Vows Of Vengeance

, my heart pounding w

round business, perhaps a new investmen

l hung in the air, heavy with i

ked, my voice ba

arriage to the very man I suspected of being involved in m

ed, as if sensing my hesitation. "For one year. During that time, you will have access t

through the

ccess to his network, his

iage to a man who coul

going to st

d to ask, my voice stronge

red, his voice sending a shiver down my spine, "not everyone is bold enough to request a one on one meetin

hit me lik

ndence, my ability to navigate the dang

ice that could alter the course

my voice steadier now, des

ted evenly, his gaze unwavering. "But know this, Livia. The path you seek is fraught with d

ped us, thick

ng the risks against

rust Vincenzo-but c

y voice firm and un

urmured, his tone a mix of satisfaction and something she

o leave. "Do not contact me till then. Everything you need will

sea of swirling thoughts, each one a wave cra

ike icy tendrils wrapping around my throat, each

to myself. "Was I that desper

e air, a heavy weight p

in my palm, their cold metal a stark contrast

over me, I knew one thing for certai

***

of Vincenzo's proposal were a wh

dance between my investigation and

ld, even before the vows were ex

s world, I discovered layers of c

eting with one of Vincenzo's associates, I noticed a

ckened my pace, my s

aling the distinct outline of

ed out from the darkness, s

ely reaching for the conceal

voice steady despite the adren

I recognized all too well-Maxim, the enigmatic in

is' myster

yet strangely composed, "there's somet

art p

in Vincenzo's world-a calculated risk

us warning, I struggled t

I demanded, my voice a

s not who you think he is," he finally murmured,

istant sound of footsteps ech

shoulder, his features

Livia," he warned, his vo

ack into the shadows, leaving me standing alo

t no

, a stark reminder of the p

reason why he needed a wife for a year, and now, doubts planted by Maxim

tion dawned upon me-I was deeper in Vincenzo's world than I had ever imagi

as a jolt, a sudden intrusion

y, reached into my pocket

pounding in my chest, and star

snapshot, but it held the