Deceitful Vows by Brook Wilder
Chapter 42
Andrei
Later that night, I stand on the terrace, staring at the maze. It’s a liability to have a massive obstruction near my home. A ready hiding place for an assassin, but I refuse to cut it down. Vasily kept it as a challenge, and I want to do the same.
I’m not my father, but I expect my enemies to show the same respect to me as they used to show him.
I can’t help but think about the conversation earlier. I never fooled myself into believing that Paige’s life was easy. But she opened up to me, telling me things about herself that I otherwise never would’ve asked. I never thought about what she left behind because I didn’t care in the past.
My collar feels tight as I tug it away from my neck, as if my emotions are strangling me.
“Andrei Vasilyevich?” Oleg descends the stone stairs. He is wearing the same suit from this morning, but his tie is off, and he smells faintly of beer. I can sense the tension radiating off him, and I glance behind him at the house.
“Chto?”
Though the light doesn’t reach us, I can see his facial expression in the shadows. His jaw ticks as his brows pinch together.
“There was a Karamazov hitman near the hospital earlier today. He left after seeing me.”
I take another sip of scotch. It was foolish to send Paige to the hospital without proper protection. Two jeeps weren’t enough. Next time I will insist on four.
She’s no longer bait. She is my wife.
And I will not risk her like Vasily risked my mother.
“Molodets, Oleg.” His loyalty reassures me. “Spasibo.”
Instead of leaving, Oleg swallows hard. There is a determined look in his eyes when he speaks again. “Her father is very ill, Andrei Vasilyevich. It’s clear how much she cares for her family.”
I don’t respond, and he avoids my stern gaze. Oleg joined the Bratva late, in his teens. He is loyal but not ruthless like a man raised in the Bratva from birth. Oleg lets fairness interfere with his duties. He overthinks. His determination to express himself reminds me of Paige.
“There will be no trouble from our enemy as far as my wife is concerned.” My voice deepens as I give a command. “She means more to us than a piece on the board.”
“She’s your queen,” he replies.
“She is.” I nod. “And If I lose her, then we all lose.”
