Page 64 of Tarnished Vow

The longer I stared at the car, the more fear I had. What if she got in that car and I never saw her again?

“I’ll follow, do the honors of cutting him free for the widow.” Marcel pulled on the rope one more time, checking it was secure.

Zeke just stared at him. No emotion. No reaction.

I didn’t even blame my cousin. If it had been Madeline, and she was put in harm’s way. I’d do the same fucking thing. Though I would have made his death slower. I robbed Marcel of that. So, I knew this was his way of getting his revenge.

I gently touched her arm. She froze, but didn’t pull away. That was something.

“Madeli—"

“Don’t touch me.” she shoved my hand away and walked to the car.

CHAPTER 30

Madeline

Sitting on the stairs. The room blurred for a moment. Until I blinked. “I tried. I really tried.” I wiped my eyes again. “He just wouldn’t listen.”

My mom’s crying got louder, followed by long, drawn-out screams.

Uncle Zeke sat next to me. “Marco was a stubborn man, Maddy. It’s just who he was.”

Who he was.

I nodded, the room instantly blurry again.

The front door opened and closed. Followed by the voices of Uncle Cole and Uncle Felix. Immediately, Mom's crying got louder.

“Where is she!”

A rush of fear ran through me as I looked back at her. Standing at the top of the stairs with something in her hand.

“Dead. My husband isdeadbecause of you.”

I just managed to cover my head before she threw an ornament at me. The white porcelain shattering on the wooden stairs.

She isn’t rational. My hand was shaking as I grabbed the rail, pulling myself up. I had to give her space. I walked down therest of the stairs, but before I made it to the hallway, I heard her behind me.

“Disappointing, ungrateful bitch,” she threw a framed photo off the wall at me. “This is your fault for bringing that crazy fucking family into our lives!” I pushed back against the wall as she threw one framed photo after another onto the ground in front of me. Glass shattered everywhere.

“I’m sorr?—”

She grabbed my hair. “Look at them, fucking look at them!” shoving my face against the glass frame, “Nathanial. Dead. Diana. Dead.My husband. Dead.”

“I’m...I’m?—”

“Get out of my house.” I stumbled, as she shoved me, “Get out ofmy fucking house!”

I nodded, wiping my eyes and walking over the broken glass. Before I could get the keys off the table, she grabbed them.

“You’re no fucking daughter of mine. Understand. I have no children!”

Shaking, I nodded. Fuck it. I would walk. Where I would go, I had no idea. I opened the front door, only for her to slam it shut before I could step out.

“Selfish bitch. A selfish fucking bitch. So desperate for any fucking attention.”

“I’m sorry,I’m?—”

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