Page 12 of Lethal Vows

“Of course he has.” I grin. “Monica’s the perfect friend, right?” I say, dropping the bomb right on her.

Rya laughs at that, but I know she’s a clever girl.

“That’s not true. Monica would epically suck at being a spy.”

“She’s not a spy, but she is paid highly to hang out with you. Be your friend.” I study her as she takes in my words, and for some reason, I know she’s trying to work it all out in her mind. She begins to tap her pointed nail on the table contemplatively. Rya is smart, top of her class in law school, one of the highest-paid lawyers in her firm, and about to get her dirty-ass dead boss’s job.

That’s how good she is.

She wins—it’s what she’s good at.

A simple equation like this will make her realize that she hasn’t run far enough away to escape Daddy’s influence.

The waitress returns and places a plate of vegetables in front of her, but she makes no move to eat. Instead, she is looking at me.

“You’re lying.” Her voice is soft. My cock twitches. All the venom has drained from her spiteful mouth, leaving behind something vulnerable. Something I need to break.

“Am I?” I ask, cutting another piece of my steak.

“I won’t marry you.”

“Oh, but you will.” I smile at her.

“No! Iwon’t.” She pushes back her chair with a loud scrape and doesn’t even turn to look back at me as she walks out.

I don’t chase women.

But this one may need to be chased.

CHAPTER6

Rya

My phone dings, and I ignore it.

I find my father’s phone number and press call. I don’t care what the time is there, I need answers.

“Rya.” His voice is pleasant, which is nice on the ear.

“Do you have someone watching me?” I whisper into the phone as I walk the streets. It’s dark, and I know I shouldn’t be walking back to my apartment alone, but I can’t seem to stop myself from doing it. My head is spinning, trying to piece all the facts together. And I’m so fucking angry my blood is boiling.

“Rya, what are you talking about?”

“I just had a meeting with Crue,” I inform him.

“Crue?” he asks. “Monti?” I hear the hesitation in his voice.

“Yes,” I reply while turning down a dark street.

“He told you this?”

“Yes,” I answer, walking a little faster.Why didn’t I get in a fucking cab?

“I’m sorry,” is all he says.

“Are you saying it’s true?” I whisper, coming to an abrupt stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

“I couldn’t let you go by yourself. I had to protect you.”

---