Page 33 of Venomous Vows

He whistles, loud and obnoxious, before one of the back doors to an SUV opens and a man reaches inside to roughly pull out a body.

It’s a girl, who almost stumbles and falls to her knees, but she keeps herself upright. She’s yards away and I wouldn’t know what Elena’s sister looks like if she shot me in the ass.

“All right,” the kid hedges. “She’s here.”

I steer my focus back to him and glower. “You think I’m gonna hand over a million dollars when I don’t know if this is the right girl?”

He scoffs at me as if my request is unreasonable but motions his fellow gang member to bring the girl closer.

Long dark hair.

Lucid blue eyes.

And, instead of freckles, a birthmark along the right side of her lips.

“What’s your name, girl?” I command, receiving the kid’s attention again.

“You don’t even know who she is?” he asks me right before the girl says, “Go fuck yourself.”

Good enough for me.

Lifting a hand and motioning with my index finger, I count five men.

Honestly, such a waste of time.

For such a large amount of money that’s supposed to be handed over today, Spencer Halley, who is the leader of The Disciples, really should’ve thought smart about this.

The moment my digit moves, four gunshots ring out.

And four bodies drop to the hard cement below them.

I wonder if the unshaven asshole is impressed with me now. Especially since he’s lying face down at my feet.

“What the fuck?” the kid sputters, taking a step back from the death surrounding him.

I steal a glance at Marcella, whose arms are scrunched up at her chest to keep from getting hit when the shots rang out.

But she didn’t scream.

She is Elena’s sister.

“Tell Spencer Halley that if he ever sets foot in my city again, I’ll have him shoot every single one of you before I rip his fingers off one by one. No one touches what belongs to me, and that’severyone and everything in this town. He has a week to leave town or I’m going to come collect.”

The kid gapes at me as though I’ve lost my entire mind. “What…what about the money?”

Geezus Christ…

“Did I pick the wrong person to keep alive?” I ask, cocking my head to the side before the kid shakes his head like a rag doll and sprints toward one of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, I return to the matter at hand and find Elena’s sister glowering at me like she’s about to rip my head off.

“Marcella,” I impart, raising my arm for her to come over and shake it. “My name is Adrian Bernardi. And I’ve come here on behalf of your sister, Elena.”

Her blue eyes widen in surprise and that sentiment seems to get her to move. “You know my sister?”

“I’m marrying your sister.” She halts on a dime and I know it was the wrong thing to say.

I just can’t help but say it.

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