Page 84 of Poison Vows

I’m not surprised to hear Rip’s words. It’s clear Grandfather had been planning to send me away for a while.

“Well? Aren’t you going?” Grandfather demands, daring me to defy him. “It’ll take months for that matter to be closed.”

Months…

“Ahh, it’s better for Alessio to go now then,” Emilio jumps in. “Vaughn will take care of everything in America. You don’t have to concern yourself with that anymore.”

Grandfather only looks at me, knowing damn well that he’s pushing me out according to the setup of my uncles and cousin.

“How can I leave without thanking you for your thoughtfulness?” I state seriously, fighting for calm.

When I turn to leave, I don’t bother looking at Vaughn or my uncles.

I just have one thought on my mind.

I should’ve kissed her.

CHAPTER 14

Ivy

Fall in New York Cityis strangely captivating, giving one a sense of misplaced optimism, loss interlaced with intrigue and confusion.

Some days are abundant with crisp air, clear blue skies, and beautifully browning leaves scattering the streets making for a Pinterest-ready photo.

Other days are windy, rainy, and cold.

Then there are inexplicably stagnant days where nothing feels real, right, or reasonable.

Before I know it, two weeks have gone by and tonight is D-Day.

It’s also been two weeks since I last heard from Emmett.

He told me to wait, and that he’d come to me, but he never did.

Emmett not keeping his word is close to impossible, but this time around, he just disappeared and never bothered to contact me again.

Is it because I want him to give me a baby? If so, he’s a coward!

Meanwhile, I had a tough time being in Beverly and her husband’s house.

True to his word, Vaughn came nearly every single day to take me out to ‘get to know’ one another—much to Senator Hughes’s joy.

The worry over Samuel’s sudden disappearance coupled with Emmett’s silence in the middle of all this mess was enough to induce a horrible migraine.

I’ve been down for three days. I’m groggy, my throat is like a desert, and I’m feverish, but tonight I don’t have a choice but to get up to go do something I’ve been racking my brain to try and get out of.

My one issue about tonight is seeing Emmett’s grandfather…

But I’m the one who put myself and my loved ones in this situation.

I sought out trouble because I couldn’t take not being loved, and now…

An acute pain blooms behind my left eye as the migraine intensifies some more.

I gasp for breath, then go back to baring my teeth so I can brace myself.

This is the worst migraine I’ve had in a very long time and rightfully deserved.

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