Page 34 of Tarnished Vow

I looked back at the night sky. The stars were so much brighter, away from the city.

“Are you cold?” He asked, running his hand along my thigh. “You feel cold.”

“I’m fine.”

For four years, I had known him, and I still didn’t understand why he wanted to touch me. It was probably pathetic how much I loved it.

“I’ve missed this.” I held his hand to my chest, laying back into him.

“My life’s a lot harder to live without you in it.” He moved my hair back to the other side. “I want to ask you something. Promise me you won’t make a decision tonight, and you’ll think about it?”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me back to him tighter.

“Okay,”

“Will you consider letting me spend the rest of my life with you?” He kissed the side of my head, “Please Madeline. Would you consider marrying me?”

My heart beats faster, drowning out every other sound.

“Don’t answer me now, just think about it?”

Resting back against him, I nodded.

Waking up the next morning, Vince had left to go handle something in town. By the amount of swearing and yelling while he was on the phone, I could bet his shirt would be missing when he got back.

His question from last night had been on repeat, consuming my mind.

I had made it halfway to Nikolais before I regretted not driving to his house.

Sometimes I forget just how far away all the houses are from each other. And it wasn’t until he let me in, did I even consider he mightn’t have been home.

“Are you sure you aren’t busy Nik?” I asked again, following behind him into the open lounge.

I was just hoping he would say yes so I could get out of asking.

“For you Maddy, I always have time.” He smiled, “We’ve missed you.”

That was sweet. Though, Nikolai always knows what to say.

“Are you okay?” he stared at my bruised face.

I couldn’t stop the smile. “Yeah, I am.” I looked at a large mountain of paperwork beside the fire. “What is all this?”

“Evidence that someone thought to keep on us.”

Because that worked out well for everyone else that turned on the Crows. Going up against a generational global conglomerate like theirs is a death wish.

He sighed, tossing more paperwork in the fire. “Did Vince talk to you yesterday?”

My stomach tightened. So, it was an official merger. That answered the question on if he was serious.

Sighing, I nodded, watching the fire. “He told me to think about it.” I handed Nik another stack of paper. “But I’m not sure if it is fair to him.”

“Have you ever seen a glass shatter? All the small pieces?”

I frowned. What an odd question. “Yes, why?”

“That’s Vince, after our grandfather was finished with him.” He looked away from me. “Life has only been unfair to him. I’d forgotten how he could get before you. The last few months, was a refreshing reminder.”

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