Broken Vow (Brutal Birthright, #5)

by Sophie Lark

“Don’t crush the patient! You know I wasn’t even supposed to let you stay the night.” I say, “You’d need a whole lot more nurses to drag me out of here.” “We’ve got a nurse named Barney. He was a lineman for Penn State.” “Alright,” I grin, stepping back so the nurse can take Riona’s vitals. “Don’t sic Barney on me.”

We’re so happy to be together again that it’s all we talk about.

“Watch your alcohol intake over the next few months, and hopefully any damage will heal,” Dr. Weber says. “I assume that doesn’t include wine.” “It definitely includes wine.” “What about scotch?” He shakes his head at me, unamused. Raylan says, “I’ll make sure she behaves herself.” “You’re going to bodyguard me against liquor now?” I give him an incredulous look. “If that’s what I gotta do.” I fling my hair back over my shoulder. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Don’t you think you’re safe just ‘cause we’re in Chicago, darlin.’ I can find a riding crop if I need to.”

“I’m not going to make it so easy for you next time.” “Easy or rough . . . I’ll take what I want,” Raylan growls.

“It’s okay,” I tell him. “There’s nobody left to try to kill me.” “I’m not so sure about that,” he says, eyebrow cocked. “You had a pretty hefty list of enemies here, if you remember.” “I’m not worried. I’m getting pretty handy in a fight.” “Can’t argue with that,” Raylan says, giving me one last quick kiss.

Nessa’s waiting for me out front of the hospital in her army green Jeep. She witnesses the kiss and the prolonged conversation before Raylan and I part ways. I can feel her excitement as I slide into the passenger seat. “Was that just top-quality customer service?” she says. “Or does the bodyguard have serious feels?” “Please don’t call it ‘feels,’” I groan. “Riona Griffin, you better tell me EVERYTHING right now!” Nessa cries. “Alright,” I say. “But you have to promise not to freak out. It’s been a pretty . . . intense couple of weeks.” “I will not freak out,” Nessa promises, but she’s already bouncing in her seat, barely able to pay attention to the road as she pulls away from the curb. “Don’t crash the car either.” “I would never!” Nessa sniffs. “My driving has vastly improved-- I’ve only gotten two tickets so far this year.” “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”

“I can’t believe it! Is my big sister maybe, possibly, actually . . . in love?” I frown. “Did you miss the part where our future goals have us living five hundred miles apart?” “No,” Nessa says serenely. “I just don’t think that matters.” “How does it not matter?” “Because love finds a way!” she says. “Look at me and Miko. He HATED our family. And you all hated him.” “Well, he did abduct you and try to extort us . . . ” Nessa rolls her eyes. “And he framed Dante for murder . . . ” “Exactly!” she says cheerfully. “And look how well it all turned out! If Miko and I can get through that, I’m sure you and Raylan can figure out a way to make things work.”

Usually Nessa’s relentless optimism would annoy me. I guess it’s a sign of how desperate I am that today I find it comforting. I do want to find a way to be with Raylan. Without either of us losing the other things in our lives that matter to us.

“Oh my god!” Nessa says when she sees it. “I’ve never seen you look so . . . dangerous.” “Is it too much for a wedding?” “No! You have to buy it. It’s the best you’ve ever looked.”

“What did you get them?” she asks me. “It’s a sound wave of the first song they ever danced to. It’s printed in gold-leaf, and I had it framed.”

“Goddamn, woman…just when I think you couldn’t impress me any more than you already have, you step out of that car and blow my fucking mind.”

“You look stunning, moja mała baletnica.”

it all drifted away in those moments when I lay dying on the carpet. In those last few seconds before I drifted away, I didn’t feel anger or resentment. I thought to myself, “I’ve been loved.” My only regret was that I hadn’t shown that same love strongly enough in return.

“Simone,” he says. “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw your face. I know that will sound shallow since I’m talking to the most gorgeous woman in the world. But I promise you, in your face I saw your bravery, your intelligence, and your kindness. As soon as you spoke to me, it was like a door opened into your mind. I saw this whole other universe of creativity and cleverness. A way of looking at things that I’d never imagined. And I wanted to walk through that door. I wanted to live in your world. You made such an impact on me that I never forgot you. Through all the time we were apart, I thought of you constantly. I dreamed of you. I longed for you. To have you back in my arms brings me a joy that I can’t express. The reality of you is a hundred times better than my imagining.”

“Thank you, Simone, for coming back to me. Thank you for bringing our son. Thank you for raising him. Henry, you’re a good man already. I’m so proud of you.”

“I will love you every moment of my life,” Dante says. “I will cherish and protect you. Anything you want, I’ll get it for you. I’ll be your best friend and your ally. I’ll make your life better, always, and never worse.”

“Dante, you are everything to me,” she says. “My heart and my soul. My happiness and my safe haven. Life without you was lonely and bitter. The only thing that brought me joy was Henry, our son. He’s a piece of you and me, the best thing we ever did. I love him for himself, and I love him for how he reminds me of you.

“I promise to choose you for the rest of our lives. To choose you over fear or selfishness. Over ambition or other cares. I promise to never let you down again. To always be there for you. I promise to give you every bit of joy this life has to offer. You are the most incredible man I’ve ever known, and I promise to be the wife you deserve.

I’m realizing that I love Raylan. I truly, truly love him. And that terrifies me.

Simone’s words are like an arrow in my heart. I promise to choose you over fear or selfishness. Over ambition and other cares.

And I want that love. I want Raylan.

I think I might want him more than all the things I wanted before. More than my fears and, yes, even more than my ambitions. Does that make me weak and pathetic? Do I have to give up myself to have love?

She’s never been more beautiful. It’s funny—we were in a room full of gorgeous women, but I only had eyes for her. Riona has a fierceness that grabs me and holds me fast. I want to know what she’s thinking and feeling, always. She’s both blunt and a mystery. Strong and powerful, but also fragile.

“Say, ‘Please, Daddy.’”

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

“You want to come back home with me?” She looks at me, her green eyes bright and shining. “Yes,” she says simply.

I want to choose you, Raylan. I want to choose you over anything else.”

the happiest I’ve ever been was that week on the ranch with you and your family. It’s beautiful, it’s peaceful, and it feels like home. It's where I want to be, if it means I’ll be with you."

"I love you," I tell her again. "I really love you." "I know," she grins. "I love you, too."