Page 98 of The Vow

“Excuse me.” I spun and rushed back across the house, my feet pounding down the staircase, and into my room.

Pulling my phone from the charger, I opened the screen and went to the call history, but it wasn’t Damon’s name I tapped on.

No, there was only one man who could help me now.

“You know, I could get that gun from you if I wanted.” Pat’s snark was as sharp as the look he shot me through the rearview mirror.

The handgun I’d found in Damon’s dresser rested casually on my knee, aimed at the grouchy Irishman.

“I have no doubt you could, but to do that, you’d probably injure me, and after yesterday, I’m sure you’re already on Damon’s shit list.”

“Taking you to him isn’t going to do me much better,” he grunted.

I tipped my head and smiled. “It’ll do you a little better.”

Outside the car, mountains rose up around the Tahoe basin like a long-lost fortification. The drive from the Bay Area to snowcountry was a solid four hours without any traffic, but during this time of year, we were going on six, which meant it would be almost dinnertime by the time we arrived at Belmont’s ski chalet.

The sprawling mansion was located in an exclusive community on the Heavenly ski resort. It was where Belmont conducted his business. Where he hid his underworld dealings from the real world. And where he’d instructed Damon to come today to meet with him and Shazad.

Damon had taken a private helicopter this morning, arriving much sooner and leaving me with only the slower option. Especially considering the time it had taken to lure Pat back to the house.

Before this morning, I would’ve said there wasn’t much one could throw at Pat that would surprise him, but being greeted at the front door by me and the barrel of a handgun had certainly come as close as one could get.

“It’s not safe for you to go here, Robbie,” he repeated for probably the fourth time this trip. The other three times I’d ignored him, afraid if I delved into the conversation, he’d find some excuse to stop driving.

“It’s not safe for Damon to be here alone either, and yet you let him.”

A harsh bark of a laugh grated through his throat. “There’s not much I can stop Damon from doing, no matter how I disagree. But you…”

“What about me?”

Heavy eyes flicked to mine quickly and then back to the road. “Why do you think he left you behind?”

I huffed and rolled my eyes. “Because my husband thought it was too dangerous, just like you said.”

“Wrong,” Pat growled and hit his blinker, finally turning off the stretch of highway that at this rate, I was surewas taking us straight to hell.Though if Shazad was there, it certainly came close.

I tensed, feeling my palm grow slick around the metal handle of the gun. “Then enlighten me.”

“Because you’re his weakness, Robbie,” he rumbled, and ahead, I saw how the road angled up through the trees, leading to massive mansions built into the lower mountain face, the glass facades glistening like sheets of ice. “Without you there, he doesn’t have to worry. He can be the ruthless man the world knows him to be, but with you there…there’s no hiding what you mean to him. The show for Belmont…it wasn’t just to get him to believe Damon. It was to show Belmont that you meant nothing to him—that he’d easily sacrifice you for a business deal. For you to come here…after that…they’ll know you’re his vulnerability. They’ll know you’re his Achilles heel.”

My rising pulse tripped and spilled heartbeats into my veins.

Was he right? Was this wrong?

“He’s alone there, Pat,” I said low. “Tell me you don’t think he’s in danger because they made him come alone.” My jaw locked tighter with every word. “Swear to me that you think he’s safer there alone than he is with me.”

I took the gamble because what choice did I have? Pat didn’t think it was a good idea for Damon to go alone to this meeting, but was that worse than me being there?

“I don’t know,” he muttered and shook his head. “I don’t like either option a whole hell of a lot.”

“I’m the only one they’ll let in,” I said softly. “I can’t let him face this alone, Pat. I won’t. After what they did to him, I don’t think they’re looking for vulnerability as an excuse to turn on him, and I can’t…I can’t lose him again.”

I didn’t realize my gaze had fallen to my lap until I felt thecar slow. Looking up, I watched the massive gate ahead approach and a security guard step from the gatehouse.

“We’re here,” Pat rumbled. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I tucked my gun by my side and out of sight underneath the thick fur of my jacket.

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