Page 11 of Tangled in Vows

Even though I’ve seen pictures, I still can’t believe this is the same dog Olivia rescued all those years ago. But time changeseverything. Stormy used to be a puppy, and life was a lot easier. Olivia and I used to be friends.

As if summoned, she shuffles down the stairs and collapses onto the couch, wrapping her arms around her middle as if hugging herself.

I wish I could hug her.

“Did everything go okay with the police?” She yawns and rubs at her now makeup-free face.

I glance past her at the oversized, cathedral-style windows and the inky darkness outside. I forgot how late it is. “Yeah. They talked to me once they were done with you. The guy claims he’s been talking to you for months and you gave him the access card.”

I brush my hand over Stormy’s head, rubbing the spot between her ears that she seems to love. She looks ready to pass out.

Olivia drops her head against the back of the couch and groans. “Seriously? And he thinks anyone would believe that? I have no idea who he is or how he got in.”

“So you weren’t talking to anyone online in the past few months?”

She lifts both eyebrows. “Are you serious right now?”

I stay silent, and she lets out a humorless laugh. Yes, I’ve closely tracked her movements, but my eyes can only reach so far. Tapping her phone didn’t seem necessary.

“Youareserious. Wow.” She drags her hands over the yoga pants she must have changed into. “No, Holden, I wasn’t talking to him or any stranger online in the last few months. Nor did I tell anyone I have a blood kink and to please wait for me naked inmybed with a knife. I don’t need or want a guy in my life. My toys keep me satisfied enough.”

We stare at each other until she sighs.

“Ugh. Forget I said that.”

Sure, let’s forget Olivia just mentioned her sex toys. Fat chance.

But that’s for later.

First, I need to release some of these pent-up emotions by doing push-ups or something.

“Anyway.” She claps her hands on her legs like we’re just having a nice chat. “Sorry about what happened. I’m all good now, so you can head home. I know dealing with me and my mess wasn’t on your bingo card for today.”

Dealing with her? Heading home?

I pat Stormy’s side and get up. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Excuse me?” She jumps up, standing tall, as if she’d ever stand a chance against me. At least physically.

Yet, with her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed at me, she’s ready to rip me a new one.

A tough warrior queen. Walls up as high as the sky, not letting anyone in.

And painfully beautiful inside and out.

On a few rare occasions, I caught glimpses of what’s underneath the facade. There’s so much more to her. So much she’s hiding.

And you went and ruined it all.

But I didn’t have a choice. I did it for her.

I wanted her to have a chance at the life she’d always dreamed about—the life she fought for. I couldn’t let her lose that.

But she doesn’t know any of this.

And I can’t tell her either.

We were only married on paper, but sending her the divorce documents with only a note that saidI’m sorry, Hurricane, but this is for the bestwas one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

---