Page 18 of Sinner's Vow

“Pay the man,” I growl as we climb out at the curb. Resentfully, she does, and side by side, we walk through the main doors. Up we rise to the top floor, and looking side to side to be sure no one is going to witness or hear us, I swipe my room key, and we step inside.

“This feels awfully dramatic,” Gina says, her tone cold and impatient.

“I want you to quit,” I say coldly as I walk up to her, looking down at her with ice in my veins. “I want you to quit and find some other job with some other band, so Noah never has to look at your face again.”

It’s exceptionally satisfying when Gina’s face blanches and her expression falters.

“I know you got pregnant,” I say, taking a step into her. “I know you tried to make him marry you. I know you made his life hell after you told him.”

Gina takes a step back and she swallows hard.

“It was your choice not to keep the baby,” I say, feeling my body going colder and colder. “But you didn’t have to go behind his back. You could have talked to him. Do you have any idea how you destroyed him?”

“It’s my body,” she says low and even.

I nod. “It is. I’m not arguing that. But I hope you realize the consequences of how you chose to handle it. Every night Noah hasn’t been himself, every morning he was hung over, every show that was less than one hundred percent, you had a hand in it.”

Gina backs up to a wall as I continue getting in her face. Outside, I hear footsteps, and I realize that the door to my room didn’t shut all the way.

“I don’t want you ever talking to my husband again,” I say, my voice quiet and cold. “I don’t want you looking at him. I don’t want you making plans for him. I don’t want him to have to look at your face any more than he has to. I understand that you might be needed for the rest of this tour. But if you stick around for more than one second after the tour is over, I promise, I will find a way to make your life a living hell. Trust me, I’m already making plans.”

I hear the door squeak lightly, but I’m boiling so hot and so fast, my eyes don’t leave Gina’s.

“Do you understand?” I seethe, my face just three inches from hers.

Gina’s body is shaking. With fear, with rage, I’m not entirely sure. But she’s white as a sheet. However, she doesn’t nod in agreement or acknowledgment. “He’s going to eat you alive. This life is going to eat you alive. You’re too self-righteous to make it by his side.”

I crook a smile. “Honey, I’m a red head. We don’t have souls, remember? I’m not afraid of you. Now get the fuck out.”

The sound of a light curse draws both of our eyes to the door, and there, watching us with blazing, wide eyes, is Noah.

I step back from Gina, and she doesn’t hesitate a moment before she pushes away from the wall and practically sprints for the door, shoving her way past Noah.

As the door slams closed behind her, Noah’s eyes return to mine, and in them, I see the entire world shift.

“Kennedy,” he says, his voice breathy. He blinks at me five times, his mouth slightly open. “You…”

My heart starts racing as I hold his eyes. He has the darkest eyes of anyone I’ve ever met. But in them, I see so much hurt. So much regret. But right now? I see hope.

I see clarity.

“Thank you,” he practically whispers. “You… I never could find the strength to talk to her about what happened. And you…”

He shakes his head and I see moisture pool in his eyes. And slowly, his hand raises to rest against the side of my neck. And like it’s a physical thing, I can see all of the weight flaking off of him. I see light dawning in his eyes.

“I remember it now, Kennedy,” he practically breathes in reverence. “All of it. The entire night.”

The beat of my heart doubles and my brows rise in hope. I reach up to circle my fingers around his wrist, clinging to him.

“And it might have been crazy,” he says. With each word, his tone gets more even, calmer, more confident. “But marrying you was the best decision I’ve ever made. I remember, Kennedy. And if you can forgive me, I’m in. I’m all in.”

And those words are all it takes. My last bit of self-control I’ve been holding on to for the past month breaks. I rush forward, and he doesn’t hesitate a second longer either. Our lips crash into each other, and all of the things I’ve been storing inside my heart to protect it come exploding out.

Noah pulling me up to my feet. Seeing the pain and the exhaustion in his eyes.

My hands rise to lace into Noah’s hair. His hands slide down to my hips.

Telling him a stupid story about ripping my prom dress my sophomore year, just to try to make him smile.

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