Page 66 of Vow To The Devil

He makes a noise of disgust. "You always were an ungrateful brat. I should have known you'd turn out just like your father."

The comparison hits its mark. I flinch as if struck and my free handturns into a fist.

"I am nothing like him," I snarl. "And if you value that forked tongue of yours, you'll keep his name out of your mouth."

Felix pauses, bloody and triumphant. He's won this round.

“I'm going to kill you, Felix.”

"Is that a threat?" He laughs. “You’ve gone soft. Marrying that woman has turned a tiger into a housecat.”

He hangs up and I hurl my phone at the floor. Rob stays perfectly still, as if I can't see him if he doesn't move.

My head pounds in time with my heartbeat, fury and frustration warring inside me. I should have expected Felix to play dirty; he's always been a snake. But the mention of my father still cuts like a knife, even after all these years.

Some wounds never truly heal.

With an effort, I take a deep breath and force the chaos in my mind to settle. Anger will only cloud my judgment, and I need to be sharp if I'm to outmaneuver Felix. He may have won this battle, but the war is far from over.

When I open my eyes again, I pick up my phone and scroll to a copy of a photograph that I usually leave inside a drawer in my desk: my mother's smiling face gazing out at me, her arm wrapped around my shoulder. I pick it up with care, tracing her features with a fingertip as I have so many times before.

What would you do?I ask her silently.How would you handle this situation?

Of course there's no response, but I find a measure of comfort in the ritual all the same. It helps me feel close to her, even now that she's gone. I draw on the strength and wisdom she tried so hard to instill in me over the years.

I know she would advise patience and caution. She would want me to think before I act, to consider all angles before making a move. And above all else, she would tell me not to lose sight of what really matters.

Not power or prestige. Not some plot of land in Maine. But family. The bonds that truly define us.

Setting my phone down, I straighten in my seat. Felix isn't going to win. Not if I have anything to say about it. The company will be mine, and on my terms and my timeline.

I look over to Rob, who is sitting next to me, stiff as a board."Clear my schedule for the rest of the day," I say. "I have plans to make."

ChapterTwenty-Nine

TALIA

The part of Harwicke where Hope House sits is usually all but abandoned this time of night. There was a 911 call reporting a fire at Hope House and Aunt Minnie called me, as her name is on the building lease.

Of course I said I would be right over. And I dragged Dare along, figuring that his name and connections could be of use.

As we race through the streets, we can see the faint hazy light of a fire rising against the black night sky. I clutch Dare's arm, my eyes searching for any sign of Aunt Minnie and the others who live at Hope House. My heart pounds in my chest, fear and worry for their safety taking over me.

When we reach the scene, the fire truck and police car have already arrived. The firefighters are rushing in and out of the building, while the police officers are trying to keep the crowd that has started to gather at a safe distance.

"Go find out what you can," Dare orders, pointing towards the fireman. "I'll go talk to the police."

I nod and hurry over toward the fireman, my eyes drawn to the devastation only a hundred yards away. Flames lick at the night sky, devouring wood and brick. The inferno roars, muting the sirens from approaching emergency vehicles.

A huge chunk of the top of the building breaks off and falls, landing with a crash on the lawn. I swear, during that moment, everyone moves away from the fire and holds their collective breath. Hope House is crumbling before my eyes.

When I look up, the fireman I was heading towards is now running toward the burning house.

"The children..." I murmur, my hands coming up to my lips.

God, where is Solana? And what about Aunt Minnie?

My gaze darts around, searching.There is so much going on that for a moment, I'm overwhelmed.

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