Page 18 of Vow of Obsession

“We’ve only just started.” I grab him by the hair and yank backwards, taking the chair with it so it's on two legs, and pull them both across the room. He screams the whole way.

“I’m sorry.” He sobs.

“Did she cry? Plead?” He doesn’t respond, but I’m not really wanting an answer. “Tape,” I tell Ronan. He grabs the duct tape off the table, tossing it to me. I pull a piece off and slap it across his mouth. I can’t listen to his high-pitched cries.

“Since we’re all here, should we talk about why our brother is in such a pissy mood lately?” Z asks, putting his hands behind his head, getting comfortable. "And don't say it's about getting married. It's about who should not be named."

"You mean the one we never talk about." All my attention swings back to my brothers. I stare at them for a long second, neither of them saying another word.

“You know.”

“I don’t miss much.” Ronan shrugs.

“I know everything.” Z wiggles his brows. He is a smart little shit, but it’s more tech-related. Z leans forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “The thing I’m missing is why are you avoiding the girl? You can have her now. I mean, you always could have, but you’re not all right in the head.” He taps the side of his temple.

“You moved her in,” Ronan points out.

The fucker behind me makes another sound. I turn back around and hit him hard enough to knock him out for a few minutes.

“And I put a target right on her head. I just didn’t know it would be my own fucking father that would bring it to the light. I need to keep her safe.”

“Why is that, War?” Z leans back in his chair again. “Why do you need to keep her so safe? She was fine out there in the world.”

“No, she wasn’t!” I bark.

“Why not?” Z pushes.

“IfIlatched on to her, someone who doesn't tend to be drawn to females, sexual or otherwise, then anyone else with eyes would too. She’s not safe wandering around.” It sounds logical in my head, but as I speak the words, I can hear they are crazy. "I'm not rational when it comes to her, and I have no fucking clue what I'm doing."

"All right then." Z comes to his feet. "Why don't you tell us what you do and want to do to her?"

"Watch it." I take a step toward my brother.

"Mind out of the gutter." Z shakes his head at Ronan. "I was thinking more along the lines of jewelry or a romantic date." Ronan cracks a partial smile.

"How about you finish with this guy?" Ronan nods to the knocked-out man. "Then we'll give you dating tips."

"You two have dating tips?" I glance between the two of them. Z is married to his computer, and I'm not sure what the fuck Ronan does in his free time, but it's not romantic.

"We got Google," Z says, like we're the dumbest shits in the world.

"You do realize I get married tomorrow," I remind them both. We're miles past dating.

"Then finish with him already. Place fucking stinks."

Z's not wrong. This place fucking stinks and tastes like shit. Everything does when you don't get to kiss and smell the fresh flowers and sunshine that is my soon-to-be wife.

Without her, everything is starting to be pointless anymore.

Chapter Eleven

TOVA

In all my life, I have never snuck out before. I’m not really sure this would count because I’m an adult who is getting married tomorrow. It’s that I don’t want to explain anything to anyone right now. Except my best friend, but she’s coming with me. I want to be able to talk freely and not worry that my parents might overhear us.

I slide the window open before dragging my vanity chair over to it to stand on. I flip off my bedroom light and grab my headphones. I’m halfway out the window when a vibration scares me, making me tumble right out the window and onto the ground.

Thankfully, it’s not a far fall at all, and my phone lands right next to me, still vibrating with the call that had spooked me. I grab it off the ground, sitting up. Not sure how, but my glasses remained on my face.

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