Page 17 of Venomous Vows

Out of my peripheral, I see Zane cover his mouth with his hand to suppress a laugh.

Me, on the other hand, I’m still not amused that I had to drag my little brother in here to shut her down.

“Good luck with your rescue mission, Elena,” I draw to a close because I’m not going to beg her.

She’s going to beseech me for that honor that I bestowed on her.

I’m not God’s gift to women any day of the week, but I would’ve treated this woman like a queen in my kingdom.

And now, she can go figure it out herself.

Begrudgingly, Elena stands to her feet and sends another look to my brother in silent protest to sway his decision, but he remains firm in his stance to support me and my responsibilities.

That’s all I need.

The decision is Elena’s and hers alone.

Nonetheless, a little push in my direction wouldn’t hurt either.

5

ELENA

I don’t knowwhat kind of stuff Adrian is smoking, but it has to be good stuff. Because if he wanted to imagine the unthinkable, he just did tonight with his bullshit proposal and the ideas behind it.

I couldn’t imagine being married to that man for more than a second because the thought of strangling him is deep-seated in my head.

He’s impossible.

And when I thought he was a terror as a teenager, he’s a damn self-centered hoodlum now.

No shit. That’s why you got involved with them in the first place.

I try to settle down the best I can at home by taking a shower and grabbing a snack, but I can’t help but feel like the walls are caving in on me and I still have no solution to bring back Marcella.

I don’t have much time.

That’s what keeps ringing loud and taunting in my head. Is my pridereallythat big to not sacrifice five years of my life to save my sister?

However, having children with Adrian and bringing them into that life doesn’t settle well with me either. I don’t know all the logistics and how Adrian runs his family, but I couldn’t imagine bringing kids into a loveless marriage just to take over someone’s throne.

It’s cruel.

Yet a court system might see it otherwise. Though I can’t help but wonder how much pull Adrian has on that.

I’m on my way to the kitchen to grab another snack as I attempt to tire out my brain, when there’s a hard knock on my apartment door and I jump feet in the air with a startle.

It’s late asshitand I am definitely not expecting anyone.

At a snail’s pace, I tiptoe to the door and hold my breath as if whoever is on the other side of it can hear me. I wonder if the locks on my door could handle someone kicking them in, and the plethora of crime shows that I watch at night really needs to stop.

Finally getting to the peephole, I peer inside and find an empty hallway and nothing more.

They might be hiding out of view so you can’t see them.

Grabbing my umbrella that’s propped up against the wall, I unlock the three locks holding my door in place and prep myself for a fight. After my ordeal with Adrian, I feel bad for the other person because the animosity that still festers inside my chest is enough to pierce this thing through someone’s chest.

When I have a clear shot of the hallway, I quickly glance at both sides of the adjoining hall and find nothing.

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