Page 28 of Vicious Vows

“Did it have anything to do with her death?”

“Are you asking if I took care of her murderer?”

I nodded. “Would you tell me?”

He leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling. The waves weren’t as noisy as they were when we first came into the room. They had settled into a calmer flow.

I had gone too far by asking that question. But I craved to know him better. To understand him.

“That honor will go to my father,” he finally said.

“You still don’t know who killed your mother?” My heart skipped a beat. He didn’t have closure.

“We had a lead or two.” He ran his thumb over the first check mark. “We found the guy who planted the device, but he didn’t have a name.”

“That was your first?”

“A day after, I went to the tattoo parlor and got this. I wanted to add dates, but I was a kid and didn’t know better. My father told me that would only be considered evidence.” He tapped his forehead. “The dates are all up here, though. You never forget when you…”

“Aren’t you missing one?”

“Why would you say that?” he asked.

“The night of the auction, you shot that guy, but you never added to the tattoo.”

“I’ve been a little busy with an extremely defiant hostage.”

“Good point.”

“I’ve been debating that check mark.” He stroked my cheek. “I wasn’t sure I was going to add it.”

“Why?”

“Normally, I wouldn’t consider random acts of self-defense worthy of a mark on my body.”

“That makes sense in your line of work.” I laughed. “Because self-defense happens a lot.”

“It does.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “But in this case, I shot that guy to protect you, and that seems like a good enough reason to add it to my collection.”

“The next time you get a tattoo, I want to go with you.” I kissed him. “I want something that represents us.”

“Are you sure about that?” He ran his finger along my lips. “That’s a huge commitment.”

“Didn’t I prove tonight that I’m more than just arm candy?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’m here for it.”

“All of it?” He lifted me up and eased me onto his shaft. “All of me?”

“Oh.” I moved my hips, surrounding him in my heat.

“It’s not all designer dresses and expensive cars. It’s bloody and brutal.” He kissed my neck, grasping my hips in his firm hold, then he shifted his waist, moving inside me. “It’s dangerous and deadly.”

“If that’s who you are, then that’s who I’ll be.”

“Maybe you are worthy to stand by my side after all.”

“As your princess?”

“As my queen.”

---