Deceitful Vows by Brook Wilder

 

Chapter 61

Andrei

 

Oleg’s loss is immediately felt. Sonya stares in disbelief, and unsteady on her feet, she leans against the couch in the office. Her gaze lands on me and then travels to Dmitri, stopping on Eva. Our mother holds out her arms to Sonya and sits beside her on the couch. Sonya lowers her head in her hands, covering her face as her shoulders shake violently. I also regret his death, but I’m shocked by her extreme reaction.

 

Igor won’t get away with it. It has to be him.

 

Slowly, the chain of events comes out. Gerald Reyes was taken to the hospital when his aide had trouble waking him. By the end of today, he will be moved to palliative care. Guards have been placed in his room. No one, not even the nurses, will see him alone. A woman fitting Paige’s description went to see him around lunchtime. But she hasn’t been seen since.

 

The hospital security cam shows the Lamborghini pulling out of the parking lot, but there is no word on where it went.

 

I don’t blame myself, but I should’ve known better. Paige is stronger than I give her credit for. I’ve consistently underestimated her sense of loyalty to her family. That will be our undoing. My ignorance of her devotion to her family and my duty to the Bratva.

 

This morning, I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, exploring Paige’s body and feeling her desire grow with each touch. I held her body in my arms, pulled back her hair, and left a trail of kisses on her neck. Paige wiggled her bottom against me, but I promised there would be time for pleasure later.

 

I reluctantly pulled myself away from her, foolishly thinking that I would make love to her and savor every touch, treasure every moan until the end of time.

 

I silently pray I’ll wake up with Paige in my arms tomorrow. My thought ends abruptly when my phone chimes on my desk.

 

“Hello, Andrei.” Talia’s face is on the screen. She used to call me topless and try to seduce me over video. It never worked. “I hear you’ve had a busy day running around.”

 

I stare at her image, slowly noting her surroundings. “Are you in my car?” I ask.

 

She laughs. “I have something else of yours. But not as valuable.”

 

The image on the phone shifts to the driver. It’s Paige. She refuses to look at the camera and resolutely keeps her eyes on the road. But I can tell by the tightness in her expression that she’s scared.

 

My rage flares. “You better be heading here with my wife.”

 

“How sweet the two of you are.” Talia looks into the camera again. “My husband. My wife. Take out an ad and tell the world you’re in love.”

 

Paige’s gaze drops briefly, and I regret what I didn’t say. “Don’t hurt her, Talia. Bring her back here now.”

 

“Or what, Andrei?” The ends of her mouth curl. “What can you even do to me?”

 

Talia does something off-camera, and then she laughs loudly. “Don’t do anything rash, Andrei, or the only thing you’ll have left to bury will be her pretty little hands.”

 

The video switches to Paige’s face, revealing a red scratch on her cheek. She stares desperately at Talia and then looks straight into the camera. Her lips purse together, and just as she’s about to say something, the screen goes black.

 

END OF BOOK 1

Paige and Andrei’s story continues in book 2 – Deceitful Lies

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