Page 70 of Forgotten Vows

“No. They wouldn’t.”

Luka sighed, shaking his head slightly. He zoned out at the wall, looking pissed, tired, and annoyed. “What’s your take on it?”

“My take?” My uncle often asked for my opinions, but he hadn’t yet about this. “I think you should believe that Raisa is telling the truth.”

“For fuck’s sake, Ivan.” He smirked. “Isn’t it obvious I already have? I wouldn’t have let her stay here if I didn’t trust her. Gabriella seems to trust her, and I trust her judgment too.”

I smiled. “Then why is Raisa acting like she’s still unwanted here?”

He huffed. “That’s ayouproblem.” He flung his hand up. “I don’t know. Marry her and see how that goes.”

I sat, chuckling.

“A real wedding,” he added. “Emil told me about your drunken party when you unofficially married her.”

I grinned. “Are you just talking crazy talk right now or are you serious?”

He blew out a deep breath. “I am serious about respecting that you will never give up on this woman. You loved her all this time and have never been happier to have her in your life again.”

I nodded because it was true.

“Now, if you’re asking if I’m serious about you marrying her…” He made a face and shrugged. “I think that would be a hell of a way to use her as bait. If Konstantin is alive, he’d reveal himself to protest that marriage.”

“No fucking way. There isn’t a chance in hell I’ll ever let her be used for anything. Especially not as bait.” I was furious he’d even suggest it.

“Easy. Easy.” He waved his hand down. “It was just an idea.”

“It’s not happening.”

He pointed at me. “See what I mean? You’ll never give up on her. So I may as well just follow along.”

Yeah, right.He was the Boss. The leader. But I appreciated his sort of joking that he’d make himself okay with having her in the family.

“I would rather have the reassurance that her father is dead. Maybe you were too young then, but he stirred up all kinds of trouble. More of a nuisance than what I want to put up with anymore.”

“I recall some of it. I knew the second Raisa told me that she was a Petrov that our time together was doomed.”

“Yet, it’s not.” He held his hands up. “Looks like a complete full circle to me. A healthy, strong boy. You and Raisa are back together.”

“Does this mean you will no longer be suspicious of her?”

He sat up and seemed pensive before answering. “It was more a suspicion about who’d be interested in her than suspicious of her.”

I liked that answer. Because it was true. Raisa wasn’t someone to worry about, but it was a valid point to be concerned about anyone after her. This talk with my uncle was more than enough proof thathewasn’t interested in her as an enemy to capture and punish.

He saw her as mine.

Just like she should be.

“Go on. Go find her and tell her what you learned.” That, too, was a blessing. He was verbally granting me permission to share family secrets and intel with her. I almost felt silly for ever worrying so much about this. Of course, she’d fit in with us and belong.

I didn’t wait, leaving his study and going right back to her room. She was sitting on the bed, looking ready to fall asleep.

“Let me shower and I’ll be right there.” I was already taking my shirt off. If she didn’t look so tired, I would’ve suggested something else, but she looked beat. I hurried to clean up and then joined her in bed.

“Raisa?” I asked once I spooned her, loving how she yawned as I woke her up and readjusted her so she’d be snug against me.

“Hmm?” She patted my arm, not even fully rolling over or opening her eyes. “We’ll just talk in the morning.”