Page 24 of Deceptive Vows (Bound by Vows #3)

Chapter Twenty

NAZAR

“The auction is only two weeks away. Everything needs to be perfect.” Marco’s voice grated on my nerves as his face filled my laptop screen.

Snow had begun to fall outside my temporary office window, soft flakes collecting on the sill. Chicago in December could be beautiful, but all I felt was a growing chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

“Construction is on schedule.” I kept my voice even, scrolling through photos of the renovated theater on my tablet. “The stage has been modified, backstage areas sealed off for proper security. We’ll begin testing access protocols by the end of the week.”

He leaned forward, eyes sharp. “And the girls?”

My jaw tightened. After two weeks of meetings like this, I still had to force myself not to react. “I need their arrival schedule to finalize security. When will they be on-site?”

Marco’s expression shifted, a flash of wariness crossing his features before he settled back into his chair. “That’s being handled. You focus on the venue.”

“To properly secure the merchandise, I need to know transportation details.” I maintained eye contact, my tone professional but insistent. “Numbers, timing, routes.”

“You’ll get what you need when you need it.” Marco’s tone closed the subject. He picked up a crystal tumbler, swirling amber liquid. “Ten total. That’s all you need to know for now.”

The deliberate withholding of information confirmed my suspicions. Marco was keeping me in the dark, compartmentalizing the operation. Someone else was handling the women—almost certainly the Gray Wolves.

Marco had commanded all of my time since that night Thea, her brothers, and I had broken into the warehouse where the empty cages were.

Luckily for me, he was unable to identify the individual who knocked their guard out.

That luck didn’t extend to the guard, and after three days of interrogation, one of Marco’s men ended the man’s life.

At first, I had an uneasy feeling that maybe Marco suspected it was me, but I’d eventually attributed it to paranoia. It was too dark for anyone to really know who was in that warehouse, and there was no recognition in the man’s eyes when I finally arrived at the building where he was being held.

“High-end clientele want variety,” he continued after a moment. “Young, beautiful. One’s a ballerina—she’ll fetch a premium.”

I thought of Thea and how she’d rejected ballet as a child. The stark contrast between her freedom to choose and these women’s stolen lives made my blood boil. With practiced control, I kept my expression neutral, nodding as if we were discussing livestock instead of human beings.

“Security?” he asked.

“Triple layer. Armed guards, electronic surveillance, panic protocols. I’ve vetted every man personally.” In reality, I’d chosen men who would turn the moment I gave the signal. “Your clients will feel safe, and the merchandise will be contained.”

Marco grinned, a slow spread of teeth that didn’t reach his eyes. “This is why I wanted you, Nazar. Your reputation for thoroughness is well-earned.”

I inclined my head slightly, accepting the compliment while hiding my disgust. “I take pride in my work.”

He leaned back, studying me. “Speaking of work, how are the wedding preparations coming along? Lucas Kalantzis still buying your little romance?”

The mention of the wedding sent an unexpected pang through my chest. My time was consumed by meetings like this and coordinating with my men. Each night I returned to the penthouse late, finding her already asleep or secluded in her room. The distance was necessary but increasingly painful.

“Everything is on track,” I said, maintaining an air of indifference. “The Kalantzis family has embraced the engagement. Lucas believes I’m committed to the alliance.”

“And the sister? She’s not suspicious?”

I let a practiced smirk cross my lips. “She’s planning a wedding. Choosing cakes, dresses. Women are easily... distracted by such things.”

The lie tasted bitter. Thea was anything but distracted—she was sharp, focused, and I knew she was working angles I couldn’t see. But Marco needed to believe she was merely a pawn, not the fierce strategist I’d come to admire.

“Good.” Marco nodded, seemingly satisfied. “The wedding will make a perfect target. Everyone gathered in one place, celebrating.” He sighed. "Have you settled on a way to solve our problem?”

I kept my face impassive, though inside I calculated exactly how I would make him suffer for even thinking about harming her.

“ Da . There will be approximately fifty guests at the reception,” I said.

“Family, close associates. Security will be minimal.

Pasha and I will slip out, the building will be surrounded by our people and then rushed.

The entire family will be gunned down before they know what's happening.”

“Perfect.” Marco stood, signaling our meeting was ending. “Continue to keep me updated. I’d like an invitation as well. I plan on framing it as a memento of her family's demise.”

“Of course.” I maintained the pretense of politeness. “I’ll have security protocols finalized by Friday.”

“Fantastic.”

The video call ended, and I closed my laptop, crossing the space of my temporary office to look out the window. Snow had collected on the tops of the trees and ledges of nearby buildings. These meetings drained me more each time—the constant performance, the careful balance of truth and deception.

And time was running out. The trap we were laying would only work if Marco believed it was a real ceremony, if he thought we'd all be lined up like lambs. He had no idea we planned to end this before vows were exchanged, before anyone stepped foot inside the church.

But it wasn’t just the acting that exhausted me. It was being away from Thea.

My phone rang, Pasha’s name illuminating the screen. I accepted the call, switching to Russian.

“How did it go?” Pasha asked.

“As expected. Still no information on where the women are being held.” I rubbed my eyes, frustration evident in my voice. “He confirmed there are ten total, but he’s keeping me in the dark about their location. Someone else is handling that part of the operation.”

“The Gray Wolves,” Pasha stated with certainty.

“Yes, though Marco never mentions them to me.” My grip on the phone tightened. “We’re running out of time, Pasha. Without knowing where those women are being held, we risk losing them even if we take down Marco.”

“Have you identified any potential locations?” Pasha asked.

“I’ve had men keeping an eye out for Wolves,” I replied. “One of them reported about an abandoned medical facility outside the city. Another saw a Wolf at a warehouse near the docks with unusual security. Two residential properties with heavy surveillance. Our men are watching all of them.”

“Good. Keep me updated on any movement.”

“I will.” I paused, considering our next steps. “If we can't locate those women before the auction...”

“We will, my friend. But remember, patience is sometimes the better strategy. Move too soon without confirmation, and Marco might relocate them somewhere we can’t find them.”

“My security team is in place at the theater. When the time comes, they’ll betray Marco’s men.” I turned from the window and walked to my desk. “How are things in New York?”

“The Wolves are backing off slightly. I think they’re focusing resources on Chicago for the auction.” There was a pause. “And how is your Dark Angel?”

The question caught me off guard, though it shouldn’t have. Pasha knew me too well.

“I wouldn’t know,” I admitted, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. “I’ve barely seen her in two weeks.”

“That bothers you.” Not a question.

I let out a slow breath, watching snow continue to fall outside. “More than it should.”

“Because you care for her.”

“Yes.” The admission came easily now. “I want this to be real, Pasha. Not just for show, not just for the mission. I want her.”

The silence that followed wasn’t judgmental, just thoughtful. Finally, Pasha spoke. “Then tell her.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It never is.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “But Nazar, if anyone deserves happiness after all these years of service, it’s you. And if this woman is what you want...”

“She may not want the same,” I said, voicing the fear that had been growing these past weeks. “And with everything happening—Marco, the auction, the Wolves—the timing is impossible. Plus, the relationship is built on lies and deception.”

I’d spent my life maintaining barriers, never letting anyone close enough to see beneath the vor exterior.

Thea had somehow slipped past those defenses without even trying.

This wasn’t mere attraction or convenience—it was deeper, more profound.

I’d had relationships before, but none had left me feeling this hollow when apart, this complete when together.

“Timing is never perfect.” Pasha’s tone softened. “Remember what my father used to say? ‘In our world, you take happiness when you find it, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.’“

“I don’t want to lose her, Pasha,” I admitted.

Every hour spent on this mission was a tactical necessity but a personal failure. My training told me to focus, to compartmentalize—the mission before the man. But for the first time in my life, my heart was challenging decades of discipline.

“Then stop letting Marco keep you away.” Pasha’s voice hardened with resolve. “We have enough in place. Delegate. If Marco complains, tell him that he’s the one who wanted this. How can you woo a woman when you’re never around?”

“I have one more meeting tomorrow morning, ” I said, decision made. “After that, I’ll make time for her.”

“Good.” The relief in Pasha’s voice was evident. “And Nazar? Don’t wait too long to tell her how you feel. We both know how quickly everything can change.”

After ending the call, I stood at the window, watching snow gather against the glass. Tomorrow, I would see her. Tomorrow, I would begin to bridge the distance that had grown between us.

I thought about Thea choosing a wedding dress and tasting cakes. Playing a role, just as I was. But what if it didn’t have to be just a role? What if, after Marco was dealt with, after the women were freed, after the dust settled... there could be something real?

For the first time in years, I allowed myself to imagine a future beyond duty and obligation. A future with her.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.