Broken Vow (Brutal Birthright, #5)

by Sophie Lark

I look her in the eyes and I say, very quietly, “I love you, Riona.”

For a moment, I feel a sick swoop of dread. I think I’ve scared her off again. Then I see the note on the pillow. Before I snatch it up, I tell myself, Trust her. Trust that she hasn’t run away. I read the first line in a glance: Don’t worry, Raylan, I haven’t run away. I smile to myself. I know Riona, and she knows me.

Dante is infuriatingly smug about the whole thing. He’s leaving on his honeymoon to Portugal with Simone and Henry, but he comes all the way over to my parents’ house so he can gloat.

“I’m the one who introduced you two,” he grins. “I know.’ “I had to do it twice. Because you hated Raylan the first time.” “I know.” I scowl at him. “You better name your firstborn after me for all the work I put in.” “I’m not having a firstborn, or any born. I still don’t want kids, that hasn’t changed.” “We’ll see,” he says with a maddening air of superiority. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t saddle them with the name Dante.” His jaw drops. “Dante has been popular for eight hundred years. It has history and gravitas.” “It’s not even a real name! It’s a nickname! You know Dante Alighieri’s real name was Durante.” Dante looks both shocked and horrified. I don’t think he knew that at all. “You’re lying.” “I never lie.”