Page 27 of Promised Vows

Her lips pinched together. “I knew it was only a matter of time before you pulled some crap like this. It’s the family way, right? Do as you’re told?”

I loosened my hold. “You can think whatever you like of me. Hate me. I don’t care. You’re staying where I know you’ll be safe. Thea has already packed your bags. That’s where you’re going now.”

Her mouth dropped open. “How dare you! Breaking into my apartment. Going through my—” She pulled the ring off and thrust it back into my hand. “I don’t have to talk you out of anything. The only way you’re getting me to the altar is by hog-tying me.”

This time when she tried to remove herself from my arms, I let her. “I want you safe. I’m not saying you have to stay longer than a few days.” At least not right now.

“This isn’t my war. I have nothing to do with it. For all I know, you paid that Lorenzo guy to follow me so you make yourself look good. One giant con so you could get me to do what you wanted me to do.” She held her hand up. “Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to look at you, and I don’t want to hear you.”

“Anna, you can’t mean that. You have to know?—”

She threw a glare at me. “I don’t know anything, and I don’t want to.”

The woman sure knew how to throw a dagger. But as angry as she was, there was no reasoning with her. We rode in silence to my apartment then parked; the icy shoulder continued the entire route to the entrance.

Arms crossed over her chest, she stood in the middle of my living room. There was zero chance I was giving her a tour of the place.

“Obviously, this is the living room, that’s the kitchen, and there’s a study beyond that door to the right.” I pointed toward the right and then to the stairs. “Upstairs is the master as well as the guest rooms. You are free to pick whichever one you want, including the master.”

“Yeah, right.”

“You can’t leave. There will be armed guards posted outside, at the entrance to the elevator in the parking garage, and in front of the structure as well. There are motion detectors all around this building. I have friends in the police department who will be patrolling this area. No one will hurt you while you are here.”

“Why? Why is all this necessary?” Her arms dropped to her side. “Don’t give me some vague reason.”

“Can’t you extend me a little trust?”

She leveled her eyes at me. “You’re exactly like Jason. Freezing me out, pushing me away. Treating me like I’m a child. I’m a big girl. Tell me.”

I slipped my hands into my coat pockets, fingers curling tightly around the fabric inside. The urge to reach out to Anna, to comfort her, conflicted with my need to maintain control.

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't want the ugliness of this world touching that sweet soul of yours? I've seen and done things that I'll never be able to undo, and if I could go back…" I exhaled, forcing my fingers to relax their grip. “I have to go.”

As I stooped to set the blue velvet box on the coffee table, I caught sight of Anna's face. The hurt in her eyes felt like a physical blow, making my chest tighten painfully.

When I reached the door, I paused, my hand resting on the cool metal of the doorknob. I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat. "In the blink of an eye, I've come to care about you more than I ever thought possible. I'll see you when I get back."

As I stepped out, closing the door behind me, the image of Anna's distressed face burned in my mind. My stomach churned with a nauseating mix of guilt, concern, and frustration. I leaned against the closed door for a moment, eyes squeezed shut, willing myself to walk away.

Hopefully, I'd be able to put the pieces back together when I returned. If not, this marriage would be long and contentious. The thought made my chest ache anew, and I clenched my fists tighter, nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to move forward.

Chapter Twelve

ARI

Four hours ago, Remy, Franklin’s second, had notified Thea that Franklin had given him the slip. The last thing he heard was that he was heading to his club, Nocturnal. I wasn’t surprised. He knew we were coming for him and now that we had evidence that he was connected to sex trafficking and Gianna’s death, his perfect life was about to fall apart.

Lucas had tucked Claire inside his condo with a guard. From what Remy said, he was more interested in Lucas than his daughter. I wasn’t sure I trusted either Franklin or Remy, but Thea was convinced we could trust Remy.

Once Dimitris said there was movement at the club, we’d devised a plan and each taken a side of the building. Dimitris would move from behind the club, Lucas would go in the front, and Thea and Lex would move in from the side.

At first, we thought Franklin was having a party with the number of cars present, but we’d brought along equipment that allowed us to see the heat signatures in the building. None of them were behaving like it was a party. A dozen or so had been in the basement, but on the first floor, there were groups of people not moving. Just standing in a room together.

Lucas had sucked in a sharp breath and said they were acting like prisoners. It had instantly clicked. Our brother, Dimitris had rescued some girls that were shipped into Chicago in containers. There’d been fewer than he’d expected. I’d bet Lucas that the group huddled together in the room were from those missing containers.

That’s when Lucas put it together that it was an ambush. As soon as he said it, I kicked myself for not figuring it out first. Instead of all of us going in, Lucas had made the call to approach the nightclub by himself. Of course, I’d wanted to go, but he’d ordered me to stay in the limo.

It was probably a good thing. The little girl who greeted him at the front door was now sitting across from me with a blanket draped over her. Thea would have been better suited for this, and had I known I’d have a distraught girl in the limo, I would have had my sister stick with me.

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