Page 66 of Poison Vows

I look up at his oh-so handsome face, and I can’t help but smile for real this time.

“AndI’m going to be very honest with you. I’m not in the frame of heart or mind to find something in me to return your sincerity.”

I expect him to be disappointed but instead, his smile widens, his dark eyes looking like they have stars in them.

“Ivy, you don’t have to do anything or work to reciprocate my intention,” he says as if amused by my silliness. “These next two weeks, I’ll win you over! I’ll heal your heartbreak!”

And there it is! Confirmation of my suspicion that Vaughn does know.

“What?”

Vaughn only smiles slightly. “It’s hard not to notice when those eyes show annals of history between you and my cousin. Everything you feel for him is so clearly displayed in your eyes whenever he’s mentioned.”

I gasp, like I’ve just been sucker punched.

“That’s an exaggeration,” I mutter, feeling awkward once again.

“Maybe, but I do notice things.”

I chuckle humorlessly, feeling embarrassed. “Then aren’t you worried that I’ll accept your cousin’s advances?”

“Not really.”

“Confident much?”

“I just have a hunch about the kind of person you are.” He smirks. “Which brings me to a decision I made that won’t be changed in this lifetime.”

“What decision?” I ask hesitantly.

Vaughn looks down at me, maintaining some serious eye contact.

All the Easton kids I’ve met so far have the same resilience of steel, natural confidence, and major aura, but that still does not prepare me for the brazen words Vaughn says next.

“Ivy, use me.”

“What?” I screech, stepping back from him.

What did he just say?

“You heard me. Use me,” Vaughn says. “I don’t know what you want to do or why, and I don’t need to know. I’m offering myself, my resources, and everything in my power to you. Use me as a knife, a shield, a canon. Do whatever you want to do, what youneedto do, through me.”

It’s as if the entire ground is shaking. I don’t even know what to say.

“It doesn’t matter what. Even if it’s to make my cousin suffer, I’ll help.”

“Can you make your cousin suffer?” I question seriously.

“Just because no one has dared to in the past, doesn’t mean this time is the same.” A hard glint flashes in his eyes as he speaks. “My cousin has lost favor with Grandfather. He’s isolated within the core of the Family. His day has come.”

My heart kicks and thunders in my chest with a hard beat that almost takes my breath away.

What does that even mean that his day has come?

“So you don’t have to worry about retaliation. I’ll make sure it never happens, so from now on, I’m yours to use.”

All I can do as I stare at Vaughn as the blood in my veins starts a riot.

I think my jaw is on the ground and at any second, a violent wind is going to sweep the soul that just left my body away to Antarctica or something.

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