Page 13 of Vicious Vows

“That’s not true.”

“It isn’t?”

“I had made up my mind before the bullets started flying that I wanted you. I would have found another way to annoy you, and you still would have kidnapped me. We were always going to end up here.”

She wasn’t wrong about that.

“Come here. You have to bite the bullet and sit.” I tugged her into my lap.

“Ouch!” She wiggled, trying to raise her hips.

“Settle down.” I stroked her hair. “It will only sting for a few seconds.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one with the sore backside.”

“Ah, baby, I’ve been stabbed, shot, and punched in the face more times than I can count. You’ll be fine.”

“You say that like it’s a badge of honor.”

“It is.”

In my world, the more times you were shot or knifed, the stronger you became, especially when you were left standing and your opponent was six feet under.

“I don’t understand why you want this life.” She traced my cheekbone with her fingertip. “I don’t want it for you.”

“It isn’t your choice.” I closed my eyes when she trailed her finger to my jaw. So delicate. “It isn’t mine either.”

“I know,” she whispered. “But I don’t have to like it.”

“Do you still want to know where I’m going?”

“You’ll tell me?” she asked.

I opened my eyes to meet her gaze. “Why wouldn’t I tell you where I’m going? You’ll be accompanying me.”

“We’re going somewhere together?”

“Florida,” I said. “Miami to be exact.”

“What?” She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Really?”

“Really.”

“It’s warm there in November. We could swim. I need a bikini. Well, more than one.” She hopped off my lap. “Oh, I hear the clubs there are top-notch. I need a few dresses.”

“Princess.” I stood and grabbed her wrist. “This isn’t a vacation. I’m taking a crucial meeting with some very serious men.”

“Oh.” She ran her hand through her hair. “Am I going to the meeting?”

“No.”

“Then I can still swim.”

“I suppose you can.” I caressed her cheek. “I’m sure we can have dinner together in a top-notch restaurant too.”

“I need to get my nails done and my brows need to be waxed. When are we leaving?”

“In a few hours.”

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