Page 12 of Shattered Vows

I prowl out of the room, steadying the tray on my hand to lock the door behind me. My mind is too filled with the shit position I put myself in as I head from the north wing to the communal part of the house in the middle that connects all four wings—one for each of us Voss brothers—and make my way to the kitchen. I’m not going back to my bedroom. I want no reminders of Rapsody and her fucking stubbornness.

Mrs. Potter is in the kitchen, along with the chef and sous chef, when I walk in, and I drop the tray, allowing it to crash onto the marble countertop. “See to it that this gets disposed of.”

I circle on my heels and storm out of the room in case they want to ask me any questions as to why I wanted two plates this morning. I satisfy my sexual appetite in other places, so I’m sure they were all surprised I had a guest here. Though Mrs. Potter probably sensed my obvious mood and wouldn’t pry.

I’m heading down the long hallway adjacent to the dining room when my eldest brother, Asher, walks toward me. I guess he and his new wife, Anabelle, have returned from their honeymoon. I would’ve thought he’d still be floating in apparent wedded bliss, but he wears his normal scowl and his hands are fisted at his sides. Some of his curls have fallen over his forehead, which makes him appear unkempt. Not like him at all. That, coupled with the athletic pants and white T-shirt, makes him appear nothing like the man who sits at the helm of our family company, Voss Enterprises.

“Wait! What is going on?” Anabelle says, trailing behind my brother.

If it were my youngest brother Nero’s fiancée, Maude, it would have felt like cat claws scratching down the inside of my brain.

“Asher! Wait! Why did you rush out of the bedroom?” Anabelle finally reaches him, placing her hand on his forearm.

I stop walking toward Asher and heave out a sigh because his eyes are locked on me. I’m a smart man, so I figure I know why he crawled out of bed and left his new wife.

Sid is a fucking snitch.

Asher stops inches from me, his hand with the bear tattoo clenched into a fist, and he launches it forward, punching me in the stomach. “What the actual fuck, Kol?”

Anabelle yelps, and her hands fly up to her mouth.

I let him get in his shot because we both know I could snap his neck in two seconds if I really wanted to. But I’ve brought trouble to his doorstep, so I’ll allow one punch.

“What were you thinking?” Asher growls.

That’s the question, isn’t it? I wish I knew the answer.

“Ash, what’s going on?” Anabella asks, stepping between us and glancing back and forth.

Asher ignores her, which is a testament to how pissed he is. Anabelle has softened my brother… well, toward her. No one else has been on the receiving end of the new Asher. “You kidnapped Rapsody and brought her here?”

Anabelle’s eyes widen, and her head snaps up to look at me. “You kidnapped someone?”

When I don’t answer, her gaze shoots to Asher.

He holds his hands up in front of himself. “Don’t ask me.” He pins me with his big-brother stare.

He wants answers as to my plans for Rapsody, and I have no idea how to answer. But I need to figure it out. And soon.

“You need to release her. Immediately,” Asher demands, his voice bouncing off the walls.

“Not happening.”

He swallows, but his anger doesn’t lessen like he wants.

“Kol, you can’t keep a woman captive. Surely you know that.” Anabelle’s blue eyes are filled with concern. Whether for me or Rapsody, who knows?

My vision falls to Anabelle’s, and I arch an eyebrow. “Is it that different from what Asher did with you?”

Her face reddens, and her gaze falls to the floor.

Asher puffs out his chest and steps toward me. “Careful the way you talk to my wife, asshole.” Then he squeezes Anabelle’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go back to our bedroom? I’ll be right behind you.”

She nods and glances at me for a beat with unsure eyes. Fuck, I hate the way that makes my guilt rise to the surface. Everything is so much easier when you just don’t give a shit.

Asher waits until she’s a distance away, watching her over his shoulder, like a bear protecting its cub. Once she disappears from view, he whips his head back toward me with the lethal gaze I’m familiar with. “You will apologize to Anabelle the next time you see her.”

I nod begrudgingly. Begrudging not because I didn’t already plan to apologize, but because Asher thinks I’m doing it because of his directive.

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