Page 79 of Dangerous Promises

Alexei's jaw tightens.

"I know it's not the answer you want to hear. But you have to understand that only my uncle could bring him around. Andeven then, he's not too inclined to listen to anyone. He doesn't understand why Chet is a big enough threat to draw us all together. When he was last awake, Chet was barely more than a nuisance that refused to come out of hiding."

"Anton won't convince him," Alexei says, shaking his head.

"What makes you so sure of that?"

Alexei sighs, his eyes going dark and to somewhere that looks far away. "Because Victor would've never listened to me."

The air hangs heavy with that statement.

I stop myself before my stupid heart tries to feel any empathy for the psychotic Rushkoff.

He's right, and I know it's true. Nobody could convince my father to change his mind. Perhaps Anton was less than prepared when he took power because he'd never had a taste of it. Everyone under my father's care is used to being directed, decisions aside.

Nobody has ever had to think for themselves, even my uncle if I really think about it. The clarity rings true and it's never made more sense why Anton struggled with the role.

"It has to be you," Alexei says.

My eyes clash with his as I snap to look at him. Sure that I've heard him wrong.

But I haven't.

"Me?" It sounds more likewhat the fuckwhen I reply, though.

"Only you."

I am unsure why he has so much faith in what I'll be able to do. But he looks at me with such conviction. At first it was annoying that he never took his eye off me, almost like he was convinced I was about to do something suspicious. Now he's looking at me like I'm the only one who can do something great, and he believes that.

We break eye contact as I look down into my lap.

"I've never convinced anyone of anything. All I've ever done is pushed hard enough that they don't get a choice to disagree."

When I look up at Alexei, he smirks at me. Like that was what he was requesting of me the whole time.

A small smile slides over my face.

"Okay, get off the bed in the wet clothes," I say pushing him up and sighing when I see the patch he's left behind.

Alexei goes back for the towel, a small clunk hitting the floor when he does. He bends down to pick up the dropped object and I see he's got the locket from Chet's flower shop. He dangles it off his finger as he inspects it.

"Still no idea what this is?" he asks.

"It's a locket that belonged to someone named Iz. Whoever that is, I don't know," I say shrugging. "It won't open."

Alexei takes the locket between his fingers and there's a big crack as the clasp bends open easily in his hands.

"How?!" I say, jumping up and rushing over to see what's inside. Alexei passes the open locket to me. There are two things on the inside: a photo, and a message. My body chills as my eyes trace over the picture. A woman holding her baby. Long dark hair, dark green eyes. Happier than I've ever seen them.

"Princess…" Alexei says, cringing as he gestures to the picture. "Isn't that you?"

It is me. And my mother. Holding me and smiling happily down on me like I am her whole world. I've never seen a photo of her where she smiled so big. In fact, Dad never liked to keep photos of her anywhere. My eyes glaze over the inscription.

"Yes… but," I say, more confused than ever. "Her name wasn't Isabelle."

Alexei frowns, looking closer and repeating the inscription aloud: "Isabelle, I will never forget."

The words are ominous and foreboding. I look up at Alexei who mirrors my concern. Chet made a vow to never forget.