Page 37 of Ruthless Vow

I can’t get her out of my head.

I need her out of my head.

Which is why I’m heading to see Amy, a woman I’ve fucked a few times before. She likes what I like, uncomplicated rough sex.

I need to erase the feel of Nicole’s body, the taste of her, the scent of her skin. I need to get the sound of her moans and gasps and cries out of my thoughts. I need—

I need to fuck Nicole. Only Nicole.

I don’t want another woman. The thought of touching anyone else leaves me cold.

With a snarl, I pull the car to the side of the road. I text Amy letting her know she won’t be seeing me tonight. Or any other night.

My phone buzzes.

“Yeah,” I answer.

“She’s banging on the door and screaming at the top of her lungs,” Luca says. “Been doing it for hours. I went in and triedto talk to her, but she won’t listen. Just kept saying she needs to speak with you.”

Luca pauses.

“What?” I say, wariness sliding through me. If anything has happened to Nicole, someone will pay with blood. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Her knuckles are raw and bleeding from pounding on the door.”

“Fuck.” I make a U-turn and head to the warehouse. Is this because I left her? Because I haven’t been back?

I doubt it. Nicole isn’t the high drama type.

Something else is going on.

When I get to the warehouse, I head down to her holding cell.

She’s pacing back and forth, her body tense, her eyes wild.

She freezes when she sees me.

“You’re here,” she says. Then she throws herself against me. My arms close around her on instinct. Her arms circle my waist, holding me as if I am a buoy in a stormy sea.

I am not a man to offer this type of comfort to a woman. Even my sister seeks out my brothers when she needs a compassionate embrace. But I find myself stroking Nicole’s back and holding her close.

“It wasn’t you. You didn’t set the bomb that killed my father,” she says in a rush, her cheek pressed to my shoulder.

“No, I did not,” I say slowly, wondering where this is going and why she sounds so certain. “I told you that before. Is there a reason you’re suddenly convinced?”

“The Desert Mirage Motel,” she says, her voice a rough rasp. She’s hoarse. I can tell she’s been screaming.

“How long were you yelling for me?” I ask, setting her away from me so I can look at her face.

She frowns. “I don’t know. Hours.”

I glance at Luca. “And you only called me now?” My icy tone hides my anger.

“I wasn’t here,” he says. “I was out getting cat supplies. I left Ricardo to guard her. He thought guarding her meant sitting in the office upstairs playing a game on his phone while listening to music.

“Ricardo,” I say with a sigh. Twenty-one years old and all he thinks about is his car and girls. “Deal with him. If I do it myself, I’ll end up breaking bones.”

I turn back to Nicole. “What about the Desert Mirage Motel?” The name sounds familiar, but I can’t think why.

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