Page 69 of Poison Vows

I’ve been at the edge all morning, but hearing this jerk utter those words makes the thin cloak of humanity slip further and further away.

“Is she?” I ask, my voice still soft.

Vaughn raises an eyebrow. “Don’t bother with the impassiveness, cousin. You already showed your hand when you suddenly appeared to save her.”

I smirk. “It seems there’s still a lot to be desired about your capabilities as a leader if that’s all you gathered from that encounter.”

Vaughn frowns, but I’m not here to be his teacher on things easy to discern.

“I might not know why exactly you showed up that other night, but your affection for the girl was duly noted by everyone, including the old man,” he says stiffly.

Yes, that old cripple did notice my connection with Angel, which is why he made that move in the first place, but I wonder if Vaughn is aware of the old man’s games.

“Is this all you wanted to say?” I ask ever so politely.

“No,” he says, straightening his shoulders. “All my life I’ve had to compete with you and I’ve always come short, but this time I’m going to win. I’m going to be the next Don of the Family.”

“Wow! Give it up for the boy. He finally grew a pair!”

“I am, you know,” he says seriously. “I have a few days, but it won’t take me long to convince her to choose me because she wants to, not because of some gimmick or threat!”

I almost roll my eyes.

It’s true I made Angel sign that contract, but threat? Give me a damn break.

Angel has a tendency of being a bit weak, but when she decides to be rebellious, it’s hard to control her.

But she never dishonors a vow.

She always sees all her promises through. Case in point, her idiotic move of finding her birth parents which led her into this trap.

“What makes you think I’m forcing her to do anything?” I question, then I walk past him, going down the hall.

“Your blasé and scheming ways might be effective on almost everyone, but I know you!” Vaughn walks beside me, looking straight ahead and detached as if I don’t get under his skin. “I know you’re a cold, mean monster that has eradicated any form of weakness in your life and while you might look at Ivy a little differently, you’re the type that would still sacrifice her, using her as kindling for the fire if you have to.”

For some reason, that bothers me.

For the sake of my history with Angel and the silent promise I made to her, I’ve already put contingencies in place that would safeguard her from anyone that would dare try to hurt her or get in her way, especially after I’m gone.

And Vaughn, despite my dislike of him, is part of that plan. Unbeknownst to him,he’sthe kindling to the fire.

“And you wouldn’t?” I counter.

“What?”

I turn around and look at him squarely.

“If you don’t even have the guts to take your enemies out firmly, then you’re just like your idiot father,” I mock. “A little advice, cousin, stay in your lane. You might get a boo-boo if you’re not careful.”

He bristles with anger, but he knows better than to strike out at me.

“Whatever you think you’re doing, it won’t work!” he seethes.

“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you sleep better at night next to your murdered mother’s room,” I say softly. Then I turn to leave, but I stop and glance over my shoulder at him. “This is exactly why against me, you’llalwayslose.”

“You’ll lose something too!” he seethes angrily. “In fact, from the way she looks at you, you’ve already lost her.”

Those words agitate the fuck out of me, so much so that I can’t control myself.

---