Page 21 of Tarnished Vow

“Noah. I need to talk to Vince.”

“How about you just say whatever it is in front of me, Maddy?” Noah shrugged, that same smug look on his face. “Orshould I say, Madeline? Only you call her full name, right? Maybe I should take that too.”

She stepped in front of me, blocking my path. But that wasn’t going to save him. “Vince, he is baiting you.” She grabbed my shirt, trying to get my attention.

“Come on Madeline, as fun as it is to see a Crow this helpless, I want to take you home.”

I grinned. Helpless. He was going to learn what helplessness was.

“Vince!”

Gritting my teeth. Fucking Roman called him.

“Is there a problem?” Nikolai asked Noah before giving me a firm look.

“No Nik, there isn’t.” She turned away from me. “Where leaving? Isn’t that right, Noah?” she walked past him and out the door.

Noah stood back for a moment before following.

“If he hurts her, I’m killing him.” Turning my glare from the door to Nikolai.

“So, you want a reason now? What a saw a second ago, you didn’t.”

“Fuck off Nikolai.”

“This is a problem.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, staring at me.

I glared at the closed door. I had changed my mind about her arranged marriage. And I had decided it wasn’t happening. I just had to think of a way to end it. Without Damius finding out about my interest in her.

CHAPTER 12

Vince

Gripping the man’s head back, holding the pliers. I was mid extraction when my phone started ringing. Only my sister’s ringtone would stop me.

“Your lucky day,” ripping his tooth out quick, “The next one is slower, hear me? Maybe rethink the go fuck myself comment and answer my question.”

Wiping the blood off my hand onto my shirt, before answering.

“Sofia, are you okay?”

“I.. I need the invisible people,” her words muffled from sobbing.

Pure white panic rushed through me.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

The bastard decided now was a great time to start screaming. I squeezed his throat for silence.

“No. I…” she stopped, her crying louder. “I’m so stupid.”

Deep breaths. Closing my eyes. No shouting, calm voice. “What happened Sofia?”

“I was with this guy, and um, we, were at the gas station and…” her crying got louder, “and I didn’t know all the pumps did different things and…I thought I could help..” more sobbing,“I put the wrong fuel in, or something and I ruined his car. And we got into a fight, so I started walking, and now...” she sniffled, “I’m lost, Vin, I’m lost, and hungry.”

Deep breaths. Stay calm. “But you’re okay. He didn’t hurt you?”

“No, I’m just lost, and my feet hurt.”