Page 76 of Poison Vows

“Thanks, but you’re not being careful anymore, cousin,” she says worriedly. “Grandpa has always supported your decisions, no matter how sinister and audacious, but now he’s switching to Vaughn? I guess he also senses that you’re no longer as impassive as you used to be. Your singular focus is about to be unearthed.”

Well, she isn’t wrong.

In some ways. I’ve lived a very tedious life, with only one goal.

I’ve sacrificed, let go of, and ignored so many things that I once wanted in order for me to get to this position, and I’ll be damned if it all falls apart now.

“Grandfather wants a meeting because he made a deal with Vaughn,” I start, choosing to firmly ignore the sirens in my head.

I’m hoping I’m wrong, but with years of analyzing things, I know I’m not.

“What deal?” Scar questions with a frown.

“That’s what I’m going to find out now, but whatever it is, he made Grandfather extend the deadline.”

“For the decision?”

“Yes.”

Scarlet falls silent, mulling it over.

“Is this your doing?”

I smirk.

“Are you deaf? Your cousin is the one that went and made a deal and got what he wanted, why would any of that be my doing? I wasn’t even there.”

Scar’s eyes narrow on me. “And who are you? You’re the guy that makes serious, earth-shattering moves in the shadows. You don’t have to say anything for you to gain the biggest advantage. In fact, I know you’re the best at using other peopleto accomplish your goals without leaving a trace back to you, so while it might look like Vaughn thought of this himself, you’re the one who actually created the circumstances where he made that decision.”

“Oh? I didn’t know I was so powerful,” I say sarcastically.

“Don’t give me that! I know you! And I know that everyone’s thoughts, actions, hell, even their emotions are all calculated and manipulated in your hands, the guy who seemingly has no affection in this world.”

Scarlet suddenly grins like a Cheshire cat.

Feeling uneasy, I stare back at her. “What?”

“But that’s not true, is it?” She wiggles her eyebrows in a creepy way that’s so unlike her but also on brand with her quippy, unpredictable character.

“You know, I’m beginning to think you have multiple personalities,” I mutter, side-eyeing her.

“Err, that wouldn’t be a stretch. With all I’ve been through, it would be a shock if I don’t have a mental disorder as the cherry on top,” she says nonchalantly, waving a hand dismissively. “But you’re not as detached to the world as you claim to be. I just met the one person in this world who can make you move and you call her Angel!”

“I can move just fine on my own, thank you very much.”

“That’s not true!” She waves a finger between us like she’s freaking using aHarry Potterwand or something. “You had so many opportunities to make your moves all these years, like when Grandpa had the first stroke. You could’ve easily moved against them all, but you didn’t.”

“Wrong. He was at his most vulnerable, which means he was at his most defensive.”

Scar chuckles humorlessly. “I’m not a child anymore, Emmett. I don’t need you to read me fairy tales or cover my eyes to the nasty bloodshed like you did back then. I know you’veadequately prepared for everything, including how to deal with Grandfather, my father, and our uncles, yet you’ve done nothing all these years, but the moment a certain beauty from Westbrook Blues enters the city, you’re at DEFCON 1. Isn’t that funny?”

“It’s so funny, I forgot to laugh,” I deadpan.

“Uh-huh,” she hums. “My question is, who is she?”

“She’s whoever she told you she is.”

“Nope, there’s something about that girl that is beyond what everyone else sees, isn’t there?”

---