Page 14 of Temporary Vows

What the hell am I going to do?

Damn it. I’ve been asking myself that same fucking question since this nightmare began. And still no answers.

Every day is worse than the last. More terrifying. More soul-crushing.

I scrub at my face with the heel of my hand, annoyed at myself for falling apart like this. Crying won’t fix anything. It never does.

Dragging in a sharp breath, I push off the wall and straighten.

Calm. That’s what I need. To steady myself, if only to think clearly and focus.

I reach for the light switch. It clicks, and the overhead bulb flickers once before buzzing to life.

I turn to head down to the bathroom but stop cold when I see the man from this morning sitting across from me in the armchair.

My heart bottoms out, plummeting through the earth when he smiles.

Chapter 4

Elodie

Oh my God.

He’s here. In my home.

The scar-faced man ishere,sitting in my chair, looking relaxed and patient. And like he’s been there awhile.

God in heaven, what am I going to do?

I can’t even run.

My breath catches painfully in my throat, and everything inside me stops as though someone switched off all my organs and my ability to breathe.

The man doesn’t say anything. He just smiles, those dark eyes assessing, taking me in from the tear-streaked face to my trembling hands like he’s cataloging damage.

“Evening, Elodie,” he finally speaks, his South Boston accent unmistakable. I hate the nonchalance in his tone.

I hate it even more that I’m a terrified mess seconds away from falling apart.

“What are you doing in my home?” I grate out.

His smile widens, and he looks scarier. “Sorry, dear girl, that is the wrong question to ask a guy like me.”

“This is breaking and entering.” How foolish of me. This man looks like he’s been in prison a few times for far worse things.

He laughs with a cool, cruel edge. “I’m going to cut you some slack. You seem like a nice girl. Naïve but nice. If you weren’t nice, I would have instructed Benny here to cut out your tongue.” He gestures to the archway, and a hulking man steps into view—built like the Hulk, with a presence that eats the room alive.

My heart nearly gives out. How could I have been in here with not just one but thetwoof them and not noticed? And they saw me crying.

My tears become the least of my worries when Benny steps closer and pulls a knife from his back pocket.

“Please.” I hold up my hands as if that can protect me. I keep my eyes on Benny and that knife. Terrified, I glance at the man in the chair as he gets up and leans against the wall.

“We’ve given you enough time to pay the loan. On top of that, you’ve been very ungrateful.”

I shake my head violently. “No. No, I haven’t been.”

“Well, Elodie… you haven’t taken any of Marcus’ calls. Haven’t seen you in the office, either. What are we supposed to think?”