Page 61 of Tarnished Vow

“I’m sorry.” I sat up, calling Nate back. To have this amount of miss calls from every one of them. That wasn’t normal.

“Where the fuck have you been?”

“Um. Uncle Cole said you were taking over, so I um,” I moved away from the couch to make sure Vince didn’t hear our conversation. He barely tolerated my family at the best of times. “I was asleep. Is everything okay?”

“I found out who took our guns.”

“Really, who?”

“Marcel Crow. Making some fucking point about business, we apparently costed him.”

“Oh.” I nervously glanced at Vince before walking into the kitchen. “Well, I guess we can organize a sit down.”

“No. Fuck that. He has wasted my time. Costed us money. So, I made my own fucking point.”

The one time I don’t answer my phone. “Nate. Please tell me you haven’t already reacted?”

“They costed us three shipments. What kind of man does it make me look like if I let that go unanswered?”

“A man that doesn’t let his ego blind his decisions.” Holding the side of my head, “What did you do?”

“I blew up their shipment containers. Apparently, Marcel and his wife were on the property at the time?—”

“Are they okay? Please tell me you didn’t kill one of them?” I moved further through the house, trying to put as much distance between Vince and I. “Please tell me that they are okay?”

“Do you remember what family you belong to? I’m starting to think you’re on their side.”

“There are no sides.” Nervously I looked around the corner. “Answer my question, please.”

“You know this whole thing started because of you.”

I rolled my eyes. I refused to entertain this theory again. “Nathanial. Answer my question.”

“You’ll be happy to know. They are both alive. But his wife did go into early labor.”

For a moment, it felt as if the whole room had started moving. “Is she okay? What about the baby?”

“How the fuck am I supposed to know, and I don’t care.”

“You need to care.” I glanced down the hall. “Their grandfather is a fucking psychopath. If something has happened to his first great grandchild, he will lose it.”

A long silence followed.

“Nate, you need to find out if they are okay.”

“I already told you. I don’t care. If you’re really that concerned about his great grandchildren. Then you can get on your back and give him one. Because your loyalty right now. Is really fucking clear to me.”

He ended the call. Of all nights for my cousin to get blinded by his own pride. I tied my hair up, walking back down to the lounge.

“I have to go.”

Vince was still sitting on the couch. “What a fucking surprise.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Madeline. I’m over this. I am over them always calling you and expecting you to clean up?—”

“It’s my job!” I threw my hands up. “And it’s my family. You never hear me complaining about yours.”

---