Page 50 of Cruel Vows

I need a damn break.

Yet Ellie thinks that she can go running off whenever the hell things get too hard. Aiden has spent most of his life spoiling her, treating her like she’s going to break if he makes her fall in line.

Her days of being a porcelain doll are over.

The phone rings as I dial Dominic. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that my wife took off last night?”

Dominic yawns. “I tried calling you. You wouldn’t answer. I called Aiden and asked if he knew anything. He said he would call her and let me know what she said.”

“And why the hell didn’t you call her yourself?” I snap, swiping my keys off the dresser where I dropped them and heading for the garage.

“We both know she wouldn’t have answered me even if I tried, if she was running away.” He sighs and something shuts in the background, the noise a dull thud. “Aiden called me back and said that she was spending the night with a friend and the friend’s brother.”

“Start tracking her cell and text me the location when you figure out where she is.” I end the call, jogging down the stairs and to the garage.

She did go out to find another man to sleep with.

Guilt tears at me, going to war with the anger. If I had told her the truth last night, she might not have looked at me like the sex we had was purely transactional. I wouldn’t have left, and she wouldn’t have taken off to find another man.

This is the first and last time she ever does that.

I’m not going to have my wife fooling around with other people behind my back, and I’m sure as hell not going to allow her to do it in front of my face.

As I step into the garage, the first thing I notice is my missing Chevelle.

Her ass is going to pay for that one day, but right now all I really care about is dragging her home and setting her straight about what our marriage is going to look like.

I call Aiden as I sling a leg over my motorcycle, connecting the phone to the speakers and microphone in my helmet.

Aiden groans as the call connects. “It’s like six in the morning. Why the hell are you calling me?”

I grit my teeth, pressing the button to open the garage doors before gunning the bike to life. “Did Ellie tell you where she was going last night? I was at work when she told me and I forgot, but she asked me to bring her a phone charger this morning and I’m going to be called the biggest ass in the world if I have to message her.”

Aiden chuckles. “She didn’t give me an address. She said that she was going to stay with one of the women from the clinic, but it sounded like she was in the city.”

I force a laugh. “Alright. I’ll send her a message. Thanks.”

The call ends as I peel out of the driveway, heading for the city.

When I find her, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to be arguing again. It seems to be all we know how to do, but I don’t want to keep going on this way anymore.

It’s exhausting, and when things are good, I think I might actually like her. At least a little bit.

A message comes through, and I pull over to look at it, groaning when I see Royce’s address.

Of course she would go to him.

I’ve never gotten along well with Royce. He doesn’t like me much and trying to win him over to my side is a lot harder than charming Ellie’s sisters.

After tucking my phone away, I head for Royce’s with no clue of what I’m going to say to her.

The apartment building towers above me, glass-paneled walls reflecting the sunlight and the smaller red brick buildings around it as I park between two cars before striding inside.

I head straight for the penthouse elevator and punch in the code to get to the floor. Aiden gave it to me a couple weeks ago when Royce was throwing a party. I didn’t think I would ever have a reason to use it again, but as the elevator lurches toward the top floor, I’m glad I have it.

As I step off the elevator, the anger is back. I keep a tight leash on it, but I pound on the door a little harder than necessary.

The door swings open and Royce takes one look at me before slamming it shut again.

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