Page 47 of Cruel Vows

I make a quick stop in the living room to grab my phone and wallet from the overnight bag before heading to the garage.

If I had been thinking when I first ran out, I would have gone into the garage and taken one of the cars. At the time I had been too angry to think, but I’m not now.

There’s only going to be a few minutes—maybe half an hour if I’m lucky—before Dominic or Sean checks the cameras to see what I’m up to. When they don’t see me or Kara, someone is going to show up.

Unfortunately for them, I’m going to be long gone by then.

I head to the frosted glass box on the wall that holds all the keys to Sean’s vintage cars, looking for the key for his prized baby.

The sleek black ’70 Chevelle SS is sitting on the far side of the six-car garage, begging to be taken out for a drive.

He would kill me if he knew that I was taking it, but the thunder stopped rolling after he left and when I peek outside, I see the rain has stopped.

Grinning, I grab the Chevelle’s keys, hauling my things over to it and loading them in the passenger seat.

When he finds out that his favorite car is missing, he’s going to lose his mind. He got the car when he was eighteen.

Even though I was only six at the time, I still remember the way he came driving up to the house in a car that barely ran, telling Aiden that he was going to restore it and upgrade it. They used to spend weekends in the driveway, replacing the parts or just sitting around and drinking on the couch in the corner while staring at it.

And now, his car is going out for a little joyride.

I shut the door, careful not to slam it too hard, before rounding the front of the car and getting in the driver’s side.

The leather is buttery soft. I pull the seat belt across, turning the key in the ignition and listening to the engine purr.

The garage door slides open as I press the button to open it up, letting the car idle for a couple minutes before shifting into gear.

Laughing, I roll the windows down, letting the breeze run through my hair as I leave the house behind, heading for somewhere else to stay.

All I need is tonight and maybe tomorrow night to get my head together. I need to adhere to the idea that Sean is nevergoing to touch my body again. Not when he thinks that he can go out with strippers and then come home to me.

I shouldn’t have had sex with him tonight either, but it was the last time.

“I’m so stupid.”

I turn up the music to drown out the thoughts, heading straight for Royce’s penthouse apartment in the Upper East Side. It’s going to be a long drive, but the time to clear my head will be a welcome break.

As I get closer to the Upper East Side, the traffic gets thicker, turning what should have been an hour-long drive into a mess that’s going to take longer.

My phone starts ringing as I stop at a red light, Aiden’s name flashing across the screen.

Sean had to have called him. He would have told him that I ran out without telling Aiden why I left. He’d think it was a way to get me in trouble with my brother before I had the chance to tell Aiden everything.

Even though I told Sean I wouldn’t, for once I want to see if my brother will choose me over the pointless war he’s still trying to fight.

I grab the phone and slide my thumb across the screen before turning down the music. I put the phone on speakerphone, hoping that this conversation ends quickly. “Aiden.”

“Why did Dominic call me and tell me that you just left the house without Kara? He said that he couldn’t get a hold of Sean either.”

“Sean isn’t home, so I have no clue why he isn’t answering his phone.” I glance at the time on the dash. “He left probably about half an hour ago.”

Aiden’s sigh is a sure sign he’s annoyed with even having to make this call in the first place. I’m sure that he’s pacingback and forth in his office, drinking his damn whiskey and pretending that this isn’t something he brought on himself.

“That still doesn’t tell me why you’re leaving the house without anyone to watch you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek before I can snap back at him. “I had a friend who called me. One of the girls who works out at the clinic. Her ex-boyfriend was kicked out because he kept beating her, but he’s back and she doesn’t want to be alone.”

“Is she safe right now? I can send someone over to check on her.”

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