Page 26 of Lethal Vows

“Love is dumb. It will get you killed.”

“So what is it with Rya, then?”

I don’t hesitate when I answer, “Obsession.” I smile. I wonder if I fucked her enough, if she would be out of my system or stuck there for life.

I’d been thinking about her all day in those tight, lacy red pieces, and it had driven me half mad.

I guess there is only one way to find out.

CHAPTER14

Rya

At first, I think I’m seeing things because not only is Angel here, but she is heavily pregnant. I am shocked. Knowing about a heavily pregnant Angel and seeing a heavily pregnant Angel are two different things.

Her arms automatically go around me, and she pulls me from my chair. I awkwardly hug her back, the height difference obvious, especially when I’m in my four-inch heels. She doesn’t say anything as we hug, but I can feel her crying as she holds me. I rub her back and wait for her to calm down, and when I think she’s finally about to let go, she squeezes me a little bit tighter, her round belly pushing against me.

Eventually, she starts to calm down.

Pulling back, I look down at her.

“You’re here.” I lift my hand and wipe away her tears. She smiles and swipes at both eyes with her hands, smudging her mascara.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry. I tried to come see you so many times.”

“It’s okay, you’re here now. I mean, how did you know I was here, though?” I ask, confused. I never told anyone I was coming here, yet she walked in like she knew I would be there. We’d been trying to organise a catch-up time but everything had fallen through so far this week.

“Him,” she says and throws her thumb over her shoulder. I look up just in time to see the door open, and Crue walk in. People stare, then just as quickly, they avert their gazes. I’m here with a few work colleagues who were at my party that night. Which means they would have seen him and what he did. Some start to move away while I remain standing in place as he walks closer.Shit, this is bad.Seeing us together once could be considered a coincidence but seeing us together twice is problematic.

Crue looks to the man standing to my left. Matthew, who has worked on a few cases with me.

“You know who I am?” Crue asks, to which Matthew nods his head. Crue glances behind me to where a few other colleagues are. “You all know who I am?”

“Yes,” they say in eerie unison.

Does he think he’s God?

“Good. I’m pleased to hear you all kept your mouth shut.” He motions to the bartender. “A round for the bar.” I turn to see everyone wearing wary expressions, their heads cocked to the side trying to listen in or their eyes narrowed as if in confusion. How do I take charge of this situation? Do I tell him to leave? Or do I pretend I don’t know him? But by the way they’re curiously observing him, it’s obvious everyone is too scared to ever speak against him in any way. Some great law firm we are. When I shift my gaze back to the spot where Angel was standing, she’s gone and has been replaced by the one person who seems to epically piss me off simply by existing.

“We have to talk,” he demands.

“No, we don’t.” I look past him to see Angel hugging Dominic, his hand immediately gravitating to her stomach.

“Yes, we do. I have your ring.”

I am shocked when he pulls out a blue box and flicks it open. I quickly reach over and slam it shut. “You so better not be giving me a fucking ring.”

“Anyone told you before that you have a dirty mouth?”

“Anyone told you before that you are an asshole who thinks he can get everything he wants?”

He smirks before leaning in to whisper, “I don’tthinkI can. IknowI can.”

“You can’t have me,” I tell him as I grab my bag from the stool and step around him.

He doesn’t reach out to grab me.Well, at least that’s progress.

Fuck this! I was about to leave anyway. I down the last of my drink and make my way to Angel, who is still with Dominic.

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