Page 69 of Lethal Vows

The shine of a watch catches my eye, and my stomach drops. Leaning against his car is Crue, puffing on a cigar. Even with him wearing dark sunglasses, I know his gaze is on me.

“That’s all the questions I have time for today.” I dismiss them and walk in the opposite direction.Fuck. He can’t be here. I can’t have the press catching wind of our association. Not with this heated case still going on in the courtroom.

Security pushes the press back as we take our leave, and it’s only a matter of time before they give up and move to the second family.

“Where are we going?” Matteo asks.

“Shut up and follow me,” I hiss.

He grumbles a complaint but does as I say.

We walk a few blocks before I turn into an alleyway. It’s the most secure place I can find for dealing with a fucking hell hound who won’t give up the damn pursuit.

I see three shadows fall behind us when we step into the alleyway. That’s when I cross my arms and spin around, nothing but venom laced in my tone as I sayhisname, “Crue.”

“Princess.” He lights another cigar and casually slips one of his hands into his pocket. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“Yeah, how nice of you to notice.”

“I sent you an email.”

“Numerous emails, actually,” I correct. “I’m busy with work. I can’t join you for your little escapade.”

He points the gun at Matteo, and my stomach sinks.

“What the fuck, man?” Matteo squeaks, lifting his hands.

“What are you doing?” I hiss, stepping in front of my client. My heels click against the uneven pavement. I shift my gaze to Dominic and the other guy flanking Crue, but they’re expressionless. Not even Dominic is showing any emotion now, and that’s highly unusual.

“Princess, you seem to have deleted my email again. Your presence is required. And if your client is dead, then you don’t have a case to manage.”

“Youcannotbe fucking serious,” I spit.

“Do you have any idea who my uncle is, man!” Matteo shouts over my shoulder.

“Shut the fuck up,” I tell Matteo, and he seems almost shocked.

“You seem rather coddled if your uncle hasn’t informed you of whoI am.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. We are not doing a pissing competition in this alleyway.”

“So I’ll pick you up tonight at eight? You really brought this upon yourself, princess.”

“What part ofnodo you not understand?”

He cocks a half smile. It’s beautiful, wild, and wicked. “Nobody says no to me. Not even you, wifey.”

“Wifey?” Matteo asks.

“I amnotyour wife! But that’snotthe fucking point,” I scream. “You are so fucking frustrating, you know that?”

Crue shrugs nonchalantly. “Do you want that next fat paycheck or not?”

I narrow my gaze on him. I’m still standing in front of the boy as Crue takes deliberate steps toward me.

“You forget I can kick you in the balls. And I want to, really fucking hard right now,” I hiss.

That elegant smile remains as he tips the muzzle of the gun under my jaw. And I don’t know why, but I feel no fear, even though I know I should. There is something seriously messed up with me.

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