Page 16 of Cruel Vows

She holds on to my hand tighter as I take her around the side of the building, stepping through the little iron gate and into the flower garden.

The scent of honeysuckle floats on the wind, covering up the city stench as I take her over to one of the stone benches.

She sits down, burying her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare.”

“Yeah.” I crouch down in front of her, pulling her hands away from her face. “We don’t have time to break down about this right now, though. You have to hold it together until we head back to my home tonight.”

“Don’t pretend that you care about me, okay?” She barks out a bitter laugh, leaning back and looking up at the fat white clouds drifting across the sky. “We can both play the parts we’re supposed to play for our families, but I’m not going to keep it up when we’re alone. I can’t.”

“That’s fair.” I swallow against the thick feeling in my throat as I stand, gaze turning to some of the yellow roses growing along the edge of the path. “This isn’t what either of us wanted, but I think we have to learn to do the best we can. My father is a domineering man. He’s going to want you to be the perfect wife.”

Ellie rolls her eyes. “I can do that.”

“I have a hard time believing that.”

She jerks her chin in the direction of the church. “You saw the show we put on in there. I would say that I held up my end just fine.”

Though I hate to admit it, she has a point about that.

While she walked down the aisle, she may not have looked like a bride on the happiest day of her life, but she also didn’t give anyone a reason to speak out against the marriage.

Nobody in attendance would have, though. Not if they valued their lives.

As I stand beside her, I don’t know what else there is to say.

This is the longest we’ve ever been alone together, and the weight of the silence that stretches between us is proof of that.

Thankfully, Dad enters the garden, heading straight for us with his oldest friend, Marco, trailing along beside him, Aiden close behind them.

Marco grins, the look in his eyes making my hands ball at my sides. “There’s the happy couple.”

Dad shoots him a sharp look. “Now that the two of you are married, the alliance is in effect. If the marriage ends, the alliance will end with it.”

Ellie swallows hard, glancing at Aiden. “I understand.”

Chuckling, Marco takes a step toward us. “Now, there is still one matter to be settled.”

I stand taller, stepping between him and Ellie. I don’t like the way he looks at her. It’s like she’s his prey and he’s just waiting for the chance to get his hands on her.

Marco tucks his hands in his pockets, stepping to the side to look at her again. “For the marriage to be official, it has to be consummated. With witnesses present.”

5

ELLIE

There isno way I’m sleeping with Sean in front of that old fucking pervert and my best friend.

I’d rather everyone call the entire marriage a sham. I’ll take whatever punishment it gets me instead.

“Not a fucking chance,” Sean says, his voice a growl as he steps between me and the man staring at me again. “You get that thought out of your head right now, Marco, or I will cut it out.”

Marco laughs. “Ask your father.”

Malcolm shrugs. “Two witnesses. One for our family and one for theirs.”

I stand up, stepping around Sean. “Why do we need witnesses? Why do we have to sleep together in the first place? You got the wedding you wanted for the alliance.”

It’s Marco who steps closer to me, the stench of body odor and stale beer wafting beneath my nose and bringing bile up my throat.

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