Page 38 of The Vow

“Because who would want to admit to their greatest mistake?” I whipped back to him, my stare connecting to his like an audible slap.

I was tired of this. Tired of his emotional autopsy. Tired of one more reminder that the man who knew me best was the one who’d hurt me the worst.

“Who would want to admit to being married to the world’s worst criminal?”

Damon lifted his hand to his chest, feigning a wounded demeanor. “The worst, Robber? I don’t think I’m the worst.” White sliced through his curved lips. “The most infamous, maybe, but not the worst.”

“And what about you? Disappearing for hours—whole days at a time with no explanation? Making demands—decisions—plans without any warning or insight?” I batted my eyelashes sweetly, though I was being anything but. “I say you haven’t changed at all, but we both know I never knew you in the first place.”

My gaze darted to him, a thrill pulsing through me when I saw his easy expression crack with a single flex of his jaw.

“I’ve been arranging our invitation to this party all week,” he said, his explanation for his absence coming through tightly held teeth. The hand he’d brought to his chest now gripped the top of his hat on his lap, his fingers denting the fragile fabric. “In spite of your high opinion of my infamy, I’m not exactly persona grata to Belmont or his company.”

“I’m surprised you even wanted to bother with an invitation.”

“I prefer to maintain legitimacy wherever possible, especially when my intent is to offer my services.”

The air in the car stilled, the atoms pausing in their flight.

This was the most he’d said about his plan to bring down Belmont, and it wasn’t what I was expecting.Of course, itwasn’t. Why would it be?Why would anything about Damon Remington be what I expected? And yet, for some reason, my mind tacked itself to the idea that Damon would use all his devious little henchmen to launch an attack on Belmont and bring him down in one fell swoop.

Not offer the man I hated second-most in the world his assistance.

“You’re going to help him?” My fist balled, my nails digging into the skin of my palm.

“It’s part of my plan, Robber,” he said, dragging his hand along his jaw like he could wipe away the regret he had for telling me. “And if it’s going to work, you’re going to have to trust me.”

I laughed, a sudden burst of sound breaking from my chest like shattered glass. And when he tensed beside me, his head dipping ever so slightly, I knew nothing else needed to be said; the last man I would ever trust was him.

The conversation ended there because the car had come to a stop. Outside Damon’s window, a grand staircase led up to the porticoed entrance of Belmont’s mansion.One of them.The one he used for show. Where he really lived was far more secluded and much more guarded, I had to assume, because I’d never been able to find it.

“As ever, Robber, I’ve only tried to protect you,” Damon swore, again stroking the weakest part of me that ached for his touch.

My heart stumbled, my breath snagged, and then I caught myself before the hook latched in too deep.

“All these years, and I see your definition of betrayal hasn’t changed either.”

I reached for the handle, the back seat of the car suddenly felt far too small for the two of us to be in it. Before I could pullopen the door, it locked, and then Damon’s hand was on my wrist, holding me back.

I hissed. “Don’t?—”

“What was our deal, Robber?” he demanded, his voice cold and unrelenting. “I need to hear you say it.”

My lips parted, understanding unfurling the knot in my chest. He worried I was going to go in there, see Belmont, and lose my mind.

“I’ve been waiting to take down Belmont for two decades, Damon. I’m not going to let my emotions jeopardize that.”Not like they do with you.

The edge of his jaw sharpened in frustration. “Say it, Robber.”

My lip curled, and I released my breath slowly, reminding myself this was the deal I’d struck.

“I promise to obey.” The words unlatched his hand from my wrist, and the doors unlocked.

Hiding my loathing for Belmont would be a walk in the park compared to what it took to hide the way I still desperately wanted my husband. At least with Belmont, I knew one day my vengeance would be satisfied. But wanting Damon…the day I succumbed to that would be the day I signed my heart back over to the devil who broke it.

Chapter Eleven

Damon

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