Page 76 of Cruel Vows

“I don’t give a damn.”

Sean is sittingin the corner of the bar at a black table, the amber drink sitting in front of him as he stares at it.

I make my way across the bar, dodging the people who try to get in the way. I don’t have time to deal with Sean’s men now, or their old ladies.

As I slide onto the stool beside him, he closes his eyes and sighs. “What the hell are you doing here, Ellie? You were supposed to go home with Kara after taking care of Rebecca.”

“And I did.” I take the drink from him, but it’s warm. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s been sitting here untouched in front of him the entire time he’s been in the bar. “And when I got there, I found out that you weren’t there, even though you told me that you were going to be, so now I’m here.”

He scowls, pressing his fingers to his temples. “Go home.”

“No.” I take the drink and throw it back, needing it after I spent the better part of an evening pulling a bullet out of Rebecca and stitching her closed.

“I’m serious. I don’t have time to deal with this right now. I’m not in the mood to either.”

Though I know that I should obey him—especially with a large group of his men filling the bar—I can’t bring myself to give a shit. Leaving him alone tonight isn’t an option. Not when he almost lost his sister.

Our marriage might not be the best, but I vowed to be by him for better or worse, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Whether he likes it or not.

Sean slumps back in his chair, tilting his head back and looking at the neon lights on the other side of the bar. “This isn’t up for discussion.”

“You’re right. It’s not up for discussion. I’m either going to sit here with you until you feel like going home or until you pass out from drinking.”

“I haven’t been drinking.” He gives me a dark glare. “Get the hell out of here, Ellie.”

“Make me.” I glare back at him, waiting for him to decide what to do.

I can feel the stares of the other people in the bar burning into my back, but I don’t care. They can look all they want, and if the rumors spread in the morning that Sean is controlled by his wife, then we’ll deal with that when it comes.

But I won’t be leaving him alone.

Sean slams his hand down on the table, the glass tilting to the side before settling back down. “I told you to get out of here and go home. I expect you to do as I say instead of challenging me all the fucking time.”

“I’m not leaving without you.” I cross one leg over the other, glancing at the waitress as she starts to approach us with a sultry smile on her lips, her eyes glued to my husband.

Before she can get any closer, I slide off my stool and step between his legs, looking up at him.

He looks down at me, and when he does, my heart crashes through my chest.

All I want to do is take away the pain I see in his eyes and make him feel better, but I don’t know how to do that right now.

Sean grips my chin between his thumb and his forefinger. “Jealous, Ellie?”

“I have nothing to be jealous about.” I run my hands up his chest, linking them together behind his neck. “You’re going to come home with me.”

His face hardens, hand dropping from my chin. “Go home, Ellie. I’ll come home eventually, but I’m not doing it right now.”

I take his hand, towing him off the stool and heading for the door, even as his heavy sigh follows me. “You’re coming home, Sean. Sitting here and being pissed off isn’t going to help you.”

He scowls but follows me and gets into the car, leaning back in his seat. His arms are crossed over his chest, his frown set deeper than ever as I send a message to Kara to bring someone with her to get the other car before I take off.

Sean doesn’t say a word as I drive through the city and back out to the house, weaving through traffic as the tension in the car grows thicker.

By the time I park the car in the garage, he’s fuming, and his hands are in tight fists. Sean storms his way into the house, and I jog to keep up with him, taking the stairs two at a time as he heads to our room.

Though he doesn’t slam the door shut in my face, I’m sure he wants to. If I was in his position, I would want to.

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