Page 12 of Vows of Silence

Her little friendship with Luca was amusing. She could keep that if she wanted, as well. Though I doubt she’d want to when she learned the truth.

And even though the pair of them had gone… further than planned, I wasn’t mad about it.

I wasn’t exactly happy. Especially when I heard her moan his name.Especially when I saw the things she trusted Luca with. The flushed cheeks. The breathless smiles.

Especially when she gave Luca parts of herself that belonged to me.

I’d heard her desires. The hidden, darkest part of her. The side that should have been reserved for me.

But I understood her need for comfort. For affection. Lord knows she wouldn’t be receiving that once she was mine.

However, Luca’s time was coming to an end because my patience was reaching its limit.

It was time to introduce my little bird to her new home.

Chapter 5

The Flame

“Answer the phone, you son of a bitch!” I hissed, pressing dial one more time.

When had Luca not answered me for this long? Never, that’s when! Usually, I barely had time to listen to the dial tone before he was picking the phone up. But tonight of all nights he goes silent? I hardly fucking think so!

Just when I was about to give up and launch my phone at the wall, the call connected, and a cheerful, “Little ember,” filled my ears.

“Don’t you ‘little ember’ me! What the fuck happened tonight?”

“Calm—”

“Do not tell me to calm down. Of all the things to say right now, I can assure you that is the worst of all the choices.”

His soft chuckle teased my senses. “What has you so worked up?”

His chuckle had the desired effect, as did his calm, soothing voice. I felt my shoulders deflate, the tension melting out of my body. I sank down into my fluffy egg chair by the window, curling my legs beneath me.

“There we go,” he said softly. “Get comfortable and talk to me.”

“It’s really freaky how you’re always watching me, did you know that?”

“It’s comforting,” he corrected. “What is it about tonight that has you this worried?”

“How can you ask me that? I know you heard every word said—”

“I did,” he interrupted without a shred of shame.

“So how can you possibly ask me what’s wrong, when clearly it’s everything.”

“You always suspected your dad was involved in something bigger.”

“Yeah, and you always went along with my suspicions. But why am I now getting the impression that you weren’t just suspicious, too? You outright knew, didn’t you?”

“Little ember, with the level of surveillance I have on you, I think it would be impossible for me not to know, don’t you?” he asked calmly, as though this was the most natural thing in the world.

“Why haven’t you told me? What exactly is he involved in?”

“Would you believe me if I told you?”

“Jesus, it’s that bad?” I asked, my mind immediately assuming the worst.