Page 17 of Cruel Vows

He grins, showing off the gap where one of his front teeth should be. “A marriage isn’t official until you consummate.”

Sean shakes his head, moving between me and Marco, a hand stretching behind him as if to push me back a step. “You’re going to leave her alone right now. I don’t give a damn if youused to be Dad’s right hand or not. You won’t intimidate my wife or get that close to her again.”

Something in me bristles when he calls me his wife.

I don’t know where this need to protect me is coming from, but the moment we’re alone, he’s going to know that I don’t need him to protect me.

I can fight for myself.

As I move to stand beside Aiden, Marco smirks, taking a step forward and invading Sean’s space.

“You’re either going to finish getting married, or Malcolm has agreed that the wedding is null and void, rendering the alliance over.”

Sean rolls his eyes. “Stupid old man. The last thing I want to do is sleep with her. This is nothing but an arrangement between our families. You just want to be a sick bastard and watch.”

His comment stings a little.

Sean has slept with countless women. I’ve heard him and Aiden talking about their escapades time and time again.

Yet I’m the one woman he doesn’t seem to want.

That should be a good thing. I don’t want him either.

Marco laughs, one shoulder drooping. “And is there a problem with that?”

Sean lunges, grabbing Marco’s throat and forcing him back against a wall. “You’re a sick fuck and if you so much as think about putting a hand on her, I’ll cut off your cock and stuff it down your throat.”

Malcolm clamps a hand on Sean’s shoulder, pulling him back a step. “There is a cottage at the back of the property with a bed. You and Ellie will go there. I will send Marco and Aiden will send a witness of his choosing.”

Aiden glances at me, swallowing hard. There’s a green tint to his skin as he glances toward the gate where Kara is standing, watching the event unfold. “Kara.”

My eyes nearly bulge from my head, mouth dropping open. “Aiden, how the hell can you agree to this?”

He tucks his hands in his pockets. “I’ve told you before, Ellie. We do what we must to protect our family.”

Malcolm shoves Sean toward the path that leads to the cottage, a small wooden sign pointing the way down the cobblestones. “Get going. The sooner you get started, the sooner it’s over with.”

Sean stands stiff, his dark eyes searching for mine. “Ellie, walk in front of me.”

Not wanting to be near Marco, especially with the way he’s leering at me, I hurry in front of Sean.

“Please tell me we don’t have to do this,” I say, my voice barely more than a whisper as I hurry past him. “I don’t want any of your diseases.”

A spark of amusement shines in his eyes, but his mouth is set in a grim line. “There’s no way out of this. If there was, we wouldn’t be walking to the cottage now. Just keep quiet until we get there, alright? I have a plan and it’s not going to work if you keep talking.”

I glare at him but clench my jaw shut, hands in fists at my sides.

Humiliation floods through me as Kara and Marco follow us.

At least if someone from my family has to witness this, it’s Kara. She’s been by my side for as long as I can remember.

I don’t think there’s anything I haven’t done while she’s been in earshot, but it still doesn’t make this situation any easier.

We approach the cottage and it looks much like the church, made of the same gray brick with stained glass windows.

Sean takes my hand and helps me climb the stairs, following behind me and entering the little cottage.

The moment we’re inside, he nudges me toward the bathroom. “In there for a moment so we can talk.”

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