Page 63 of Reckless Covenant

“Every single kind you can think of. Including birth and marriage certificates. Banks. Deeds. Everything.” I hold his gaze for a second longer, stretching that silence. “One might think there are ulterior motives for a future spouse to hold so much information on their betrothed’s family. I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on it all.”

“And we believe this woman?” Maddox asks.

“I’ve never cared enough to put stock in her words, but she is very rude in her sincerity. I doubt she would ever bother to be anything but honest. This time around, though… there was genuine fear in her bones. Before she had to run away from me, because Ryan was coming, she said something else.” I take one deep breath, those words carrying consequences, potentially changing the whole game. “She suspects Ryan killed his father.”

A synchronized sigh fills the car. One by one, the men turn, backs sinking into their seats as Carter turns the engine to life.

“I want to go back.” Maddox doesn’t turn as he speaks. “I want to find that paperwork.”

“It’s too risky. It’s my ego here. None of that will help us in any way.” I shake my head.

“We don’t know… it might. And this storm is the perfect cover to roam through his house. We still have a little while before Raven is done with him.” The Serpent pulls my attention to him. “Madds, go. But if the music stops, get the fuck out of there.”

Maddox nods once and leaves the car. We’re hidden well enough here, the headlights are turned off, even the thunder and heavy rain covers our engine, and all I can do is sink into this back seat, hoping to hell that he’s not going to get caught in there…

I cannot help but feel as though these men are risking too much for me.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

VINCENT

Watching the fire of her hair on my black sheets, her freckled, soft skin tangled in them, the calm rise and fall of her chest, as she sleeps, brings a strange satisfaction, a calmness in my soul.

She holds the pillow under her head, and this peculiar sense of belonging takes over. I’ve been watching her for the last hour… when the sun was rising, the rays touched her, making her look like she’s on fire, the shades of red matching hers. I’ve laid here, motionless, afraid that if I wake her, the spell will be broken and my Eve will disappear.

A soft moan escapes her lips, and she blinks slowly.

“Mmm…” She rubs her cheek on the pillow and finally opens her eyes. Smiling at first, then wider and wider, slight shock or panic in them when she realizes she’s in bed with me.

“Good morning, Little Eve.”

She lifts her head suddenly, looking around us, taking in the unfamiliar space, before she turns back at me.

“You’re in my house.”

I don’t miss how her gaze softens for that split second before she catches herself.

“Um… how did I get here?”

“You fell asleep in the car. I brought you here, where you’re safe.”

“Okay… but how…?” Her gaze is mixed with worry, confusion, and comfort she tries to hide.

“You… you just didn’t wake up. Madds picked you up, passed you to me, you…nestledinto my shoulder, and I brought you in.”

She just looks at me, blinking more times than necessary in these few seconds, before she slowly drops her head back onto the pillow.

“You could have taken me to Lulu,” she all but whispers.

“No.”

“You’re not making the same mistake as Ryan, are you, Serpent?” She narrows her eyes on me.

“I want to keep you safe, that’s all. And Loreley’s would be a far too obvious place for you to escape to.”

“Son of a bitch! He’ll fucking hurt Lulu! He hates her! I have to go!” she rasps as she throws the sheets aside and sits up, just about to jump out of bed.

Before she can make the next move, I catch her and slam her back onto the bed. “She’s safe, she’s okay. We sent people to keep her safe. Nothing will happen to her.”

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