Page 62 of Betrayal and Vows

I study his face, looking for any tell, any sign that confirms what I already know. But Vadim's expression remains neutral. Calculating. Like a chess master who's moved his pieces exactly where he wants them.

"The dungeon," I repeat, keeping my voice steady.

"Yes. Our friend has been quite chatty. Seems he's been feeding information to our competitors for months." Vadim's smile is cold. "He's ready for questioning."

Mikhail's face is flushed red—whether from alcohol or embarrassment, I can't tell. "You knew it wasn't him?"

"Of course, I knew." Vadim's tone suggests his son is an idiot for even asking. "Anton has been loyal to this family for years. Why would he betray us now?"

Because I'm fucking your son's fiancée and planning to steal her away.

Then Vadim turns to me. “Take care of it. Quickly. We have guests upstairs.”

I nod.

But Mikhail isn’t done.

“What’s she like?” he asks casually.

My muscles go rigid. “Who?”

“Lena.Moya zhena.”

She’s not his wife.

I say nothing.

“You watch her all day,” he goes on. “She likes you. Trusts you.”

I keep quiet.

He smiles. “I bet she doesn’t cry easily. But when she does…” He snaps his fingers. “I bet it’s soft. The way her shoulders shake. The way she bites her lip.”

He’s trying. The man has a death wish, but he will know when I’m going to kill him.

And it’s not today.

Mikhail lifts his glass. “You’re her guard. You must know her intimately by now.”

I shrug, feigning boredom.

“She’s been mine since we were kids.”

He says it like a fact.

Like heownsher past, present and future.

“I’ve seen every photo,” he says. “Every report. Every journal entry she wrote in school that her father had copied. I know thenames of her friends. I know what year she became a woman. I know how she reacts when she’s in pain, what shampoo she uses, her favorite chocolate. I know she likes to sneak out and fuck men that are not worthy of her.”

The room goes still.

I don’t think he knows she’s been fucking me. I would not be standing here if he did.

But he knows she’s fucking someone. And that’s dangerous.

“My Lena is a passionate woman that needs taming,” he snarls. “A firm hand.”

He’s beenstudyingher. Obsessing over her since she was a girl.