Page 76 of Bound by Vengeance
No one in the room breathed as all theirgazes swung back to Nathan. His mind churned with Enlai’s wordswhile he sought to form a reply beyond a“fuck you and yourheralds.”
• • •
Vicky spent an hour running on the treadmillin the gym before swimming fifty laps in the pool and beating thecrap out of a punching bag for another hour. She still felt barelyin control of her emotions and like a caged, unruly tiger. When sherealized exercise wasn’t going to take that away, she decided tocall it quits for the day.
With her towel slung over her shoulder, shemade her way up to her room. Leaning against the wall of theelevator, she focused on her sneakers as the elevator ascended andsnorted with amusement. There was a time when she wouldn’t havebeen caught dead in sneakers, not when there were so many fabulousboots, heels, and sandals in the world, but now they were herfavorite things to wear. She missed her shoes, especially herboots, but they didn’t have a place in her life right now.
One day,I’ll be in Prada,Louboutin,JimmyChoo, andManoloBlahnik again.Until that day, she liked her Skechers.
When the elevator doors slid open, afamiliar scent drifted to her. Her heart leapt in her chest at thesame time a feeling of dread crept over her. She didn’t know if shecould handle this without bursting into tears.
Stepping out of the elevator, her dreadvanished, and she cried out in delight when she spotted Abby andBrian standing by her door. When Abby turned toward her, abrilliant smile lit her face; then, they were running to eachother.
Vicky babbled as she embraced Abby, and hersister spoke in an excited rush. Abby couldn’t make what washappening between her and Nathan better, but Vicky had missed hermore than she’d realized, and shereallyneeded hertwin.
“You’re back early!” Vicky gushed.
“Ronan called and told Brian you werelooking into something that he didn’t want you doing alone,” Abbysaid.
Vicky rolled her eyes as she stepped backfrom her sister’s embrace. “I was doing fine on my own until hefound out about it, but since you’re here, we can go tonight!”
“Go where?” Brian asked as he rested hishand protectively on Abby’s shoulder.
His ice blue eyes were wary as he gazed fromher to Abby and back again. With his platinum hair and sculptedfeatures, he was one of the most striking men Vicky had ever seen.He was also one of the most lethal and ruthless, something Vickyliked as it meant he would destroy anyone who tried to harmAbby.
“It’s not dangerous,” Vicky said and slidher key card into the lock. “Stop being so boringlyoverprotective.”
Brian scowled at her as she pushed the dooropen and held it for them.
“I could never be boring,” he replied.
“Maybe not before you were mated, butafter….” Vicky gave a melodramatic sigh as she resumed her role asfamily diva. “There are times you make dirt exciting.”
Brian’s lips clamped together, and she couldpractically hear him reminding himself that with Abby came Vickyand vice versa.
“It’s okay, as you’re older than some dirt,”Vicky teased and bumped his hip.
“Hmm,” he grunted and eyed her like he wascontemplating strangling her.
Vicky skipped into the living room, tuggedher towel from her shoulder, and draped it over the back of thecouch. Abby’s eyes traveled over the suite of rooms when shefollowed Vicky inside.
“Nice,” Abby commented.
“You know me, only the best,” Vicky replied.“Where’s Aiden?”
“He and Maggie will be back in a few days,”Abby answered. “We left Brian’s truck with them and rented an SUVto come back.”
“Why didn’t they just rent a vehicle?” Vickyasked.
“Because they’re using our truck to helpstock up on building supplies.”
“Aiden’smoving back home?” Vickyasked, unable to keep the shock from her voice. She couldn’tpicture Aiden settling onto Byrne land too, but she guessed it madesense now that he was also mated.
Abby chuckled and shook her head. “No.They’re running out of room to store all their vehicles and toys,so they’re building a couple of garages.”
“Of course they are,” Vicky laughed. “How isthe rest of the family?”
“They’re good. They all miss you.”
