Page 34 of These Deadly Vows

The thought of his touch makes me want to vomit. And not for the reason it should, but because part of me wishes I could make him feel for me. To love me so that he will give up on this quest for a child. Because there is only one outcome.

My demise.

My death.

Unless I kill him first.

He leaves and I wait a few minutes to regain my senses and to stop the trembling of my hands. I can’t face Carla if I’m a bundle of nerves. She can read me far too easily. No one knows me better. Except even she doesn’t know that I’m unable to have children.

Ghost is going to kill me when he learns the truth.

That I’ll never be able to give him a child. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

Nothing can penetrate his heart of stone. That much is clear.

Downstairs, I find my best friend in deep conversation with Capone. Ugh.

“You better call me.” She taps her number into his contacts on his cell phone. I’m going to kill her. She has no idea what she’s getting into with these men. I shouldn’t have invited her. If I had refused to see her, though, she’d know something more was wrong. And I need to practice selling this marriage. If I convince her, then maybe I can trick myself into believing that somehow, I’m going to survive this biker.

A wicked grin spreads across Capone’s mouth as he eyes Carla and her curves up and down. “I’m a call. You better pick up.” He licks his bottom lip, and she fans herself. “By the way. Do you ride?”

“Beards and mustaches,” she says, and the secondhand embarrassment her crude remarks bring me is unparallel.

Ridiculous.

“I think I just fell in love.” He clutches his chest like he’s been shot in the heart.

“Capone,” my husband barks, curling his lip as though he’s as annoyed by their exchange as I am. “Stop dicking around.” His gaze meets mine and I’m scared he’s going to attempt to kiss me or something for show in front of Carla, but in the end, he pinches my chin. “We’ll talk more later.”

I don’t tell him we have nothing to talk about. We both know where we stand.

Capone winks at me, and they get into the elevator.

Axe is out on the terrace, smoking and ignoring us for now.

I embrace my friend, trying to hold back my tears. Carla has always given the best hugs.

“Okay, enough. Show me the ring.”

I hold out my left hand for her to assess the infinity band. It’s not flashy or encrusted with diamonds. It’s simple and elegant. I wear my mother’s ring on my other hand now.

“Forever hmm.”

I roll my eyes as she studies my face, looking for the crack in my defenses.

“Something like that.”

“What the hell is really going on here?” she demands, tugging me down onto the couch. “Tell me everything,”

She has no idea how I wish I could, but doing so would endanger her life as much as mine.

Her silver-blue eyes sparkle with intrigue. “I know the accident is a coverup. Did Ghost kill your father?”

I shake my head. He didn’t, at least he didn’t act alone. My mind flashes to plunging the knife into my father’s chest repeatedly.

“Talk to me.” She takes my hands in hers as the tears I’ve been fighting since her arrival roll down my cheeks.

“It’s not safe,” I whisper.

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