Page 13 of Cruel Vows

“Ellie, you know that he wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t the only choice. Nobody wants to see you connected to Sean like that.”

“Sean shouldn’t still be in our lives. Aiden should’ve avenged Dad when he had the chance all those years ago.”

Royce smiles and snatches the last piece of steak from my plate. He and Sean were only twenty-two back then. Neither of them knew what they were doing. They spent their entire lives being friends until they were forced against each other. Someone was going to die; Dad just happened to be that someone.”

“Promise me that you’ll try to talk to Aiden? Please. Just get him to rethink this. I’ll marry Rebecca if I have to.”

He laughs and pulls me into another hug. “You don’t even like women, first of all. And second, we both know there is no going back on this. The deal has already been made and now everyone has to go along with the consequences.”

I nod and step out of his embrace, my body numb as I head for the stairs that lead to my room.

The first tear escapes as I enter my room and shut the door behind me.

My body slumps against the wood panel until I’m sitting on the hardwood floor, my head buried in my hands. Sobs rack my body as everything I’ve been holding back pours out.

I have to marry Sean Andino.

The man who killed my father.

The monster who spent years making my life miserable.

I’m not going to survive this marriage.

4

SEAN

I could driveoff the bridge and plunge into the river below right now.

There would be at least an hour before anyone came looking for me. Dad wouldn’t notice I was missing until I was due to stand at an altar and wait for my bride.

My grip on the wheel tightens as I glance at the side of the bridge.

It would be too easy to jerk the wheel right now. The window is rolled down and the drop isn’t far. I’d be able to swim out and do my best to get lost.

I wouldn’t be trapped with Ellie Lynde for the rest of my life.

Dad made it clear that divorce will never be an option. Not as long as we want the alliance to be upheld.

Groaning, I press my foot down on the accelerator, heading for the church.

In less than two hours, I’m going to have to kiss Ellie. I’ll have to promise to be by her side forever, even though tossing her over the side of the bridge is a much more appealing idea.

This is all a mistake. A horrible dream.

Though my life has been nothing but somebody’s horrible dream. I’ve spent years living beneath my father’s thumb, killingwhom he said and staining my hands in blood more times than I can count.

And it’s a life I love, even if it comes with the hell that is Ellie.

“This is going to be hell.” I weave through traffic, cars honking and people shouting.

I pull up outside of the pale-gray church, the stone walls rising high and coming to a sharp point at the very top. Stained glass windows frame the door, the sunlight glinting off them.

Dad stands in front of the church, his arms crossed and his black suit pulling tight. His mouth is set in a firm line and Aiden stands beside him, looking like he’s attending a funeral and not a wedding.

That makes two of us.

No sooner am I out of the car than someone is taking the keys from my hand and driving it away.

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