Page 83 of Vendetta

Watching two of the most important people to me enjoy my cooking sent a shot of warmth through me. This moment would stay ingrained in my mind forever.

“Alright guys, I’m out,” Bexley announced as she checked the time on her phone. I watched as Cashton took the bags out of her hands, bringing them down to the car as she and I said our goodbyes.

“Love you girl,” I told her. “Drive safe, text me when you get there!”

“Promise.” She wrapped me in a big hug before getting Skamper into his carrier, following Cashton out the front door. I turned to begin cleaning up, covering the quiches before throwing them in the fridge and gathering the plates to rinse.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Cashton’s deep voice came from behind me, the door shutting behind him.

“I’m just tidying up a bit,” I told him, feeling him come up behind me. Cedarwood and mint enveloped me, his breath warming my ear as the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

“The cook doesn’t do the dishes. Move over.”

I rolled my eyes, continuing to place the dishes in the dishwasher, until he physically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

“Cash!” I squealed as he walked us around the island and plopped me onto one of the bar stools before making his way back to take my place by sink. Not going to lie, I completely ogled his beautiful ass as he made his way around my kitchen and took over cleaning the space. I could live in this moment forever.

His phone buzzed on the counter near my arm, flipped over to where I couldn’t read it.

“You got a text babe.”

He didn’t even bother looking back at me as he continued to load the dirty bowls into the dishwasher.

“Will you check it? Passcode is Emory’s birthday,” he threw over his shoulder.

“Which is?” I asked, my heart thrumming at the fact he was letting me have access to his cell. The only boyfriend that I had in high school would never have let me.

He finished wiping the plate in his hands before throwing the dish towel over his shoulder and turning to face me, bracing his hands on the island without reaching for the phone.

“September tenth. Same year as yours,” he told me, eyes never leaving mine, as if he realized how big of a deal this was to me. I hesitated for a moment before reaching for the phone, sliding it my way and unlocking it successfully.

“Your mom asked if you could come over this afternoon, she said she has some stuff to give you,” I told him, locking the phone and placing it back down on the counter.

He was silent for a moment, a mix of emotions crossing through his eyes before he finally responded after what felt like forever.

“Well, I guess I should head out then,” he said, making his way to me and kissing me on the forehead.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“It’s okay, princess. I’ll be back soon.” He grabbed my face in his hands, lowering his lips to mine and offering me a deep kiss that stole the breath from my lungs.

I watched him walk out the door, my heart melting in my chest at the realization that this beautiful man was mine. Pulling out my phone, I shot a quick text to Amelia to see if she wanted to do a Sunday girl’s brunch and manicures the following day.

I could definitely go for some girl time, and Amelia and I had gotten really close over the last few weeks. Setting myphone on the charger, I decided to use the time Cashton was gone to take a shower and do some tidying up around the apartment. Turning on the hot water, I went to grab a clean towel from the laundry room, seeing that a text had already come through.

LANDRY:Hi Amelia! Would love to do brunch and nails tomorrow if you’re available? My treat!

AMELIA:Hey sweetie! David and I are actually upstate for the weekend at a couples’ spa retreat. Rain check? Miss and love you!

I stared at the text in confusion. If David and Amelia were out of town, who was Cashton going to meet? Dread sank low in my stomach. I didn’t know why, but something in my gut was telling me that something was seriously wrong.

Dialing Cashton’s number, I held the phone to my ear and listened as it went straight to voicemail. I tried a second time but received the same result. Something inside of me screamed that something was very, very wrong.

CHAPTER 43

LANDRY

I spotted Cashton’s Chevelle in the Astors’ driveway as I pulled up to the house, no other cars in sight. Parking across the road, I snuck through the gate and across the grounds, reaching the front door and peering through the decorative glass.

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