Page 28 of Tarnished Vow

The sun was blinding as I stepped outside, quickly putting my sunglasses on before walking to the SUV.

“Maddy, wait.”

Oh my god.

Glancing at Noah as he stepped in my way. “You haven’t told that psycho Crow brother about this, right?” he forced a weak smile, looking pale. “Right?”

He did not just say that.

“Don’t call my best friend a psycho!”

“Maddy, you do know he is a fucking serial killer, right? The madman for their family.”

I won’t listen to this. Noah had no issues baiting him when he thought there were no consequences.

Ignoring his question, I got into the car. The bodyguard closed the door for me.

Did I know? What a joke.

For God’s sake. I am always restocking his wardrobe. If only Vince could learn to torture and not get it all over his shirt every time. And the number of odd suits I donate every month, because the jacket is gone, or the pants. Never both, just one. That was the real crime, all those beautifully designed suits that end up unpaired.

CHAPTER 14

Vince

I needed to start my breathing exercises again. Dropping the glass bottle. What a fucking mess. “Alright, next one.” Stepping over the limp, bloody body, walking out of the cell room.

They always want to waste my fucking time and be difficult. For once, I would like to ask a question, get an answer without having to break their very weak loyalty.

Reaching for my phone. Nikolai. Probably wondering if I was back.

“I’m busy brother, I’ll call you back.”

“It will have to wait. I’m out the front.”

It wasn’t just what he said, it was his tone. Walking up the hall of the cellar. “And what is suddenly so important?” typing in the code for the door before stepping outside. Sure enough, he was here.

Ending the call, I walked to the black SUV and opened the back door. “What is this all about?”

“Did Sofia pass her test?” He looked at me, putting his phone down.

Why couldn’t he have asked me that on the phone? “Yeah, she did.”

“I’ll call her later.”

“She’s going to ask you for a convertible. It’s a no. First few years, I want as much metal around her as possible.”

“Agreed. Come on, we’ve got a lunch.”

He could not be fucking serious. “Do you see me right now?”

He nodded. “It’s not that noticeable. Clean your hands and face on the way.”

It was good to know that the sight of me covered in blood didn’t affect his appetite.

“I’m not hungry. Nikolai, I’m busy.” That look in his eyes. Fine. Fuck it. No worries. I’ll just stop mid torture to attend a lunch date with my needy brother. Getting in the car, slamming the door. “Fine. Let’s go. Not as if my time schedule matters to you.”

“You don’t have a time schedule.”

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