Page 5 of Deceptive Vows (Bound by Vows #3)

Chapter Four

THEA

The moment I opened the door, a tingle shimmied down my spine—part warning, part curiosity. And then my eyes landed on him.

Mr. Gumdrop.

An immediate heat bloomed in my belly. In the club’s shadows, he was attractive, but here, in the light, he was magnificent.

Today he wore a light gray linen suit which made his eyes even more striking.

The suit stretched across his broad shoulders while the sleeves molded to his arms. It made me wonder what other muscles might hide beneath .

My brother waved me in. “It’s okay. You should be in on this as well.” He nodded to the man next to Mr. Gumdrop. “This is Pasha Morozov and Nazar Volkov.”

Nazar. Russian. His name rolled around in my brain and danced on my tongue. “Hello, gentlemen. I’m Thea.”

As I crossed the room and perched on the desk across from him, Nazar’s gaze held mine—a challenge and a puzzle wrapped in one. His sharp cheekbones and dark blonde tousled hair gave him a rugged charm, but it was the quiet authority in his posture that unsettled me the most.

His jaw tightened ever so slightly, a flicker of tension that disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. Recognition, perhaps? Or something else entirely.

“Pleasure to meet you,” I said, breaking eye contact with Nazar long enough to address Mr. Morozov.

“You can call me Pasha, and it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”

He was equally attractive, but a brokenness poured off him. Broken knew broken. And if I couldn’t put my pieces together, there was no chance I could mend his.

Innocence and naivety were the only salve for him. Someone who could pull him out of his world for just the briefest of moments and give him peace.

“So, what are we discussing?” I brought my gaze back to Nazar’s.

His lips curved into a grin, as if he could sense the effect he had on me. The room suddenly felt several degrees warmer.

“They met with Marco earlier today. Apparently, he wants them to kill our entire family in exchange for part of our territory,” Lucas said, his tone pulling the room back to business.

I dragged my attention from Nazar, forcing myself to focus on Pasha. “Is that so?”

The lines around his eyes deepened. “ Da .”

“We were discussing a possible plan to stop Marco,” my brother said.

I returned my attention to Nazar, letting a slow smile curve my lips. “Do I get to kill Marco slowly? I’ve heard flaying is fun.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his lips twitching in an almost smile. “A creative method. ”

“He killed my baby sister. He’ll be lucky I don’t find a pot big enough to fry him in oil.”

He chuckled. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

It wasn’t what he said, but how he said it that fueled the pounding of my heart. Less caution and more gasoline coating the words. As if he’d enjoy my darkness. “I’ll do that.”

Lucas cleared his throat, shooting me a warning glance. This wasn’t one of our usual meetings where my bloodthirsty suggestions were ignored. “Marco wanted them to propose an alliance… and seal it with a marriage.”

For the first time, I was somewhat caught off-guard. I laughed. “Fascinating. A marriage?”

“ Da . He wants Nazar to marry you and kill your entire family at the wedding.” Pasha said.

I touched my hand to my chest and leaned back. “If he wasn’t trying to kill us, I might actually find the idea of marriage charming. Almost.” My lip curled. “If you’ll just give me his address, I’ll happily go kill him for you. No ceremony required.”

“And what would happen to the women and girls he’s currently holding?” Nazar’s gaze met mine as he asked the question.

The room seemed to still. “We torture it out of him.”

“He strikes me as a man who would rather die and take others with him.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Sadly, I had to agree. Marco was dramatic enough to destroy everything rather than lose. “I wonder why he wants a marriage when any simple occasion that required a gathering would work."

Lucas grunted. "Humiliation. He likely knows your aversion to the idea."

I couldn't stop the smile. At least he wasn't wrong about that. I looked at Nazar. "Then what do you propose?”

Pasha gave him a small nod.

Nazar’s gaze lowered to the floor momentarily and then back to me. “We could let Marco believe we’re willing to go along with his plan. We could get engaged, plan a wedding, and find where he’s holding the women and girls.”

An engagement. The word hung in the air between us.

I wanted justice for my sister, but the thought of tying myself, however temporarily, to a stranger made my stomach churn. Yet there was something else there too. A dangerous curiosity .

Interestingly, I didn’t see revulsion in Nazar’s eyes—mischief danced in them and an almost imperceptible lift of his lips, as if he enjoyed the idea.

His reaction was intriguing. To be fair, it would be a lie that the same idea didn’t flit through my mind. I didn’t trust him. Not fully. But I didn’t need to. Not if I stayed in control.

My brother leaned forward, his protective instincts visibly kicking in. “You expect us to trust you? To allow my sister to go into an unknown situation? That’s a big ask.”

“It is—” Pasha started to say.

“I’m willing to risk it,” I quickly interjected. “To slit all their throats, if it means Gianna, Ma, and Pa get justice.”

“Thea...” Lucas breathed my name, tension lining his face.

I twisted at the waist, leaned forward, and covered his hand with mine. “Do you trust me ?”

His eyes locked with mine, unwavering. Lucas had saved my life, given me the family I never thought I’d have, and yes, he loved me.

This wasn’t just about owing him. I owed it to myself.

The Morettis had stolen something precious and wonderful.

Gianna, Ma, and Pa. I’d loved them, still loved them. My family had been my world.

“Let me do this. We deserve justice.”

“I don’t disagree, but?—”

Pasha cleared his throat. “There will never be enough justice, but Marco’s death means others will never have to look for it.” His knuckles whitened around his glass, a flash of old pain crossing his features before he masked it again.

My brother’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Pasha. “It sounds like you might understand.”

“ Da .” The tone made no mistake that yes was all the explanation we would get.

I returned my gaze to Nazar. “Just so we’re clear.” I leaned forward. “I’m not the kind of woman who needs saving. If you get in my way, I won’t hesitate to kill you too.”

His grin widened, appreciation rather than mockery in his eyes. For a split second, I thought he might enjoy the challenge.

Nazar stood, and I rose to meet him. Aftershave and sandalwood floated around me. A dangerous lure. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” The way his voice dipped low did things to my insides that no other man ever had .

I cocked an eyebrow. “So, how would we do this?”

“Just like my Pakhan suggested. An alliance. A trade of skills and services, binding it together with blood.”

I considered this. “Acceptable. Do I have a huge argument in front of Lykos patrons about my misogynistic brother forcing me into a loveless marriage or accept my fate since he’s so… threatening?”

His tongue danced over his lips as he chuckled. “I can’t see anyone forcing you to do anything,” he in that dizzying low voice.

He looked at me, through me. At that moment, I had no doubt he knew I’d sensed him watching me at the club. A tremor raced through my stomach. Danger or excitement? Maybe both.

He flicked his gaze to Lucas and back to me. “And I don’t see you accepting fate. So... maybe somewhere in between lies the truth.” His warm, minty breath caressed my cheeks, mixing with the citrus of his cologne.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I smiled. “The truth?”

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “We saw each other during the meeting and knew we were meant for each other. Simple, easy. No lies to keep up with.”

A low burn coiled in my chest, slow and uninvited. No lies to keep up with? Well, that could be partially true. I caught my bottom lip in my teeth, holding his gaze. What was it about this man that set me off-center? “That does seem simple.”

Pasha cleared his throat, and Nazar stepped back. “That’s if my Pakhan and your brother find my plan acceptable.”

“Perhaps we should take a day and discuss it,” Pasha said, pushing back his chair with a soft scrape against the hardwood floor. “Marco gave me until tomorrow to give him an answer. Will that be enough time?” He directed the question to Lucas as he stood.

Lucas pushed out of his chair. “Yes.” He extended his hand to Pasha. “We’ll let you know what we decide.”

Ari opened the door. “I’ll see you gentlemen out.”

“It’s a trap. You know that, right?” Lucas asked.

“Of course it’s a trap.” Even if I believed Pasha, just because he’d suffered loss didn’t mean he’d give a whit about my family. The Russians weren’t known for their kindness and generosity. “That doesn’t mean we can’t use them to get what we want. They’ve met with Marco. They know where he is.”

Lucas raked his hand through his hair, jaw tight. “The entire family could be at risk. Claire, Aunt Helen, our cousins.”

“Anna,” Ari added as he returned to the office, his voice hardening at his wife’s name. “No. I won’t risk her. Not after everything she’s been through.”

“No one will be at risk but me.” I planted my feet firmly. “We pretend to go through this charade, and I’ll use Nazar to find out where Marco is...and if he’s actually holding women and girls for this supposed auction he’s having.”

Dimitris pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the flame briefly illuminating his face. “I’ve been hearing about an auction. A couple of socialites were lured out of a club the other night. Nothing on the news about a ransom. I’m guessing they’ll fetch more at this live auction.”

My stomach turned. Two girls, terrified, possibly drugged, waiting to be sold. “Okay, so, I find out where the girls are and take out Marco.”

“That’s if Nazar doesn’t kill you first.” Ari strode from the door to stand next to Lucas. “I’m not discounting your skills, but I will not lose another sister.”

I had no reasonable explanation, but my gut said Nazar wouldn’t hurt me. The way he’d looked at me—challenge and interest, not malice. He might lie to me. Mislead me. Maybe even break my almost non-existent heart. But he wouldn’t lay a finger on me.

Lucas crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m leaning more in Ari’s direction. Mom, if she were alive, would kill me for even entertaining the idea. It’s?—”

“But Ma isn’t here, Lucas.” I looked from him to Ari. “And who’s to say that Marco will stick with taking us out all at once? Who’s to say Marco won’t bring it to our homes? You can’t be with Anna all the time.” I returned my attention to Lucas. “And you can’t be with Claire all the time.”

“Thea–”

“Lucas, I need to do this.” I leaned forward, forcing him to meet my eyes. “At least two girls are being kept somewhere. They are scared, alone, and wondering if they’ll ever see their families again. I can’t just stand around and do nothing. This is our best chance. ”

Dimitris snorted, tapping ash into a nearby tray. “Never thought the day would come that Thea would argue in favor of getting engaged.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m arguing in favor of ending this. Which, by the way, I wonder if they know about Gabriele working with Marco.”

Lucas grunted. “For all we know, Pasha and Nazar met with both of them, and together they came up with this plan.”

Everything in me screamed that wasn’t true. I knew what I saw in Pasha’s eyes. Hurt. Loss. He understood the drive for justice. Nazar... there was something else there. An attraction for sure, but another layer that I felt compelled to peel back.

Ari grumbled and shook his head, pacing a short line in front of the couch.

I moved from Lucas to him. “You know I’m right.

I love Anna. She is sweet and innocent, and I don’t want her hurt either.

” The memory of her father’s blood splattered across her wedding dress flashed through my mind.

No one deserved to go through something so traumatic twice.

“But Marco is bringing in outside help. We use this as a chance to flip it around on them.”

My brothers stared at me. Hesitation and worry filled their eyes, but calculation did too. They knew I was right.

Dimitris took a few puffs of his cigarette, then nodded slowly. “Either we give our blessing, or she’ll do it anyway. At least this way we can back her up.”

I scoffed. “I wouldn't... Okay, yes, I would, but I’d rather go into it knowing I had your support.”

Lucas and Ari exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them.

Lucas rolled his tongue over his lips and dropped his arms to his side. “Thanksgiving’s at the end of the week. Aunt Helen wants us to get together. We could have it here and announce it then.”

“What? NO!” Ari growled, looking between us like we’d lost our minds.

Taking Ari’s face in my hands, I smiled. “Did I stop you?”

He stilled, understanding in his eyes. After he’d found out that several members of the police force, along with the chief, were helping Marco and attending some of his sick parties , he’d gone on a rampage.

There’d been recorded evidence of crimes against children.

He’d lost it and killed everyone he could get his hands on, including our mayor.

Lucas was currently shopping for a new one. So far, there were no good prospects.

Ari maintained eye contact, his voice softening. “This is different.”

“Why? Because I’m a woman?”

“No. Because you’re my sister.” He pulled me into a bear hug, his grip almost too tight. “I’ve lost one, and I’m not willing to lose another.”

I returned the hug, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne. “I know, and you won’t.” Leaning back, I smiled. “I need to do this.”

His lips pressed together a moment, resignation settling in his features. “All right. But the moment you think something is wrong, you’re tapping out. Got it?”

“I will. I’ll be careful. I promise.” Stepping back, a grin spread on my lips as I tried to lighten the mood. “So, do I spring it on Aunt Helen and just let Nazar show up, or should I give her a heads up?”

Lucas grunted a laugh, pouring himself another drink. “Maybe you should warn him .”

Dimitris snorted, stubbing out his cigarette. “Poor fella has no idea what he’s walking into with Aunt Helen’s interrogations.”

There was a moment of silence, and then my brothers laughed.

I joined in, but beneath the laughter, I was already plotting my moves. This was going to work. I’d make it work. Marco wouldn’t know what hit him.