A Twisted Arrangement (Twisted Vows, #2)

by Jessa Wilder

You might say my obsession has become a compulsion in the way I need to know everything about Scarlet Laurent.

She may have been away for the last seven years, but she’s still from one of the ruling twenty-six families of the Order of Saints.

I’d never told Damon the way Scarlet took care of my wounds, kept me fed, or how she held me together, fierce arms wrapped around me when the sound of my brothers’ screams pierced my ears. She repeated over and over again that they were fake, that her family was trying to get me to break. She checked on Bash and Xander, and they were safe. She’s the only reason I didn’t shatter that night.

At fifteen, she’d orchestrated our escape and aided the downfall of her family. She’d done it knowing she’d likely be executed along with them. Damon protected her as the Lord of the Order of Saints. Kept the Laurent seat in the Order for whoever she marries.

He dips his head to my ear so only I can hear him, and I can’t stop my shiver when he says, “I’ve caught you, Little Sparrow.”

Dressing her has been one of the small indulgences I’ve allowed myself. Spoiling my girl even before she’s mine.

“She told you she didn’t want to hear about it until she was at least twenty-five. That if someone was truly interested in her, they’d be willing to wait.”

I want to live in an eggshell-blue house with a wraparound porch and a tire swing hanging from a tree. I want to be chased around my backyard by jelly-covered faces. Is that too much to ask?

“So, what are you saying? You’ve been waiting for her?” “Ten fucking years, Damon. Her time’s almost up.” “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That my Little Sparrow is about to be mine.”

His cold eyes locked with mine as he said, “Let me make it easy for you. I don’t want to see you, hear your voice. I don’t want to be in the same room as you.” The bond that felt tied between us, shaped by a world we barely survived, frayed with his words. His only response when I asked him why he was doing it was to say, “You may have helped us, but you’re still a Laurent.”

I’ll make sure she knows in the future, she never needs to be tough with me. It’s my fucking pleasure to take care of her. I’m happy to be the devil she can lean on.

“I haven’t come in my pants since high school.” Shock rocks through me. “You what?”

His smirk turns into a smile. “You haven’t said my name in over a decade. I couldn’t help it.” He nuzzles his nose against mine. “Say it again.”

“Fine.” Xander turns serious, a coldness wafting off him that would scare the hell out of anyone else. “Don’t forget we owe her. Hurt her and we’ll hurt you.”

I deserve better than some guy who only cares about me when he wants to. I want to be someone’s everything.

There must be something wrong with me because that screams red flag, but instead, my heart is pounding in my chest that this man took the time to care.

It’s simple—if she doesn’t love me now, I’ll wait for her. I’ll do whatever I need to do to show her I’m worth loving back. I’m not above begging.”

I’ve been waiting for her for so long that my heart aches at the sight. I run my thumb over her cheek, pushing back a stray strand of hair. Fuck, if I keep this up, I’m going to cry.

“Don’t tell me you got the wrong idea?” “Just because you helped me out for the last week doesn’t make us close.” “Let me make it easy for you. I don’t want to see you or hear your voice. I don’t want to be in the same room as you.” “You may have helped us, but you’re still a Laurent.”

My mind’s blank, and my heart’s full as I bask in our new life. One that he’s given me everything I’ve ever dreamed of.