Page 27 of Lethal Vows

“You want to go get some dessert?” I ask her, and she nods and takes my hand as we walk out.

“He’s going to be pissed,” Angel says somewhat cheerfully.

“Let him be pissed. I don’t care.”

“He bought that ring today. Took ages in the jeweler.” She mischievously side-glances at me.

“You don’t think I will actually marry him, do you?”

“Of course she does,” Crue says, coming up behind us.

“Oh my God,pleaseleave me the fuck alone.” I wave a hand between us. “This whole stalking thing is next level.”

“Have dinner with me, and I will leave you alone. For a while at least.”

“You’re trying to bribe me to have dinner with you? Didn’t we do this song and dance already? It failed, remember?”

“Dinner, and you have my word. I’ll leave you alone for a bit.”

I have the unnerving feeling that he won’t leave us alone if I don’t agree, and the only person I want to spend time with right now is my best friend. It fucks me off to realize I can’t spend any time with her without what is consideredhispermission. But it’s also been so long since I’ve seen her.

I turn to Angel. “Are you free later?” I ask.

She looks to Crue and then back to me with a nod. “Sure.”

I turn to Crue. “Fine, I’ll have dinner with you. And then leave me the fuck alone,” I say.

“As you wish.” He smirks, and almost immediately another sleek black car pulls around the corner and parks at the curb.

I look between the car Dominic has just driven and him. A spark of irritation flutters through me.The prick knew I’d end up going with him.“Do you always have men on standby?” I ask dryly, so annoyed at his arrogance.

A cocky smile curves his lips. “And even more women.”

An unfamiliar burn sets my stomach alight at the thought of Crue with another woman. I swat it away, wondering how any woman in their right mind could seriously consider falling for this asshole. Then again, with looks like his, he couldhave anyone.

He adjusts his suit jacket as he opens the door for me. I get in, and he walks around to the other side and slides in next to me. I look out the window to see Dominic blow out a whistle and Angel offer a small wave.

It still blows my mind to see them as this… happy family. After all these years, I knew about them. Not the marriage. But still, seeing it is so different to the sixteen year old friend I’d left behind all those years ago.

“I can’t believe they’re still together,” I say.

“And still insufferably infatuated with one another. It’s sickening.”

I turn to him and see the disgust on his face. “You don’t believe in love?” I question.

“Do you?”

“Possibly,” I say, shrugging.

“I don’t. It’s purely an obsession you have with one another until it dies. Because obsessions always do.”

I side-eye him, infuriated by his attractiveness even at this angle. He has his fist closed under his jaw as he watches passersby. Not with curiosity but almost as if he’s a king in his domain, irritated that they’re in his way.

It’s not that I’m surprised the man doesn’t believe in love. He obviously doesn’t have an ounce of care or kindness in his body. But it’s in the venomous way that he says it. A previous sweetheart, perhaps? Maybe even Mommy and Daddy issues. Lord knows we all have them. Of all the criminals I’ve studied and interacted with, I have the impression he might be the most cruelly cut.

“Take a photo, princess. It lasts longer.”

I feel heat flush my cheeks, irritated that my stare lingered so long. And worse, he always seems to know when I’m looking.

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