Page 9 of Sacred Vow

She’s not going to get one. This argument is over.

“I’m going to have someone take you home. You have a lot of packing to do.” I turn on my heel and jerk my office door open.

“I can get myself home,” she says, sauntering toward the door.

“Isolde.” Her name drops like a stone, stilling her. She keeps her gaze locked in front of her. “Tomorrow. If you are still in Chicago, you’re going to regret it. I’m giving you an out here, be smart. Take it.”

Her jaw clenches. Her throat works as she swallows hard, but still, she doesn’t turn to me.

“The day I bend to your orders is the day hell freezes over,” she says in a low, firm voice, then stalks off down the corridor.

Only when she turns the corner do I take my eyes off her and grab my phone, dialing the one person I know I can trust.

“Isolde Madson’s leaving Kraze now. I need an address. Home and work.”

It doesn’t take long.

“Got it. Sending the info to your phone now.”

It vibrates in my hand, and I take a peek.

“Thanks.” I hang up the call and stare at the address. “Got you, Izzy.”

“Hey, Izzy! You awake?” Marlena pounds on my apartment door.

I swipe away the hair from my face and lean up on my elbows, checking the time on my side table clock. Ten o’clock already? I blow out a harsh breath. It’s my day off, but I still have a lot to get done. Mostly laundry.

“Izzy!” She pounds again.

“Yeah. I’m up,” I yell and roll out of bed. “One second!”

As soon I get the door unlocked and open, she hurries in, already dressed in a flowy sundress and a pair of brown leather sandals. Her hair is even done already; soft curls fall around her face. I wish I had her bone structure. I could never pull off the pixie look the way she can.

“How long have you been up?” I run my hands through my hair and use the scrunchy on my wrist to tie it off at the back of my neck.

“Two hours. I have to leave for work in an hour.”

“I thought you said you were off today.” I rub my eyes.

“I’m doing a favor. So, you were quiet last night after we left the club.” She follows me to the kitchen where I search for coffee.

I pick up the wire basket we keep the k-cups in. “Dammit. I’m out.” A morning without coffee is like lungs without air.

“I have tea if you want,” she offers.

I scrunch up my nose. “No, thanks. I have to run some errands today anyway; I’ll grab some from the store.” Opening the fridge, I grimace. “I guess I’ll do a grocery run while I’m at it.” Thankfully, it’s my day off from the diner, so I have time to do my errands.

“All right, enough stalling.” She slides her ass up on the counter. “Tell me.”

“I told you last night.” I close the fridge and opt for the last apple on the counter. Grabbing a knife, I cut away the growing brown spot on the left side.

“No. You said nothing happened and you were too tired to talk about it.” She points her perfectly manicured finger at me.

“Right. Still true.” I bite into the apple.

“C’mon, Izzy. How do you know Andrei Petrov, and what did he say to you? Your face was so red when you came out of his office, you looked like you were ready to breathe fire!”

I had been. Still am.

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