Page 15 of Of Vows and Betrayal

“Well, my story is not quite a fairy tale,” I reply, my voice dropping a bit.

His expression softens, and I inwardly curse myself for letting that slip. “My father owns the deed, actually. He owned it for years, long before Mom died. The business didn’t do very well, but it was ours. I don’t think Mom knew he bought it, but when she passed, he wanted to sell it. I had to beg him not to.”

Javier listens silently, and I feel compelled to justify myself, aware of his thoughts. Why bother? It’s just an empty shop.

“I know it’s silly and completely unnecessary. There’s nothing left here but?—”

“The memories remain like a film imprinted on the wall, and once you’re in the middle of it, it feels far more real,” he finishes for me, his voice deepening with a raw pain of loss that resonates deeply with my own.

“It’s hard to lose your person. My mom was mine.”

He nods, clearing his throat. “Yes, a mother is irreplaceable.”

“When did she pass?”

“I lost her many years ago.”

“I lost my mom five years ago, and some days, it feels like yesterday. Does it ever get better?”

He rocks on his heels, hands buried in his pockets. “I’m not completely sure. The guilt of failing the ones you need to protect makes it far harder.”

That hits hard, cooling my initial excitement for the day. His previous protectiveness makes more sense now.

As if he canread my thoughts, his gaze settles on my neck again. “This isn’t your fault.”

He frowns, displeased that I can read him so easily. “It is. I should have been faster, helped earlier.”

“You saved my life. You’re protecting me now.”

“If you let me do it, yes.”

I sigh. “The men you saw are not a danger—not the kind you think anyway. They…” I pause, biting my lip. “You know who my father is, don’t you?”

He nods. “The man you saw is the consigliere, Dario Carmine. But even if my father is below him in the organization, he’s still high enough to be safe—and me too. They came to talk about work; it has nothing to do with me. I don’t know anything about the business, and it’s best like that.”

“Are you ever going to do something with this place?” Javier asks, changing the subject.

“I can’t, even if I want to. My father will never—” I shake my head. “Being a flower shop owner is not really in the cards for me.”

“Why d?—”

“Okay, now that I know everything is fine in here, I promised to stop at the bakery across the street. Is that okay?”

“I’m at your service,” he says, bowing slightly in a way that seems mocking, but I ignore it.

Entering the bakery, I’m greeted by the enticing aroma of vanilla and cinnamon from my childhood. My stomach grumbles at the memory.

I stop thinking about the sarcastic bodyguard whenJulia exits the back, her face lighting up at the sight of me. “You came!”

“I told you I would, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but with that bio dad of yours…” She trails off as she notices Javier standing behind me.

Seeing her today makes me more emotional than usual—maybe because I haven’t seen her in three weeks, or maybe because of all the memories it brings back.

“This is Javier, my security, but don’t worry, he’s not a problem.”

“Oh, wait!” She disappears into the back again, and I feel the disapproval radiating from Javier, but I keep my back to him.

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