bones.

There was no way it wasn’t a total loss. While it didn’t completely burn to the ground, there wasn’t a room untouched by the fire. The depth of sadness reached places in my soul I couldn’t voice.

I’d picked this place for the way the light hit the floor at sunrise. It was the first place that felt like mine. So far, I’d managed to maintain my composure and hold back my tears. I hated the idea of anyone seeing me as weak.

“Thea!” Lucas’s voice cut through the noise, and as I turned, he nearly knocked me over, taking me in his arms. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Thanks to Nazar.

I’d momentarily frozen as the flames raced to the ceiling. Typically, I kept my head in situations, but I think in that moment, I’d been too shocked to process that my home was on fire.

He was just a few steps away, facing me, on the phone with Pasha, who had called while the firefighters were putting out the fire.

“Before you make a comment,” I leaned back, “he was the reason I got out unhurt. I…froze,” I whispered the last word. I hated admitting that to Lucas, but I didn’t want him thinking badly of Nazar for being on the phone instead being with me. His first priority was Pasha—his Pakhan and best friend.

“Oh, Thea,” Claire’s voice came from behind Lucas. A second later, she had her arms around me. “I know how much this house meant to you. I’m so sorry.”

“No one was hurt, and things are replaceable.” I prayed some momentos were spared, but I didn’t have a lot of hope.

The fire had spread so quickly, but the place was old. When I had it remodeled, it wasn’t a total gut. It had been surface since it had been updated twenty years ago.

Claire took my hand in both of hers. “You can come stay with us.”

Before I could respond, the rest of my family arrived, all surrounding me, making sure I was okay. What a relative term. Physically, I was fine. Even mentally, I thought I was good. Mostly, I was in shock.

Nazar joined us and leaned in. “I’m sorry about that.”

“He’s your Pakhan. It’s okay,” I whispered back.

Anna set her hands on her hips. “We’ve got a room too.”

“Or me,” Aunt Helen said.

Lex crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a cocky smile. “All of us have a spot. You just need to pick your favorite.”

“Exactly.” Dimitris nodded, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. Nasty habit, but he’d picked it up when he was thirteen.

Ma had been beside herself when she caught him. He’d tried to quit multiple times, but it’d never stuck. I loved him, but living in an ashtray wouldn’t work for me.

“Or me,” Nazar added quietly. “The penthouse has plenty of room.”

Amid the rubble and chaos, my stomach did a flip at the prospect of spending so much time with him. Close, uninterrupted, and free to speak without listening ears. I looked at him and smiled. “Uh…”

A blonde fireman approached and stopped as my family gathered around me. “Ms. Kalantzis, you’re the homeowner, correct?”

“Yes, I am.”

“The fire’s out, but you’ll need to stay out until we can determine if it’s safe.” He rubbed his jaw with his hand. “We’ve noticed some things that seem unusual, but we’ll need our arson investigators to take a closer look before we can say anything definitive.”

Unusual… “Wait, you think this was arson?” My gut had already screamed it, but hearing it from hi m made it real.

“I think we need to wait for the expert, but it can’t be ruled out.”

Anger settled in the pit of my stomach. Marco. This wasn’t just a fire. It was a shot across the bow. I wouldn’t let that show on my face though. I gave him a weak smile. “Thank you for everything. I appreciate you getting here so quickly.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Dimples appeared as he smiled. “Police will need to talk to you before you leave.”

“Okay, thank you.”

As soon as the man left, my family erupted into a raucous conversation. At me, to me, for me. Overwhelming to say the least, and all out of love and concern. I held up my hands. “Slow down. I think I’ll stay with Nazar.”

Lucas’s gaze turned deadly. “Can I talk to you?” His eyes flicked to Nazar and back to me. “Please.”

He took me by the hand and led me away from the group. We were alone for all of five seconds before Ari, Lex, and Dimitris joined us.

“Thea, you’re staying with me,” Ari said, voice hard. “It could be Marco—or Nazar. We don’t know him. Who’s to say he isn’t working with Marco?”

“You just got married,” Lex cut in. “She should stay with me.”

“I’m the muscle,” Dimi added with a shrug. “She stays with me.”

I pressed my fingers to my temple. Protective. Sweet. And so damn annoying.

“If I’m staying with anyone,” I said, “it’s Nazar.”

And cue the eruption.

Holding up my hands, I barked. “Stop.” I looked around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard.

“Ari, you and Lucas are newly married. Do you really want to put Claire and Anna in danger? No. Dimi and Lex are going to be figuring out how to infiltrate that auction. The best use of my talents is staying close to Nazar. I’ll be right there.

There’s no better way to keep tabs on what he’s doing than being in the same space. ”

Lex huffed. “But Thea…” He stopped, and his eyes brightened, like he’d just had an idea hit. “You could stay with Aunt Helen. Dimi and I can take?—”

“No. If Marco burned down my home, there is no reason to believe he wouldn’t do it to Ma and Pa’s house. I won’t risk her or their house. Your children need to be able to visit that home, see where they come from. I will not put them in danger. Ever.”

Lucas sighed and raked both hands through his hair. “I don’t like it. We’re already doing more than I wanted. This… this just…”

“You’re going to have to trust me.” I looked from Lucas to Ari to Lex and then Dimi. “I can take care of myself. You know that.”

“But that doesn’t mean we like it.” Dimi moved closer and put his arm around my shoulder. “You’re our sister. We lost Gianna, and we will not lose you.”

Lex nodded. “Exactly. I lost one sister, and I won’t allow another to be taken from me.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m staying with Nazar. That’s final. I’m going to find out where Marco is keeping those women and girls hostage, and I’m going to free them. Then I’m getting into that auction and finding out who his clients are.”

Lex groaned as Lucas cursed under his breath. Ari grumbled and stomped off.

Dimi stepped back, shaking his head. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you whether you like it or not.” He dropped his cigarette butt on the ground and lit another.

“Yeah, me too,” Lex added before he and Dimi walked away, shoulder to shoulder.

His lips pressed into a line as his gaze met mine. “I hate this. I can’t express…”

I cut him off by hugging him. “I love you too, Lucas.”

His arms circled me and squeezed. “If anything happens to you… I will wipe all of them off of the planet.”

“I know.” I chuckled and stepped back. “Now, I need to do some shopping, check out my new place.” I glanced over my shoulder to find Nazar’s eyes boring into mine. “And see how crazy I can drive him. If nothing else, it’ll be fun, and it’ll take my mind off this tragedy.”

Lucas rubbed his face with his hands. “Okay, but if anything feels off, you get out. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” I winked.

He groaned. “I swear, you’re going to give me gray hair before I’m thirty-five.”

I ran my finger through the front. “On the plus side, it’d make you look very distinguished. You should be thanking me.”

“Go.” Lucas rolled his eyes.

We walked back to Nazar, and I only caught the tail end of the conversation. My sweet, petite sister was telling him he’d better be good to me because she was tiny but mighty.

Anna, arms crossed over her chest, head held high, seemed to be vehemently agreeing with her.

The women had faced down horrible parents, so I’d give them credit there, but they weren’t fighters.

“Hello, lover.” I grinned.

Claire startled and spun around. “Hey! So, I’m getting you a room set up, right?” She eyed Lucas.

“I tried. I swear I did.” The effort it took not to laugh was almost all I could muster. My big, bad brother was completely smitten. It was wonderful.

Ari cursed under his breath again.

“That must mean you’re staying with us, correct?” Anna asked as she looked at Ari.

“I’m staying at Nazar’s penthouse, if the offer still stands.” I held his gaze as I said it.

“But…” Claire pouted. “You…” A faulty lightbulb seemed to go off in my Polly Pocket-sized sister’s brain. She looked from me to Nazar and back. “Ohhhh…” She laughed as she caught Anna’s gaze.

“No.” I made my tone mean we were not discussing it further. I was still more than willing to throw her body into Lake Michigan.

Nazar’s eyebrows knitted together. “I have missed something.”

I moved closer and palmed his chest. “You’ve missed nothing. Does your offer still stand?”

He covered my hand with his. “Of course. What is mine, is yours.” The intensity in his gaze was almost withering. It was more likely he was saying this just in case anyone might report back to Marco.

“Thank you.” I sighed. “I need to do a little shopping, I guess.” I put my fingers to my temple and rubbed it. The last thing I wanted to do was deal with that. It was late, and I was mentally and emotionally spent.

Claire and Anna waved me off. “Nope. You text us a list of things, and we’ll go get them,” Claire said. “We’ll drop them off as soon as we’ve collected everything.”

The instant relief I felt couldn’t be described. I’d need to wait up for them because I had nothing but my phone, but the idea of going somewhere quiet and gathering my wits sounded incredible. “I’d really appreciate that.”

Lucas brought me in for another hug. “Get some rest. If you need anything, call.” Ari, Lex, and Dimi all nodded, saying much the same.

Nazar slipped his arm around my waist and led me to the car he’d had waiting for us. The next few weeks would be interesting now that I was staying with Nazar. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but I was right about the access I’d have. If it helped us, that was the bright spot in all of this.

I’d lost my home, but it’d be worth it if it helped us rescue those women and children from Marco.

Still, as Nazar guided me into the car, a thought settled in. I’d lost my home. But I had a mission. And maybe, in a way I hadn’t expected, I wasn’t alone anymore.