Page 102 of Unwilling Vow (Mafia Marriages 4)

He’s barefoot, his shirt removed, his chest bare but bandaged over his shoulder.

I climb out of bed, wanting to see him, touch him, and know that this isn’t a dream.

“I’m fine,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, you look fine.” He looks like hell, but I don’t say it. At least not in so many words.

His hair is disheveled. There’s a smear of blood across his cheek. His pants are the only thing that looks normal on him. The black slacks make it difficult to see if there are bloodstains but they are torn.

The blood on his cheek, is it his or someone else’s?

“What happened?” I ask.

I need to know if it’s over. If Astrid and I are no longer in danger. But can it ever really be over? Even if Luka is dead, won’t there be another snake to rise and take his place?

The man had quite a number of associates. It’s no secret he threatens the city.

“We went in and attacked their compound,” Jace says.

His eyes are listless as he avoids my stare.

I climb off the mattress and stand in front of him, blocking his path. He has to tell me more. Are we safe?

“What happened in there?” I ask. “Your men, they wouldn’t tell me anything.”

His words hold no hint of emotion. “Good.”

“Good? Jace, what’s going on? Is Luka dead?” I’ve never wanted someone murdered so much in my life. Killing is wrong. Death is final. But somehow, ending Luka’s life is the kind of closure that I need.

“His head is downstairs if you want to see for yourself.”

I stumble back onto the bed.

I gasp at his bluntness. He’s always been brazen, but this is something else.

Darker. Rougher. Less refined. “Please, tell me you don’t mean that,” I say.

“My men killed the bastard who’s been threatening my daughter and you.” Jace heads for the bathroom.

“Where are you going?”

“To take a shower,” he grunts.

Doesn’t he know anything about wounds and healing? “You can’t with the bandage. You’re going to have to keep the wound dry and clean. It needs time to heal.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do,” he snaps.

I take a sharp breath in as he storms into the bathroom and slams the door—the pictures on the wall rattle.

Astrid wails, awaking from slumber.

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