Page 94 of Vicious Vows

A life without brutality, despair, and darkness? It sounded promising, but it wasn’t possible for men like me. If she wanted to stand by my side, she would have to learn to accept who I was and how I did business.

“You have to get her under control,” Milo said. “She’s interfering in our organization.”

“You don’t think I’ve tried?” I sat in my father’s chair, the very chair that made me feel worthless. “Nothing I do gets through to her.”

“Because you fucking fell in love with her. Now she knows she’s got you by the balls.”

“That’s really easy to say coming from a guy who fucks and leaves women in their bed every night.”

“It’s a lot easier than inviting them into my bed where I’d have to kick them out. My way is civilized. When I’m done, I go.” He ran his hand along his jaw and shook his head. “You knew the rules, and you broke them anyway.”

“The one about not getting attached?”

“Yeah, that one.” He waved his hands in the air. “If we don’t let anyone in, they can’t be used against us.”

“They can’t be killed in front of us either.”

“That’s a scar that won’t heal, which is why I’m single.”

“You make a very good point, but it’s too late for me.” I tapped my fingers against the sleek wood. I wish I knew what our next move was.

“I get that you and Lissia have something, really I do,” Milo said. “But this relationship couldn’t have come at a more wrong time.”

“I know.”

“Her presence cost us a lot.”

“How was I supposed to know she would be at her father’s house at the precise moment I was carrying out the hit?” Her timing was impeccable.

“If you had her under control, you would have known.” Milo gazed out the window, then glared at me. “How did your captive escape? Again.”

“She’s not my hostage.”

“I guess not, because if she was, you would have carried out Dad’s orders and we would be having a different conversation.”

“I still plan on doing that.”

“How?” Milo rifled through a box of marketing materials that arrived earlier in the day. “We had the element of surprise when we shut down Gian’s cameras. If his security people are worth anything, they will have realized by now that someone messed with their system. We’re not getting that chance again.”

“Another opportunity will present itself.”

I had no guarantee that what I had just said was true, but I didn’t have anything else to offer. I had lost the perfect opportunity.

Angela, my father’s assistant, stepped into the doorway of his office.

“Hello, boys,” she said in her thick Brooklyn accent. “Miss me?

“Welcome back,” Milo said. “Congratulations on your wedding.”

“We missed you,” I said as she entered the office. “We were surprised to hear you got married on your getaway.”

“Not as surprised as I was.” She hugged Milo, then turned to kiss my cheek and glanced at my father’s desk. “It was impulsive, but it was time.”

Angela and my father had been a not-so-discreet item over the past several years. The encounters meant more to Angela than they did to him, but he treated her well, and being the occasional center of his attention worked for her. Until it didn’t. His recent absence may have been why she abruptly married her new boyfriend.

“Congratulations,” I said. “We’re happy to have you back.”

“There’s a gentleman on the showroom floor who requested a meeting, but I told him I’d have to check to see if you’re available.” She smoothed out her skirt. “He was pretty confident you would see him, so I’m assuming it isn’t car business.”

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