Page 146 of Deceptive Vows

We spoke briefly on the phone, and I filled him in on what happened and what I decided to do regarding Natalia.

As right as it feels, it’s weird thinking of her new name. It helps that I thought of her as the princess or my Malyshka.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I spent some time going through whatever records I could find on Adriana Alvarez and erasing them from existence.”

I straighten. “You can do that?”

“Ididdo that.” He chuckles. “Raul went through great lengths to conceal his daughter’s identity, so it wasn’t that hard to find the little information that existed on her. I just erased it. That way, no one can accidentally stumble upon it.”

“Jesus, Eric. Thank you.”

“No worries. I thought you would appreciate it no matter what you decide to do.”

I dip my head. “I do appreciate it. Sounds like you think I might change my mind.”

“I think you’re in a weird situation right now. Things could change and you might want different things. You might want to keep her.”

Keeping her sounds like a dream my heart wants, but I can’t think about that now.

“I can’t see past this trouble and nightmare. We started off the wrong way. Everything about our first meeting was wrong. She watched me kill and threatened her life.” How the fuck can I want what’s best for her and keep her in the same breath? “I was so fueled with rage that I would have probably killed her had I known who she was.”

“Mikhail, I think any of us would have behaved the way you did given the circumstances. I don’t know anyone who would have been able to think straight if they’d gone through what you did.”

“I don’t know. It’s not in my nature to be calm or patient. I flipped out, and if given the chance, I would do it all over again because it’s the same fucking pain. She deserves someone better than that. And what’s fucking worse is, Ivan wants her.”

Worry clouds his eyes. “What makes you think that?”

“I know him. She also told me he could have known her mother. He said there was a woman in Mexico who worked for Raul who she looked like.” That played on my mind, too. The moment she told me he’d said the fear in her eyes was the same as the woman’s he knew, I was certain he’d done something to her mother.

“Fuck. Well, that’s a long shot, but something we need to be aware of. I don’t think he’d do anything about exposing her identity if he ever found anything out. It would be foolish to do that and put the ownership of the cartel in disarray.”

“I thought so, too. But the important part is him knowing. Eric, if anything happens to me—”

“Fuck you,” he cuts me off, and his face contorts into a scowl. “Don’t tell me that bullshit. We’re working hard so nothingdoeshappen to you.”

“I know, but I have to be real. Something did happen to me once before. It was close, Eric. Right now, we’re not any closer than where we were days ago. We can’t find shit on Ivan, and whatever my father decides regarding the leadership will still put me at odds with my brother. Ivan is still going to want me dead because we’ll have equal shares in the company. He’s plotting my death now as we speak.” That’s the realistic picture of what I have to face. “If anything happens to me, please promise me you won’t let Ivan take my girl. Don’t let him take her. He won’t plan to keep her the way I want to. If she ends up with him, it will mean death for her. I can’t let that happen.”

That motherfucker will use her until she’s of no use to him, and then he’ll do exactly what I thought I had the heart to do—sell her or give her away. Except, whoever he sells her to or gives her to will be the same type of sadistic bastards who killed Talia.

My girl will suffer the same fate and beg for death.

“Okay, I will make sure she’s safe.” Eric sighs. “Keep your ear to the ground, Mikhail. Try to stay focused. I’m heading out tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be working on things behind the scenes.”

“Thanks. I owe you.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

He chuckles. “That’s all I got for you.”

“Cool. I’m going to speak to José about locking away Raul’s files.”

“Good. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I give him a curt nod and leave.

The docks are fortunately not far from the hotel, so it doesn’t take me long to get there.