Page 65 of Vow To The Devil

I turn away, my quick steps carrying me to the SUV. I climb in and Rob dashes to the other side, hurrying to clamber in before we take off. Rob tries to ask me a question, but I shake my head and stare out the window.

I don't remember the last time I was this angry. Years of work, of carefully laid plans and sleepless nights, all for nothing. The empire I've sacrificed everything to build teeters on the brink of growing old and dying.

And fucking Felix holds the deed that could keep it level or bring it crashing down.

He’s signed his own name to the deed in place of mine. How he managed to do that, I'm not even sure. Legally, I'm the source of the funds and the property definitely belongs to me, but if it went to court, it would be tied up indefinitely.

I lean against the SUV's door, chest heaving from exertion and rage. Of all the times for that spineless sycophant to grow a backbone.Bile and bitterness rise in my throat, old wounds torn open with a few strokes of the pen.

He's outmaneuvered me again. But if he thinks this is the end, he's gravely mistaken.

I'll have that deed, even if I have to pry it from his cold, dead hands.

When I can think straight, I call Felix. He answers on the first ring and turns on the video.

"Dare." He smirks at me. His voice is smooth and even, the bastard. I grit my teeth and imagine how satisfying it would be to wring his neck.

"Sign it over."

"I'm sorry?"

"The deed. Sign it over."

"You mean the deed to the property?"

"Yes, I mean the deed to the property!" I hiss.

He pauses, giving me a coy smile.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"What do you mean you can't do that?"

"Sorry, I meant to say that Iwon'tdo that. You tried to cut me out, but obviously you failed."

"You listen to me, you two faced gutter rat. You're going to sign over that deed right this second. Or you'll face the full force of my wrath."

Felix scoffs and scrubs his hand through his thinning hair.

"I'd be careful if I were you. You don't want to say anything you'll regret."

"I'll regret nothing when I beat you to a pulp and then sue you to within an inch of your life."

"You know, your mother would have wanted you to keep your family close, Dare," Felix says."I'm just helping you to respect her wishes."

My hands clench into fists. Howdarehe.

"Don't you speak of her," I growl. "Don't you dare."

He shrugs, utterly unconcerned. "It's the truth. She always loved me doting on you when you were young. Me owning the deed to the Maine property would have delighted her."

I take a sharp breath through my nose, wrestling back the urge to wrap my hands around his scrawny neck. He's trying to goad me into doing something rash, and I won't give him the satisfaction.

"If only she had lived to see you turn into a disgusting, lying, cheating, thieving, conniving piece of trash."

"Well, she didn't. And I'll sign the deed over to you over my rotting dead body."

My lips curl into a humorless smile. "If need be."

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