Page 35 of Scarred Souls

If I’d returned to Carlos after Alvarez’s failed murder attempt, maybe I could’ve manipulated how he ran his business. I’d almost finished my degree. Perhaps if I’d shown my father I had the capability to expand the family’s wealth without ruining lives, I could’ve convinced him to go legit with his fortune.

But what if Carlos wouldn’t listen to reason? What if my pleas to end the violence only angered him? Most terrifying of all was the unbreakable agreement to marry Jorge. A lifetime with that monster was a fate worse than death.

But I’d never know if I could’ve made a difference, because I’d been too scared to find out.

I was a goddamn coward.

No more. I’d had enough. It was time to do everything in my power to stop my father.

“Okay,” I said to Vaughn. “Set up a phone call with Brandon and Sage.”

“No. You’re going to talk to them face-to-face.” He stood and returned the barstool to its place beneath the breakfast bar. “I’m taking you to Montana.”

12

VAUGHN

“No way!” Hope shrieked, as though I’d just asked her to suck my dick in front of a room full of people. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

I hadn’t forgotten Brandon’s request for diplomacy; I just didn’t have it in me to pander to anyone’s delicate sensibilities. It wasn’t my style. And in my experience, being blunt got me what I wanted. Why pivot now?

I folded my arms. “I’m sorry. Did I make it sound like a question?”

Hope stood quickly, her arms all in a flurry as she faced Daphne but gestured frantically toward me. “How am I supposed to work with this?”

The doc, to whom I had to give credit for being unflappable, rolled her eyes at Hope’s tantrum. “Maybe what he’s suggesting isn’t such a crazy idea. It’s not safe for you here anymore.”

“See?” I said, knowing my smug remark would only further irritate the fiery little brunette.

True to form, she hit me with the full force of her lethal stare. “Zip it, Grim.”

I didn’t even try to hide my amusement, because she was seriously fucking adorable when she looked at me like she wanted to murder me. Hands balled into fists, face and neck reddening by the second. I was surprised there weren’t clouds of steam erupting from the pocket rocket’s ears.

Daphne cocked her hip. “What did I tell you about stirring her up?”

She was right. I really ought to stop being such an ass, but for some reason I thrived on Hope’s attention, good or bad. I especially liked it when her eyes lingered on me longer than they should. I knew what that look meant, and I wasn’t upset about it.

“Fine.” I held my palms up. “But I meant what I said. You’re coming with me.”

“I can’t leave the country. I don’t even have a passport.”

“I can get around that,” I said.

The doc jerked her chin toward me. “Pilot.”

I arched one brow. “Impressed?”

Hope’s face twisted. “Don’t delude yourself. And I don’t care if you can smuggle me across the border. Daphne and the dogs need me. This is my home. My family. I’m not leaving.”

“Don’t be dumb, kiddo,” Daphne said.

“You can’t run this place without me. Your flare-ups are coming more often, and they’re worse each time. Last week, you could barely get out of bed.”

“I’ll find someone to help around here. This place will run fine without you.”

Hope clicked her tongue. “We both know no one else will put up with your crap just to help a bunch of stray dogs.” Then she snapped her attention toward me. “This isn’t up for negotiation. I’m staying.”

I faced Daphne. “Does she ever change her mind once it’s made up?”

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