Page 52 of Temporary Vows

The thought of her hurt sends rage through me.

My office is around the corner. I practically yank the door off its hinges when I reach it.

She’s there, sitting on one of the leather chairs by the window, hands twisted together in her lap. Her coat is crooked over her shoulders like she tried to shrug into it and lost the battle halfway through.

When she looks up at me, I see she’s wrecked.

The sight of her stops me cold.

Her bottom lip is split, swollen and dark. One eye is already puffing up, the skin around it an ugly, blossoming bruise. Blood has dried in a thin line from her nose, streaked where she must’ve wiped it with the back of her hand. There’s a faint shoe print on the front of her top.

Her breathing is shallow, shoulders trembling.

For a moment, fury and guilt blind me, and I see red.

I cross the room in four strides.

“Elodie.”

She stands, weak and shaking. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go,” she whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks.

I ignore the apology and tip her chin up with my fingers, angling her face so I can see the damage. She winces, and another thread of control snaps.

“Who did this to you?” The question tears out of me. “Tell me now.”

“Marcus Reiner, the loan shark.” Her throat works as she swallows.

She told me about him last night. I thought paying such a massive lump sum would get him off her back. “What the hell happened?”

“I told him I’d be late with the payment. But he didn’t care. He took the money as a deposit and reset the loan to the original amount.” She cries harder. “He wants the rest by tomorrow. He wants the full balance or…I think he’s going to kill me.”

I clench my jaw, fire burning through my veins. “Like fuck he is. Where can I find this guy?”

“Dorian, he’s really dangerous.”

I give her a maddening grin. “No more than me.”

Her eyes grow wide.

“Tell me where I can find him.”

“Bellview Offices, Brownsville.”

Behind me, the door opens, and my brothers walk in. I knew they’d follow the moment they heard this was an emergency.

I glance back at them, taking in their shocked faces as they spot Elodie.

I release her, a plan coming together in my mind.

“What’s going on?” Levi asks.

“Levi, Locke, can you take Elodie to my house and get the doctor?” I ask. “I have something I need to do.”

“Of course,” Levi answers, but they both nod.

“Knox—”

“I’m going with you,” Knox cuts me off and gives me a stern look that stops me from protesting.