Page 16 of Tarnished Vow

“Ellie.”

“It’s really nice to meet you.”

Ellie looked between us before lifting her head to the side. “Your fiancé is looking for you,”

Noah hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she walked over here.

Madeline touched my arm. “Talk later?”

I nodded, knowing that wouldn’t happen. Noah was still trying to intimidate me from across the room.

Any other man, I’d take away their sight. But I’d rather have him protective of her. It meant he cared.

“So, you can get off your phone for her?”

“For her, I’d take a bullet.” Finishing my drink, I placed the empty glass on the bar. “I need a smoke.”

Nikolai owes me for this. Forced to fucking socialize with those people because he had a reaction to his new medication. One hour in that room, and it made me wish for a heart attack.

Walking out onto the balcony. Five minutes of peace I got before the glass door opened behind me.

“I thought you’d be out here.”

Closing my eyes for a moment. Maybe there was a god.

“I’m so proud of Nik for getting you here tonight. Honestly, I can only imagine how much you complained.” Madeline leaned against the rail next to me.

I glanced at her phone. “Seriously, you’re shopping?”

Rolling her eyes, “Um, it’s called multi-tasking.” She showed me a necklace. “What do you think of this one?”

“Doesn’t look like your style.”

“Awe, I love how you know me,” she touched my arm. “It’s not for me. I’m helping the Huntley’s organize a present for their sister. I owe them.”

“The Huntley’s don’t have a sister.”

“Shit. You can’t tell anyone about her. Okay?” She gasped, her hand holding me tighter. “I’m pretty sure they only told me, because we were going to die.”

And I was sure they had lied to her.

The Huntley brothers were only living because they stayed far away from us. She always insisted on using them for protection overseas. Ex-military or not. Their parents were responsible for half my family being dead.

But the only time she had been in danger was when she hadn’t used them. I gave her my cigarette. Forcing myself to not think about them.

“What a shock you two are together,” Rome walked out the side door. Red wine down the front of his white shirt. “I offended Hazel,” he paused next to Madeline. “Do you have another one of those?”

“Oh, no. I don’t smoke.” Madeline took one drag of it before handing it back to me.

“What?”

“I only ever inhale twice. That’s basically less than secondhand smoke and I have never lit one. So, not a smoker.”

Rome looked at me. “So you wait for Vince to smoke, and you take his?”

“Vince, tell him. I’m not a smoker.”

“She’s not a smoker.” I handed him my packet.

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