Page 78 of Brutal Vows

Mio Dio, I’ve totally fallen head over heels in love with the most lethal man in New York City.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way. No other man could complete me so perfectly.

I clear my throat and stick my phone back into my purse before exiting the car and locking it behind me.

My bodyguard slips back into the building ahead of me, and as I enter the lobby, I glimpse his heel as the stairwell door closes behind him.

I take the elevator straight to my floor and smile when my phone vibrates with a message. As I pull it out of my purse, I check both ends of the hall before stepping off the elevator.

I turn on my screen and press the message icon.

Jeremy whistles as he saunters from the stairs to a room three doors further down from mine. I offer him a polite smile and stop in front of my door as he closes his apartment door behind him.

As I wand my keycard and reach for the handle, my sister’s apartment door opens. I turn to greet her and freeze at her expression.

I’ve never seen her so angry. I take my hand off my door. The keypad beeps and flashes red, indicating my door engaged the lock.

Livia takes a deep breath and attempts to calm herself down before rubbing a hand over her face and sighing.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asks.

“Yeah, sure. What’s wrong?”

She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest.

“Not out here. Come in,” she demands.

I don’t move. She’s never invited me into her home before, and after the creepy feeling of being watched, I’m not sure I want to.

When I don’t immediately accept her offer, she scoffs and shakes her head.

“Fine, have it your way. We’ll air our dirty laundry in the hallway so you can embarrass me again, like you always do.”

Even without the deep-rooted connection between us, my heart quails at her accusation.

“What the fuck was that today? You show up after a week of silence and then are a complete bitch during surgery?”

I glance up and down the hall, and even though there’s no one there, discomfort and dread twist my stomach.

“How was I a complete bitch during surgery?”

“Really, Loretta? You’re going to pretend like you didn’t ignore me the entire time?”

“I didn’t!”

She huffs and says, “Fine. Whatever,” while she turns and steps into her foyer.

“Wait, Livia, you’re right, we need to talk,” I say as I rush across the hallway.

She rolls her eyes and motions me inside. I slip past her, set my purse on the bench, and sit to take off my shoes.

The hairs on my nape rise when she slides the bolt home with a metal clunk. It won’t stop me from leaving—or anyone with a card from entering—but the ominous sound fills me with dread.

I lift my head and meet her eyes. The hatred shining from her green orbs drops my stomach through the floor.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

She leans back against the door and crosses her arms over her chest.

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