Page 62 of Vows of Ruin

Max nods. “We’ll cover whatever she needs. Money, clothes, supplies, therapy—everything. These girls don’t owe a single thing.”

“I’ll call her back and let her know,” Wrecker says, then chuckles. “You heard her cuss me out in Italian. Said we should’ve warned her sooner, then added that she’ll cook for them until they’re too fat to run off.”

Torque laughs low. “I love her.”

“Everyone does. Especially when she yells at you in three languages.”

Wrecker turns forward again, phone resting in his lap. He switches to speaker and redials. A moment later, his aunt answers again in a warm but sharp voice. What follows is a rapid exchange in Italian, her voice sharp, commanding, and affectionate all at once.

Wrecker is nodding along, “Porta a casa sane e salve quelle ragazze, o ti scuoio io personalmente.” Bring those girls home safe, or I’ll skin you myself.

Wrecker clears his throat, then shifts to Italian, the accent warmer than I’ve ever heard from him: “Capito, zia. Non ti faro vergognare.” Understood, Auntie. I won’t shame you.

Even without understanding the language, I know exactly what she’s saying.

I’ve got them. Come safely. I’ll be ready.

Wrenley shifts beside me. Her fingers thread through mine, warm and strong. I glance down at her. She’s staring ahead, jaw tight, but when she squeezes my hand and reaches for Max’s with the other, I know something’s coming.

“If anything happens to me,” She begins, voice quiet but steady, “You finish this. Both of you. You burn it all down.”

Max tenses beside her. “Sparrow—”

My instinct is kicking in. “No,” I cut in. “Don’t say that. Nothing’s happening to you.”

“I know,” she says, glancing at me. Her eyes are calm, clearer than they’ve been in days. “But I made Max promise me this once before, and I need to say it. I trust both of you with everything, including this. Promise me.”

Max’s voice is rough when he says, “Anything for you, Sparrow.”

I exhale slowly, like the air’s been punched out of me. “You don’t get to leave me,” I say, but I squeeze her hand back. “But yeah… if it came to it… I’d finish it.”

She leans in, kissing Max first, slow and deep. Then she turns to me and presses her lips to mine. There’s nothing rushed about it. It’s not frantic or desperate. It’s a promise sealed in breath.

Torque slows the SUV as we reach the mark, two blocks from the House of Silk. One of our recon guys signals from a nearby alley. It’s time.

Before anyone opens a door, Wrenley turns to each of us.

“I love you all,” she says, eyes locking on the four of us.

“I love you more,” Max answers.

“Always have,” I say.

“I swear to God,” Wrecker mutters from the front. “You’re turning us all soft.”

“I love you too, Wren,” Torque adds with a smirk, pulling the SUV into the alleyway.

Wrecker turns, knowing Wrenley won’t let him leave without saying it. “This is why I don’t say it often. But yeah… me too, Queen.”

The SUV doors pop open one by one.

The silence that follows is the calm before everything else. Because once we move, it’s all fire. I don’t know if any of us will come out of this the same.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Wrenley

The air outside the House of Silk is thick and heavy, damp with the scent of mildew and rot. Night’s settled in full, casting long shadows across the abandoned warehouse compound. We’re crouched just beyond the tree line, hidden in the dark. My heartbeat thrums steady beneath my ribs, not with fear, but focus.