Page 24 of Cruel Vows

Always knew she was the most feral of the Lynde siblings.

Glowering at her, I snatch the bag of potatoes she just pulled out. “You’re going to listen to me and do as I say, Ellie. This marriage is for both of our families, and I won’t jeopardize that because you can’t keep your damn legs shut.”

I’ve walked into a viper den with that comment, and I know I have.

She takes one of the knives from the block before grabbing some potatoes and peeling them. “I’m not going to sit around in a loveless marriage and watch you have affairs left and right. Enough women in the mafia do that. I won’t be another statistic.”

“You really think you have a choice in this, don’t you?” I chuckle. “You’re going to behave, Ellie; otherwise, this entire deal is going to come to an end.”

“Your father would skin you alive and we both know it.” She points the knife in my direction and for a moment, I think she might be about to throw it at me. “You need this marriage as much as Aiden does, which is why this is going to be a negotiation.”

“Like hell it is.”

The vipers coil, knife slicing the peeled potatoes into slices so thin they’re nearly transparent.

Ellie stands taller. “A negotiation, Sean. If you’re going to sleep around, then so am I. Take it or leave it, I really don’t give a damn.”

My jaw clenches, a muscle flexing as I study her. Instead of giving her what she wants and agreeing to her terms, I decide that it’s better to move on to the next item on my list.

“When you go to work at the clinic—or any other place you feel the need—you’re going to have a team of bodyguards with you.”

Her knuckles turn white as the vipers get ready to strike. “I will not. I’m a nurse. I work in a clinic where patient confidentiality is vital. You’re not going to send people in there after me. I would lose my job.”

I grip the edge of the counter, leaning slightly across the island. “What makes you think you have a choice in this? You were outside the clinic when Noah’s men got to you. You’re not going to work without a security detail behind you.”

“One.” She says the word like it actually causes her pain. “I will take one person with me to work and that’s it. I can get my boss to agree to that as long as they sit in the break room all shift.”

“No. Not good enough.”

Ellie grabs a cast iron pan after searching through the cupboards again and puts it on the stove to heat. “It’s going tohave to be good enough. This is my job and my life. Not the mafia.”

“You could be killed for saying that.”

She eyes me, something sparking in her eyes that I can’t quite read before she turns her back on me and puts the potato slices in small ramekins with some cream and spices. With a sprinkle of her fingers, she dusts some shredded cheese over the top.

Potatoes au gratin might not be my favorite thing in the world, but it will be the first meal I’ve had all day.

“Ellie, this conversation isn’t over, whether you want to pretend it is or not. You will be taking a security detail.”

“I will take one person.” She seasons the steaks before putting them into the hot pan and basting them with an ungodly amount of butter and garlic. “I’m trying here, Sean, but you’re going to have to give a little too.”

“Like hell.” I push off the island and round it, looming over her.

It’s a sad intimidation tactic and one that I know won’t work, but I still have to try.

I have no clue how Aiden kept her in line and I’m not going to bury my pride to ask either.

One way or another, Ellie is going to submit to me.

She stops basting the steaks long enough to put the potatoes into the oven. “You might be used to bossing people around and not expecting them to talk back, but if you’re going to stand here and argue with me about my life, then you’re going to learn to negotiate.”

My eyebrows climb higher up my forehead as I stare at her.

I should have just found a way to invent a time machine.

At least if I did that, I could’ve gone back in time to prevent all the drama between our fathers from happening. If I did that, then I wouldn’t be standing in my kitchen with the woman I know is going to be the reason for all my gray hairs.

I lean against the counter, trying not to let my temper get the better of me, but she’s making it impossible. “Ellie, when did I give you the impression that I was willing to negotiate what’s expected of you?”

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