Page 110 of Poison Vows

“Actually, those who pretend not to understand the point always get the full spectrum of it clearly,” Ty says. “The young mistress used to say that years ago. I see that’s true about you. You understand perfectly well that to the young master this has never been about power, but about something much more crucial.”

Goosebumps form at the back of my neck and my arms.

I know exactly what Ty is talking about, but I’ve pretended not to know for years and yet, here I’m being exposed.

“I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I do know that the young master is not wrong in placing his trust in you.”

“That jerk trusts me?”

“With his life, Young Miss, which is something that he knows he doesn’t have much of.”

Pain, swift and brutal, rips me to shreds with those words.

Ty respectfully watches me silently, letting those words soak into my subconscious.

“Does he think that?” I whisper.

“The young master doesn’t think that.” Ty’s facial expression falters into a look of utter despondency. “He believes it. Just like how you believe you’re naïve.”

Wow.

This is a lot to take in. It’s not every day I get to hear such raw, honest and accurate words of wisdom from a close outside party.

“What should I do?” I ask, that sense of urgency I’ve been feeling all night coming back with a vengeance. “What am I supposed to do here?”

“I cannot decide for you, Young Miss,” Ty answers gently. “But I do believe you will do what you know you should do. Your discernment has never been wrong.”

It’s not much of an answer, but it echoes what Grammy told me over a week ago.

My hands starting to tremble. “Am I in danger?” I whisper.

“Young Miss, you’ve always known this for most of your life.”

Of course I’ve always been vaguely aware that something’s been wrong for most of my life.

“But,” Ty goes on. “The young master will never let anything happen to you. You also know that.”

Emmett Easton, the green-eyed boy that jumped over the cliff with me years ago…

“Ty.” I wince when I hear just how messed up my throat is now.

“Yes, Young Miss.”

I want to ask him why his boss is treating me this way.

What Emmett has planned.

I want to ask everything but, in the end, I just feel defeated because Ty’s words are like a velvet touch on my back, reminding me of what I’ve always known.

I’ve been in danger most of my life and Emmett has stopped at nothing to protect me.

All this, he’s never told me about it, but I found out on my own… and I’ve never talked about it with anyone.

“Young Miss, are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine,” I mutter.

“You wanted to say something to me just now.”

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