Page 87 of Shattered Vows

Kol narrows his eyes and bares his teeth at me. “I need to make sure you’re safe. If you think that?—”

“Relax, I don’t want you getting agitated. Obviously, you’re feeling like yourself.” I swallow and continue. “I stabbed my mother—I mean, I stabbed her in the chest, and she bled out.”

How long will it take my mind to wrap around the fact that the woman was not my mother?

“Fuck.” He reaches for me, trying to disguise the pain it causes him. I take his hand and set it back down. “I’m so sorry you had to do that.”

I meet his gaze and hold it, wanting him to understand what I’m saying. “I’d do anything to protect the people I love. Just like you.”

“But with my training I should have made sure she was dead and taken the knife. I was so scared, I had to get to you, hold you and know that you were okay. All my training didn’t even register. I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“You don’t have to be sorry about anything. We’re safe now.”

He’s quiet for a moment while tears build in his eyes, then he nods at me. I think if he tried to speak right now, he might start crying and that wouldn’t go with the tough guy image he likes to project to the world. But he understands what I’m telling him—that I don’t hold what he did in the past against him.

There’s a soft knock on the door, and a few seconds later, Asher steps through. “You’ve rejoined the land of the living. Good.” He steps up to the side of the bed, and I think the expression on his face is relief.

“Sorry to disappoint,” Kol says, trying to muster a smirk.

I get the impression that this is their default as far as communication goes.

“Rapsody was just filling me in on what happened after I passed out.” Kol looks at me with concern.

“I haven’t gotten a chance to tell him all of it yet. Well, what I know,” I say to Asher.

Kol frowns. “What am I missing?”

“Sid showed up and called the hospital, who sent the air ambulance to pick you up. Then he called Anabelle to find us so she could lead us the fastest way out of the maze. Thank God she knows it so well. Asher was the one who insisted on bringing you home to recover, against doctor’s orders.”

Asher shrugs. “Figured it was what you’d want.”

“Thanks. Any lead on the two goons who drugged me?” Kol asks.

Asher’s mouth draws into a straight line, and he glances at me for a beat, almost judging whether he can say what he wants in front of me. “They were Marcello Costa’s men from the northwest. I’ve been in contact. He assures me that they went rogue and were not working on behalf of the Costa family.”

Kol seems to mull it over for a moment. “You believe him?”

Asher nods. “Yeah. He was pissed when I told him. Told us to chop the bodies up into bits and feed them to the fish.”

“What’d you do?”

“Just that.” Asher smirks.

I feel the color drain from my face, and Kol must notice it because he changes the subject. “What about Rapsody’s… what about the woman?” He squeezes my hand.

“We called the police for that one. Seemed easier since you were going to the hospital.”

I stiffen. I didn’t realize that—didn’t think about it, if I’m honest. I’ve only been concerned that Kol will be okay.

“Will Kol or I be in trouble because of what happened?” I nibble on my bottom lip.

“It’s fine. Asher will take care of it.” Kol squeezes my hand again.

Asher confirms by nodding. “Already did.”

I guess when you have as much money and influence as them, it’s that easy.

“You figure out how they made it onto the property yet?” Kol asks.

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