Page 25 of Deceptive Vows (Bound by Vows #3)

Chapter Twenty-One

THEA

Getting invited to a Moretti Christmas party wasn’t on my bingo card, but here I was checking that box a little less than a week from Christmas. I had to give it to Gabriele. His commitment to the lie he was trying to sell was commendable.

Like his brother Marco, he had a large estate, but his was nearly an hour west of Chicago in Saint Charles. From what I’d heard through the rumor mill, it was just one of his three homes.

I will admit that after turning onto the private lane, I was nothing less than impressed by the sprawling brick and stucco facade framed by evergreen hedges. Fresh snow blanketed the entire area, giving it an unblemished appearance.

Along with us, two other couples were greeted by a butler on the wide steps.

The warmth hit me first, radiating from the heated hardwood floors, and then the grandeur—vaulted ceilings soaring overhead, special millwork lining the walls, and pedestals featuring various pieces of expensive, rare art lining the hallway on our walk to the ballroom.

I glanced up and gasped at the hand-painted ceilings. “Gorgeous.”

The man was evil, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t admire the beauty of his home.

Nazar’s hand settled against the small of my back, his head tilting up. “ Neveroyatnyy ,” he said and then looked at me. “Incredible.”

Reaching the ballroom, I was left speechless by the majesty of it.

Large crystal chandeliers ran down the middle of the ceiling, and more hand-painted murals depicted what looked like Roman gods in various states of entertainment.

While the rest of the house seemed to be a mix of modern and old-world styles, this room offered a peek into ancient Rome, with deep reds and golds adorning the walls and furnishings, along with more expensive, rare art.

“Well, this room is certainly a statement,” I said.

“ Da , an unending pocket of money statement.”

I looked at him and chuckled. “I believe he’s saying a lot by inviting us here. He has the money and the ability to outlast anyone who comes against him.”

With a slight nod of his head, Nazar leaned in, his mouth brushing against my ear. “Our pockets may not be as deep, but our passion for justice is just as unending.”

“ Da .”

His breath tickled my neck as he laughed softly.

We weaved through the crowd, searching for Lucas, Ari, and Lex. They were holding up a corner on the far-right side of the room with Claire and Anna. Dimitris was absent, as usual. He called these types of affairs casting calls because everyone in attendance was acting.

To be fair, it wasn’t far from the truth.

I stepped in close to Lex and whispered, “No date? ”

“Trying the solo flight for a while.”

“Ah.”

Lucas took a sip from the creamy white liquid in his glass. “Eggnog. Not bad, actually.”

“See anyone interesting so far?” I glanced over my shoulder at the different clusters of people scattered around the room.

Ari wrapped his arm around Anna and shook his head. “Not so far. I’m guessing Gabriele will make an entrance soon.”

Nazar slipped his free hand into his pocket. “I wonder if he’ll be accompanied by a date.”

I was curious about that as well. His wife had died after his daughter, Sofia, was born. As far as I knew, he’d never remarried, so there was no telling who might be on his arm.

“Speak of the devil,” Lucas murmured, his gaze shifting to the ballroom entrance.

Gabriele Moretti entered with a flourish that only a man who’d spent decades controlling a room could master.

His dark suit was impeccably tailored, and the deep burgundy tie perfectly complimented the room’s color scheme.

His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his smile was calculated as he nodded to guests.

Most interesting was the young brunette on his arm, his daughter Sofia.

“If this wasn’t a Christmas party and she wasn’t twenty-four, I’d almost say it was a debutant ball.” I looked at Ari. “I’ve never seen them together in public before. Have you?”

Ari would have known since he was Lucas’s second, and he attended all of the parties and social events as a representative of the Kalantzis family.

He shook his head. “No, and it makes me wonder why.”

“His son Massimo is poised to take over the family business from what I understand.”

“Perhaps Thea isn’t the only one getting married soon,” Anna said.

Talk about piquing my curiosity.

“What an interesting evening this is turning out to be,” Nazar said just loud enough for me to hear.

As Gabriele worked the room, his gaze swept over our little gathering, pausing just long enough to make his notice deliberate. His lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes before he guided Sofia toward us.

“The Kalantzis family.” Gabriele spread his arms in welcome. “I’m delighted you could make it.” His accent was less pronounced than Marco’s, polished by years of American business dealings, but the Italian still lingered beneath the surface.

Lucas inclined his head, his face a perfect mask of polite indifference. “Gabriele. Quite the gathering.”

“Christmas brings out the best in people, doesn’t it?” Gabriele’s gaze shifted to me, lingering a moment longer than necessary. “And the lovely Thea. A vision as always.”

I offered my hand, which he took with practiced charm. “Your home is magnificent.”

“Thank you.” He smiled, then waved with a flourish toward his daughter. “I’m not sure if you’ve been formally introduced, but this is my daughter Sofia.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Claire said.

Gabriele’s daughter gave a shy smile. “Nice to meet you.”

He cleared his throat, and if I hadn’t been watching her, I wouldn’t have seen the flinch.

Gabriele’s gaze flicked from me to Nazar and back. “I hear congratulations are in order?”

“Uh, yes,” I said and leaned into Nazar. “I wasn’t exactly on board at first, but…” I looked at him and smiled. I’d planned to play it up for Gabriele’s benefit, but the script vanished the moment our eyes locked. “It seems I’ve found a kindred spirit.”

“I remember when my parents would speak of their arranged marriage. Unfortunately for my father, my mother was stubborn and needed a little direction from him.”

My attention jerked to him. I knew what he was saying. His father had abused his mother because she didn’t want to be married to him, and if Marco and Gabriele were a reflection of him, then we were looking into the pit of hell itself.

Before I could find the proper amount of venom to respond, Gabriele turned to Lucas. “Could we maybe discuss a few things in my office? I promise I won’t keep you long.”

A rock settled in the pit of my stomach. My brother leaving with Gabriele, out of our sight, with no protection?

Apparently, the man read a room with excellent precision. “I promise, no harm will come to you. Unfortunately, business waits for no man, not even during the holidays.”

Lucas glanced at Ari and then tugged Claire to him, kissing her cheek. “Don’t get into trouble while I’m gone, okay?” He winked.

Claire lifted on her toes and touched her lips to his. “No promises.”

I watched as Gabriele led Lucas toward a side door, Sofia gliding away to a group of women who looked to be about the same age.

The moment they were out of earshot, I whispered, “I don’t like this.”

Ari nodded, his eyes tracking Gabriele across the room. “Neither do I, but Lucas can handle himself, and our host is smart enough to keep his hands clean with this many people in attendance.”

Lex stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Did you notice the security? Four men at each exit, plus the ones circulating. Heavily armed too.”

His time with Dimitris had rubbed off.

“And not all of them are Moretti’s,” Nazar added. “I spotted at least two with Gray Wolf tattoos sticking out from under their collars.”

“Let’s circulate,” Ari continued. “Draw less attention. Lex, maybe you can keep an eye on Sofia. Anna and I will monitor the main doors.”

“Thea and I will keep our ears open in case anyone feels a little talkative,” Nazar said.

Ari nodded. “Sounds good.”

As our group dispersed, I accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, my eyes never leaving the door where Lucas had disappeared.

Eight minutes later, Lucas emerged. His expression was neutral, but I caught the tension in his shoulders, the faint line between his brows that appeared only when he was deeply troubled.

By the time he reached Claire, we’d all coalesced around him.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

Lucas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he looked at Lex. “Everything is fine.”

“Lucas…”

His gaze locked with mine. “Later. Dimitris needs to be present.”

I couldn’t fathom what he’d possibly discussed with Gabriele, which would require a family meeting later. “All right.”

The tension in our little group was palpable after Lucas’s cryptic response. He accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, but his eyes kept scanning the room with a calculated wariness that made my skin prickle.

“Dance with me?” Nazar’s voice was smooth at my ear, his hand already extended. An invitation and a strategy wrapped in one.

I smiled, playing my part. “Of course, darling.”

The dance floor was crowded enough to provide cover but not so packed that we couldn’t maneuver. Nazar swept me into his arms with practiced ease, pulling me closer than propriety might require. To anyone watching, we were just an engaged couple, lost in each other.

“Your brother looks rattled,” he murmured, his lips close to my ear.

I followed his lead through a gentle turn, using the movement to scan the room. “I know. And that worries me. Lucas doesn’t rattle easily.”

“Keep your eyes on the woman near the Christmas tree. Red dress, diamond choker.”

I adjusted our position, catching sight of her—statuesque, stunning, and entirely too focused on our group. “I see her.”

“Gray Wolf. I’ve seen her in New York. Irina Sokolova, Sergei’s cousin.”

That explained the predatory grace in her movements. “Seems the Wolves are traveling in packs tonight.”