Page 43 of Wicked Oath
James grips my hands in his. “I’m not like your brother. I don’t want revenge. I want power. And I’m doing that by allying with your dad. I only have good intentions, Olivia. Trust me.”
I sigh. “I do trust you, James. I just wish you’d mentioned this sooner. I’ll have to ask my dad about this and see what he says.”
“No!”
I jerk back, surprised at his loud voice.
James shakes his head and smiles slightly. “I mean, it might not be the best idea to mention this to your dad. I don’t even think he knows he hurt my father. We wouldn’t want to do anything that could hurt our families’ alliance, now, would we?”
“True. I guess I don’t need to mention it to him, not if it’s going to cause more drama. If what you’re telling me is the truth, then I believe you.”
James lets out a breath. “It is.”
I lean toward him. “Is that what you’ve been worried about me finding out? James, you know you can tell me anything.”
He doesn’t look away from my eyes as he responds. “I know. I’m sorry.”
A loud clatter makes us break apart. Fiona has stood up and knocked over a glass. “Sorry,” she mutters, swaying on her feet.
James gets up. “Mom, let’s get you back to bed. I think we should call an end to this meetup.” He glances at me, and I nod, letting him know it’s ok.
I watch James lead his mom out of the kitchen as I sit by myself, thinking over everything I just learned. So my dad hurt his dad by hurting him out of money. My dad has been nothing but kind to me, but I don’t really know him as a mafia boss. I don’t know the things he’s done over the years.
It hurts that James wouldn’t confide in me. I can’t help but wonder if James intends to get revenge, even though he told me he’s not. That all he wants is to be with me and grow both our families through our marriage alliance. Would James lie to my face? God, I hope not.
I’m so caught up in my lust fog for him that I’ve let some things slide, like his inability to talk about himself. That needs to change. No more secrets.
The only way I’ll ever be able to fall in love with James fully is if I know everything about him. And it’s scary because I’m starting to believe I’m already falling for him.
And what kind of fool falls for a man who’s keeping secrets?
* * *
As James drives us home,we’re both silent, neither wanting to bring up the information that came to light.
I hope to discuss it more when we’re at the house, but James gets a call from my dad to come into work, so he leaves, pecking me on the lips before he’s out the door. I just don’t want this new information to cause a rift between us.
I start walking up the stairs when I hear the door open. “Did you forget something?” I turn around, but to my surprise, it’s not my husband.
It’s the man with the scar.
He’s in the doorway, with the door swinging lazily open as he looks at me. And it’s not a kind look. His eyes are furrowed, making his scar stand out harshly.
“Uh, James just left,” I tell him, my voice squeaking.
“I’m not here for James.”
And with those words, everything in me tells me to run. I bolt up the stairs as I hear him follow behind me, his footsteps across the foyer and pounding on the steps.
I still have my purse over my shoulder, and I reach my hand into it to grab my phone. I can hear my pursuer getting closer. My legs burn as I run faster until I reach my bedroom and slam the door shut behind me, locking it. I scream when he bangs on the door and turns the knob. That lock won’t hold him for long.
I pull out my phone and dial James’s number. He doesn’t answer. Crap. He’s probably still driving and can’t answer.
“James, some man with a scar showed up,” I say when his phone beeps to leave a message. “He’s trying to get me. I don’t know why. Please hurry home.”
Then, before I get the chance to call my dad or the police, he bursts into the room, using his brute strength to bust the door open.
He charges for me. All of James’s lessons from the ring enter my mind. In case I’m ever in trouble, I need to fight. When the man reaches his arms out to me, I practice one of the punches James showed me.
