Page 5 of Deceptive Vows
He smirked, but there was no humor in it. “How about you? I thought you and Remy had something going.”
I scoffed. “He was fun. That’s all it was. I have fun, and I move on.”
Lex came to a stop and turned to face me. The sudden shift caught me off guard.
“You have so much to offer. Despite your cobra-like exterior, I know you’re really sweet and loving. Loyal. Just because life wasn’t easy?—”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
He caught my wrist as I tried to pull away.
“Your childhood was hard. You saw men do things no little girl should’ve ever seen. But all this ‘fun’ you keep chasing? A soul needs a soul, Thea. Someone to fill your cup when it’s empty.”
Swallowing hard, I placed my hand on his chest. “Lex, I appreciate you thinking so highly of me, but we bothknow I’m…”What was I?Complicated. Dangerous. Tired. “I’m fine. I have a purpose, and I’m satisfied with where I am. I made a promise to Ma. And I’m going to keep it.”
“Mom would’ve wanted you happy too. She loved you so much.”
My brothers called her Mom. I called her Ma. She never wanted me to forget my biological mother—the woman who gave me life, and gave my Ma her second daughter.
She loved me. Fiercely and wonderfully.
I loved my biological mother, but Ma was the best mom I could have ever had.
“I am. I promise. If I’m not happy, I’ll let you know.”
Most people knew I wasn’t big on hugs. My brothers never cared. If I were honest, I liked that they didn’t. It reminded me I wasn’t alone.
Lex wrapped his arms around me. “Let me drive you home, okay?” He leaned back. “Marco probably already knows what happened at the Dead Shift. I know you can take care of yourself, but I’d sleep better knowing you got home safe.”
“If you insist.” My feet were overdue for a break from my Cavallis anyway.
A half block later, we reached Lex’s sleek black Audi A8. He opened the door for me.
“Ever the gentleman,” I teased, sliding into the seat.
“It’s not chivalry when it’s your sister,” he said with a grin, shutting the door before jogging to the driver’s side.
As the engine purred to life, I watched the city blur by—neon lights fading into dawn, the streets beginning to stir.
“You ever think about taking a break from all this? The danger, the blood.” Lex’s voice broke the quiet. “Finding a beach somewhere and forgetting the world exists for a while?”
“To sunbathe?” I crossed my arms and leaned my head back. “We don’t get to forget the world, Lex. That’s not in the cards for people like us. You know that.”
He let out a snort, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
A faint grin pulled at my mouth. “I prefer… unshakable.”
He chuckled but didn’t push the conversation further. It was the kind of quiet that only exists between family, where words become unnecessary.
When we reached my house in Edgewood, he pulled into the drive but left theengine running. Ever the protective older brother, he walked me to the door.
We moved together up the stone path, shoulders nearly brushing. Lex matched his longer stride to mine—a childhood habit he’d never outgrown. Gravel crunched underfoot, a quiet warning to the sleeping street. His gaze swept the shadows, always alert. I pretended to find it annoying. Truth was, I depended on it.
One of my favorite parts of this house was the porch facing the water. We paused there. Rust, orange, and violet streaked the horizon, sunlight just beginning to claw its way through the clouds.
My mom would’ve loved this view.
Fifteen minutes from the beach.
