Page 98 of Poison Vows

“Angelo doesn’t have children?”

Vaughn falls silent for a bit, as if he doesn’t know what to say.

“No,” he says in a strange tone.

“He isn’t married?”

“No.”

The abrupt, one-worded answers are out of character for Vaughn but then I remember what Scar told me the day we met.

Vaughn’s temperament is ruled by his emotions. I wonder what triggered him now.

From across the table, I spot Giovanni still watching me, as is Angelo.

Alarms blare in my head, demanding me to tread carefully here.

After we’re all settled in our seats, servers immediately come in and start serving the starter course, pouring drinks and cocktails, as light conversation fills the room.

I want to talk to Scarlet, but whenever I glance at her to give her signal, she pretends to not see me.

I can’t exactly call her name, as she’s sitting to her grandfather’s left, which clearly shows her position in the Family, while her father and uncles are farther down.

I’m nervous, sitting as if my ass is planted on a cushion of pins and needles.

At any moment, they might all turn their attention to me and make memake a decision.

Discreetly, I fish out my phone from my purse to check if I have any new texts, but there’s nothing at all.

Jesus, where are you, Emmett?

If he was demoted, what does that mean for me and this plan of his?

“Ivy?”

My name is suddenly called, making me jump slightly.

“Uh, yes?” I stutter, looking for the person who just called my name.

“Is everything okay?” Grandpa Armando questions. “Are you looking for something?”

Oh shit. Did he notice me looking around?

“Not at all. I was just admiring your lovely home,” I say nervously, fighting the pain in my body and the pressure of my panic.

“Oh no, it’s not mine,” he says in a kind voice. “This residence belongs to my grandson, as do the surrounding lots on the lakefront.”

With those words, it’s like a bomb just exploded in the room.

A tense atmosphere rises, and the men in the room all have varying expressions on their faces.

“Wow,” I say awkwardly. “Vaughn is very impressive.”

Grandpa shakes his head slowly, looking straight at me as Emilio’s face darkens. “I’m not talking about Vaughn, though he does have his own merits.”

Immediately, I get it.

He’s talking about the unnamed, absent, chilling figure that is Emmett.

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