Page 68 of Poison Vows

I watch the startled look flash in his eyes. Eyes that have zero resemblance to his son.

“Alessio, I understand you and my son are in this slight rival, but you’re mature enough to know what must happen will always happen, right?” Emilio says stiffly.

“Ah, so you’re now acknowledging Vaughn as your son? I hadn’t received the news yet, forgive my ignorance.”

I notice the moment he tenses, his eyes narrowing before he forces himself to remain calm.Yes, Uncle. I know your dirty-ass secrets.

Meanwhile, Vaughn looks straight at me.

“Cousin, I’d like a word.”

“Is it important enough to risk your life?” I question calmly.

Vaughn’s gaze hardens, but he doesn’t back away.

Good. I’ve been itching to break a few bones.

“I believe so,” he says sternly, then he says something to Emilio who walks away leaving Vaughn and me in the room glaring at each other.

“I met Ivy this afternoon,” he starts. I stare at him. “She looked shaken up and not herself.”

I almost scoff. How does this asshat even know when Angel is herself and when she’s not?

“So?”

“I’ve only met and talked to her a few times,” Vaughn says as he walks toward me. “She’s interesting and she has captivated my attention.”

I scoff. Loudly.

“And I intend to win her affection,” he announces clearly.

For a moment, I almost admire him for his audacity to spew such ridiculous words to my face, but the person he’s talking about is no one ordinary.

It’s Angel.My Angel!

The sweet girl I grew up with… and this fuckhead thinks he’s got a chance at winning her affection?

“Is that so?” I say mockingly. “And you’re telling me this because…”

“Because I know you’re unfit to be with her. You can’t protect her.”

The hell?

Vaughn smirks. “Unlike my father, I don’t want to see you crash and burn, so I’m going to offer you this one chance right now to back off.”

I almost reel back as I look at this gnat of an idiot.

“Ishould back off?” I ask softly, which makes Vaughn’s smirk disappear instantly.

“You and I both know that when Grandfather finds out about you, he’ll automatically disqualify you, so do you really have a choice?”

Well, I’ll be damned!

This idiot is actually a very confident idiot!

“Isn’t it better to walk off with your dignity intact than to be thrown out of the Family with your so-called reputation in tatters?” Vaughn goes on. “As for Ivy, you don’t want her, but I do. I find her interesting. Not to mention how fucking gorgeous she is.”

A fire ignites in my veins.

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