Dark Vow (Blackwoods College)

But where would I go? How could I get home with no phone and no wallet?

I sat down and put my face in my hands.

Jarrod. Cora. They’d wonder. Someone back home would start asking questions. I couldn’t just disappear for a weekend without raising some eyebrows.

My mother would notice. She’d call someone.

There had to be a way. Maybe they were looking for me already.

I stood and splashed water on my face. I felt woozy and disoriented. I leaned forward, trying to clear my head before I stepped back out into the cabin.

The flight attendant was bent over Calvin. She placed a drink in his hand and flashed him a seductive smile. She was pretty, wore a white button-down blouse with the top two buttons open, showing plenty of her ample breasts, and Calvin didn’t even glance at her. He grunted at the drink as she retreated back to her seat, frowning at me like she’d never seen another human before in her life.

I stood next to Calvin.

He sipped his drink and looked up.

“I thought you got lost for a second,” he said.

“I was trying to come up with a way to escape.”

“And?” He arched an eyebrow, smiling.

“Hard to do at forty thousand feet.”

“Might as well sit and enjoy the ride.”

I crossed my arms. “People are going to look for me.”

“No, they aren’t. I already told Jarrod where you’ll be, and your mother’s not in a state of mind to pay attention to much of anything these days. You’re all mine.”

I ground my teeth. “I have class on Monday.”

“I emailed your professors. Anything else?”

“You’re insane.”

“We’ve covered this already, Robyn.” He sighed, looking exasperated. “You’re coming to Riga with me. This is happening. Why keep fighting?”

I leaned down, staring into his attractive, smoldering eyes.

“Because you need to learn that you don’t own me.”

He looked delighted as I pulled away, stormed to the seat across the aisle, and sat down. He laughed as I buckled myself in, pulled my knees to my chest, and stared out the window, making a show of turning my back to him.

The bastard. He thought this was a game.

I’d show him it wasn’t.

He was right. I didn’t have much of a choice anymore—this was happening.

But that didn’t mean I had to make his life easy.

If I was being dragged into hell, I’d go down kicking and screaming.

4

Calvin

Robyn’s rage took my breath away.

Her anger was addictive. It was powerful and sultry, like a fine red wine or an aged cigar.

Pungent and delicious.

I reveled in her fury. I needed her pink and screaming before this weekend was over, and I had a good feeling I’d get what I wanted.

The letters were only a tease. Just the beginning.

But I could tell they had her rattled.

Oh, Robyn, my lovely, my love. She despised me. I couldn’t blame her. But she’d change her mind, sooner or later.

And she’d become my wife.

The plane touched down at Riga International. My people were already there: Matthias, my right-hand man within my family’s organization, and several bodyguards and mercenary soldiers vetted and hired for this occasion. They were hard men, used to fighting for the local oligarchs and warlords, and would serve me well.

So long as I paid them.

Robyn followed in silence as we were whisked away to a line of private cars and ushered into the back of a comfortable black sedan. It was around one in the morning and the airport was dead. Matthias sat up front with the driver, his dark eyes and black, messy hair turned forward, a serious look on his face.

Matthias was always so serious. I’d known him since we were boys—his father worked for my father, and we’d been raised like cousins. He was clever and sharp and ruthless, which were all the qualities I looked for in a good employee. I loved him like a brother, but we both understood our roles.

“Is everything ready?” I asked him. Robyn stared out the window as the cars pulled out.

Matthias nodded. “You have a meeting in five hours.”

I looked at Robyn. “Will you be okay for a few hours on your own?”

“I’ll survive.” She didn’t glance over.

She was going to be difficult. I didn’t want there to be any problems between us, but I couldn’t force her to enjoy herself.

Still, I’d spoil her, whether she wanted it or not.

“We need to take Robyn to the rooms first, then we’ll go to the meeting.”

Matthias inclined his head. “That’ll be fine. But just so you know, the contact changed.”

That wasn’t good. I’d been dealing with a man from the war ministry for months, a gentleman called Lukas Brnovich. He was a respected and connected member of the ruling government’s cabinet, and when he’d said he’d make a deal, I’d trusted his word.

Getting passed on to someone else was not a good sign, but it might not be a death sentence for the deal.