Page 76 of These Deadly Vows

“You shouldn’t be drinking.”

“Whatever.” I don’t know what’s crawled up his ass today. Every time I’ve tried to have anything with alcohol in it, he’s taken it for himself or shoved food at me instead.

“You know you can tell me anything.”

“Dredging up the past never helps anyone. I’m cold and I think my shoulders got too much sun. I’m going to shower and get ready for bed. Are you coming with me?”

“I’ll be coming in you.” He grins and I relax, allowing the tension our conversation brought on to roll off me.

“You better.” I kiss his cheek.

“I’ll be down soon. I’ve got to make sure these lazy asses do what they’re told.” He nods toward the prospects who are cleaning up from the party.

“In other words, you like watching them do all the grunt work.”

He flashes me another smile and picks up some empty bottles of beer as if to prove he’s going to help them.

Waking up with achy, red shoulders was not on my agenda for today. Neither was this doctor’s appointment I’m trying to mentally prepare for. I could use my sunburn as an excuse to reschedule, but it’s only delaying the inevitable. Lorenzo already suspects I’m hiding something. I’m only glad he’s unable to come to this appointment with me.

Acid burns in the bottom of my stomach. There’s no way I can eat the breakfast he left for me on the nightstand. I wish I was awake before he left so I could at least thank him for the gesture. For a man with such a violent nature, he has a lot of good in him too, even if he refuses to acknowledge it. He’s not uttered those three words yet. I know he more than likes me though.

Maybe he’ll understand.

I should tell him now.

No.

He’s going to hate me and send me packing.

My brain wars with my heart.

I suck in a breath and throw back the covers.

I can do this.

My father didn’t raise a coward.

I take my time doing my hair and makeup, preparing for what’s to come.

Like I told Carla, my heart is my own to break. When this is over, once he knows the truth, I’ll give it to him if he still wants me. If he’ll still have me.

I don’t see Axe downstairs.

Weird. He’s supposed to drive me. I take the elevator to the second floor, where I know Lorenzo has his war room or whatever. Hopefully, I can catch him before he leaves for his meeting.

There’s usually a prospect on duty by the elevator. I walk down the empty hall, trying to remember which unit serves as his office.

A door opens and out steps Boo dressed in the bikini she wore yesterday. Wiping the pad of her finger around her lips as though she’s wiping something away, she smirks at me. “He’s all yours.”

My heart lurches in my chest, stealing my breath. I freeze in place, unable to speak or react. I can’t breathe. There’s a cement block on my chest. I’m going to throw up. I can’t believe I thought he was falling for me too. My skin crawls.

Every touch.

Every kiss.

Every promise.

None of it was real.

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