Page 62 of Poison Vows

I stop in my tracks and look at him.

“Is it that deep?” I choke, thinking about my brother and Grammy.

Vaughn chuckles again, the rich baritone of his voice warming up the somewhat chilly breeze blowing in the garden. I almost smile.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” he says jokingly when we resume walking down the path across the well-maintained backyard. “We don’t take revenge lightly. It’s not a chore to tick off the to-do list. It’s more likelex talionisbut on steroids.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up on end at the sinister feeling around Vaughn’s meaning.

“Lex talionis… the law of retaliation,” I mumble.

“You’ve heard of it?” Vaughn’s eyebrow rises just slightly, looking impressed.

“I read.” And I have a brother who does really impressive dark ops shit, but no one needs to know that.

“A bookworm, huh?” he says with a smile. “But back to this. Because it’s retaliation or retribution, however you want to frame it, and because we are the Easton Family, we never do it as other people think.”

“For example?” I ask, digging for more information.

Grammy’s and Samuel’s lives are at stake and I won’t let them end up like Gramps.

I’m going to equip myself with the armor I need to pierce Emmett’s seemingly impenetrable shields.

“In as much as revenge needs to be both unforgettable and profound, its uniqueness mean it won’t ever match the level of the offense,” Vaughn explains. “While tooth for tooth is equal, we go for the whole head and that makes it a serious matter.”

Another shiver goes down my spine.

As Vaughn was talking, the cheery note that was in his voice before completely dissolves, leaving only a cold, detached tone that I’m sure is his default.

Clearly, he’s completely immersed in this dark, underbelly world.

While Vaughn is slightly lighter, a bit animated, and intentionally puts in an effort to make someone like me feel more at ease, the boy with the cold, steely green eyes that I grew up with doesn’t bother lowering himself like that.

With Emmett, what you see is what you get… that is, of course, when he wants you to be near him.

“So what exactly happened to that guy?” I ask hesitantly. I don’t want to know but I really should know these things from now on, as I try to find a way out of all this.

“His vermin family was dealt with.”

I don’t want to know but I know if I don’t ask, I’ll always wonder. “How?”

“Well, like I said, it’s been a very long time since revenge has been declared in the Family.” Vaughn stops walking and turns to look at me fully, his gaze full of meaning. “Not to mention, the order came with a time limit of five hours.”

“Is that normal?”

“No,” Vaughn says unhappily. “It’s a feat that should be almost impossible and unheard of. Usually, my cousin takes histime to break his enemies apart, but this time, he moved swiftly and absolutely.”

For me? I highly doubt that, but I don’t say that to Vaughn.

“That dickhead’s father was some oil tycoon connected to a powerful syndicate. His father had an even bigger file of crimes and corruption, evil beyond what you’d imagine. With the five-hour blackout, the entire Outfit locked in and handled that one singular order.”

“So… he’s… dead?” I croak. “The father, I mean.”

“My cousin usually doesn’t bother letting me know these things, but for some reason, he made sure I was made aware and involved in every step this time.” I can hear the notes of suspicion in Vaughn’s voice as he explains. “So, as of six-thirty this morning, all of that bastard’s father’s businesses, ventures, partnerships have been taken over by the Family, and his life, well, it must be nonexistent at this time.”

I blink several times. “At six this morning?”

“Yes.”

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