Page 97 of Cruel Vows

“Like fuck I’m leaving you behind.” I grab his hand, holding on tight until my knuckles turn white.

He shakes his head, lying back against the cold floor and closing his eyes. “You don’t get a choice. I’m telling you that you need to do this.”

“When have I ever listened to you?” I ask, keeping my tone light and teasing. I lift the hem of his shirt to see yet another cut to his skin, blood seeping out of the shallow slice, even as it congeals around the edges.

Aiden chuckles. “Good point. I’m sorry, Ellie. I never should have made you get married.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.” I get up and dump the dirty water down the sink, getting fresh water from the tap and returning to Aiden.

He smiles, though his eyes squeeze shut as I start cleaning the cut on his stomach. “I know. I just didn’t know what else to do. Making the alliance seemed like the only choice and when Malcolm demanded the marriage and insisted it was you, I was relieved.”

“Why?” I ask, though I can’t hold back the sting in my chest that his words produce.

“You’re tougher than the others. Hell, you spend your days elbow deep in gunshot wounds and stabbings and you don’t waver.” Pride shines in his eyes like I’ve never seen it before. “If there was anyone who was going to survive a marriage with Sean, it was going to be you. He’s not exactly an easy person to get along with.”

“You’ve got that right.” I smile and wipe more blood from his skin, but my heart sinks in my chest. I don’t know how much time I’m going to have to get him out of here and to help.

It’s going to have to be soon though; otherwise, my brother is going to bleed out long before a doctor ever sees him.

Aiden sighs, his hand closing over mine. “I’m proud of all that you’ve done for our family, Ellie. I know I don’t say it enough.”

“And we’re not going to talk about it now, either.”

Aiden purses his lips together, cheeks looking hollow. “I know that there should have been a moment where I went back on the deal. I could have taken you straight from that wedding. You had more important things going on in your life than a marriage to a monster.”

My spine stiffens and I clench the rag tighter, pressing a little too hard on another cut. “I told you that we’re not going to talkabout this right now. You need to save your strength so we can get out of here.”

“I’m not getting out of here and this is the most alert I’ve felt in a day.” He swats my hand away from him. “We need to talk.”

“We’re not going to talk about it right now.” I get up and help him stand, thinking it would be better to have him in a chair.

Aiden nudges me away from him, getting to his feet on his own, even though he’s slumped over slightly. He looks down his nose at me, a million different emotions flashing through his eyes.

“Sean isn’t a good man.” Aiden’s voice rings clear, the haze lingering in his eyes starting to fade. “He killed our father. I should have killed him years ago, long before we were ever dependent on his family to help us.”

“Enough.” My hands curl into fists at my sides as I look over at the guard. He’s standing there, watching us with interest, though as soon as he sees me, he turns away.

Aiden scowls and crosses his arms, wincing as he does. “It’s not enough. I’m your older brother and I should have been the one to protect you from that bastard.”

“That’s my husband you’re talking about,” I say, my tone deadly as I step closer to Aiden, tilting my chin up in defiance. “I love you, Aiden, but you better watch what you say next.”

He scoffs. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“Ellie, he’s fucked in the head. He’s nothing but a murderer and I should’ve seen that all those years ago. Think of where our family would be right now if I had seen Sean for the monster he is instead of clinging to the friendship that should’ve died when Dad did.”

“Now you’re being melodramatic.”

“He killed Dad in front of you. He let you get your shoulder carved up twice. I know he’s been nothing but an asshole to you.”

I close the distance between me and Aiden, blood boiling over as I look up at him. “I told you to stop talking. Sean is my husband and whether you like it or not, our marriage is a good thing. It works.”

“He’s brainwashed you.”

“No. He just showed me who he is.” I step back, the fight leaving my body. “How easy is it for you to turn on him because you’re angry with him?”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

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