Page 27 of These Deadly Vows

“Some years back, I was supposed to marry. Was a deal set up by my family and the club.” He pauses to rub the back of his neck. “I shouldn’t be telling you any of this.”

“Then why are you?” I arch a brow.

“Guess I sort of know what you’re going through.”

“Okay.” I motion for him to continue, pushing my plate in his direction since I don’t really have an appetite.

“She was the daughter of a powerful man. Cartel leader. He’d been taken out, and she was barely legal and in a world of danger. Everyone wanted a piece of her fortune.”

“What happened?” I don’t see a wedding band. I’m assuming they didn’t marry.

“I’d gotten myself into some shit and she married my brother instead.”

“Oh.” That’s not what I was expecting at all. “Did you want to marry her?”

“Yes, and no. I mean, it worked out for the best, I guess. They’re happy.”

“And you, are you happy?”

He shoots me another smile and shoves a slice of melon between his lips. “I’m working on it. But the point I’m trying to make is you never know what the future may hold. Few years from now, things may be different.”

I don’t tell him that I don’t have that much time.

“Gotta say. Wasn’t expecting you to strip like that. Was entertaining to say the least.”

My cheeks redden, and I move off the stool. “Good night, Axe.”

“Good night, darlin’.” He tips his chin at me, and I scurry back to the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Pulling out my cell, I dial my brother even though I shouldn’t be calling so late. Ainsley will fly to Chicago to kick my ass if I wake the kids. This shit with Ghost and Adeline stirs up my past.

A past that haunts me.

I can’t change what happened and yet I’m still stuck from moving forward.

I can’t return home, and I can’t hide here forever.

I’m a wanted man.

A disgrace to my family, even if they try to pretend differently.

Unable to give my woman the life she deserves. Coralie was right to leave me. To make a life without me.

A life on the run is no way to live.

She deserves the fairytale.

Something I’ll never be able to give her.

Over the years, I’ve gone from club to club. Tried to start over out west with Coralie until we realized I would never be free without leaving the country or clearing my name.

Our life in the shadows became too much of a burden for her to bear.

Never able to make friends. To settle in one place for too long.

Always afraid of being discovered.

We were constantly looking over our shoulders. She grew paranoid. Scared of her own shadow. Afraid that she’d do or say the wrong thing and we’d be discovered.

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