Page 109 of Deceptive Vows

The only thing he values is that and Adriana.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to change up your work a little,” I reply. “I need you to split your time between the office in town and working here on the grounds of my home.”

He narrows his eyes in confusion. “What do you want me to do here?”

“You’ll be working here with Sebastian. I need you to watch over Adriana. But I also need you to watch everyone else.”

“Everyone else including Sebastian?” He straightens.

“Everyone including Sebastian, and everyone who works for me.”

Understanding forms in his eyes. “You trust me that much to watch your men, Señor?”

“No, I don’t trust you. In fact, I don’t even like you. But if I told you the princess’s life could be in danger and someone worse than me may take her to get control of the cartel, I know you would protect her with your life. Is that right, José?”

He nods without thinking. “I would. She’s like a daughter to me.”

“Then do this for me. You notice something wrong, you tell me, and more importantly, you don’t speak to anybody else but me. Got it?”

“Sí.”

31

Natalia

Iremember the days not so long ago when I would wish the minutes and hours away and pray I wouldn’t see Mikhail.

I would spend my days with Snow, walking the grounds of his home to pass the time and gather my thoughts.

I was a mess every time I saw him. Now I’m a mess not for seeing him.

Over two weeks have passed now since we last saw each other.

We’re supposed to be getting married in a few days.

I know he’s been at the house, though, and this isn’t a case where he’s been away. Aleksander has been given me Mikhail’s orders. At other times, I’ve felt eyes watching me.

His eyes.

But every time I turn and look for him, he’s not there. He’s nowhere.

I know I’m not seeing him because we went too far over the line, and it disappeared.

That’s why.

If I have any sense, I’ll retreat, too, and protect my heart. What the hell do I expect from a man like Mikhail Dmitriyev?

Love?

Do I truly expect love when everything is so wild and reckless when we’re together? We’ve never actually sat down and had a conversation that didn’t end with him doing something sexual to me.

The only time might have been my first day here when he told me I was as evil as Raul.

We have nothing in common, and he’s supposed to be my enemy.

He’s just been the sensible person out of the two of us and severed the link before it could grow any stronger.