Page 146 of Poison Vows

Before long, we’re down the end of a hallway and Emmett is punching in a code on a panel beside the door. The door clicks open and we enter, only to find another security panel.

He bends to have his retina scanned, then he presses his pinkie finger with the ring his grandfather just gave him, and the system welcomes him as the Don.

The double doors open and then he’s leading me down another long hallway.

We’re silent all the way.

Me in my wedding dress stained with bloody and him with his bloody white shirt that showcases his broad shoulders, upper body, and the black suit pants. He discarded his jacket when we left the garden.

I can feel Emmett’s silent rage, but he doesn’t walk too fast. Instead, he matches my pace, with my hand still trapped in his.

Our footsteps echo around us, due to the large, quiet rooms we are passing, but none of that fazes the big, angry brute leading me to God only knows where, until he snaps.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” he suddenly demands, stopping in the middle of the hallway, his voice hard and strained.

“Is there anything to say?” I mutter and move past him.

“Where are you going?”

“Not that it’s any of your damn business, but first I’m going to get out of this dress, toss it into the fire, and then I’m going home to find my brother and protect my grandmother.”

“What?” Emmett snaps angrily. I almost wince when he tightens his hold on my hand, but I don’t dare give him the satisfaction.

“Let go.”

“You’re not leaving.”

“Oh, but I can, and I am! You don’t get to tell me what to do!”

“Angel, this isn’t up for debate or your petulant rebellion,” he says, pulling me flush against him. “You can’t leave me.”

We glare at each other. I’m staring at a man I don’t even know anymore and I hate him!

“You really do have a mental disorder,” I seethe. “One moment you push me into the arms of your rival, then you suddenly disappear only to come back and do this?”

“Do what?” he demands in a low, chilly voice. “Say it out loud!”

I clamp my jaw shut. He won’t get the satisfaction out of me.

“Why did you marry me?” I demand.

Emmett’s jaw clenches and unclenches, but he doesn’t say anything. I roll my eyes and let out a low, humorless chuckle.

“So that’s how it is?” I mock. “You wanted to put on a show? Or maybe you saw Vaughn’s ability about to overtake your own and became jealous?”

Emmett’s nostrils flare. “Don’t speak on what you don’t know.”

I chuckle again. “You might be able to get one up on everyone in this world but, baby,” I say, taking another step closer to him. I place my hands on his shoulders so I can stand on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear, “You don’t fool me.”

Emmett tenses under my touch.

His muscles contract.

His breathing becomes rapid.

And his sharp, dark eyes stare at me intensely.

“How does it feel?”

---