Page 125 of Crushed Vow

“I’ve always cared,” he said softly. Too softly. “Tell me where you are. Please.”

I hesitated.

“I’m... in his house,” I lied.

Because I didn’t want to sound helpless. Because I wanted to be strong. Because I didn’t want him to save me.

I hung up before he could say anything else. Just then, a cab rolled past. I flagged it down, practically throwing myself into the backseat. Gave my address and didn’t look back.

I silenced my phone.

By the time I reached the estate gate, the guards looked baffled—probably wondering why I wasn’t in the same car I left with. But they didn’t ask questions. One of them offered to escort me to my building.

Once I reached the house, I slammed the door shut behind me and let out a sharp breath

Safe.

But my phone started ringing again.

It was Manuel.

I hesitated, then answered. “Hey.”

“You didn’t wait for me?” His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it.

“You were acting weird,” I said, my fingers tightening around the phone. “And I’ve got trust issues, okay?”

A pause, then a heavy sigh. “I get it. My daughter’s asthmatic, Charlotte. She called me while I was by your car—she couldn’t find her inhaler. I had a spare in the house, and I needed to get it to her. It’s a life-or-death thing for her.”

Guilt flickered in my chest, but it was quickly drowned by suspicion. “I didn’t know that,” I said, my voice neutral and guarded.

“I know your past is rough,” he continued, his tone softening, almost pleading. “But you need to believe there are still good people out there. If I was going to hurt you, I would’ve done it already. I didn’t even touch you.”

“Or maybe you were waiting for the right moment,” I shot back, my voice sharp. “Look, I don’t know you well enough to trust you, and I don’t want to keep this going. We’re not friends. What happened at the hospital was a mistake, like I told you. Don’t call me again, Manuel. I mean it. If you do, I’ll block you. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but from now on, we’re strangers. Goodbye.”

I hung up, my hand trembling as I tossed the phone onto the couch.

I sank deeper into the cushions, my breath shaky, my chest tight with the weight of the night—Grayson’s venom, the flat tires that felt too deliberate to be coincidence. Manuel’s detour.

I didn’t even know when sleep had claimed me. One minute I was curled in the armchair, heart pounding from the night’s chaos—

And the next—

BANG.

The front door exploded open with a force so violent I screamed, nearly tumbling from the chair. My heart slammed against my ribs as I jolted upright, breath caught in my throat.

Cassian.

He stood in the doorway like something ripped from a nightmare.

His long black coat flared out behind him like wings, soaked and whipping from the wind outside.

His hair was disheveled. His jaw clenched so hard the veins in his neck were taut. The concave glasses masked his ruined eyes, but even through them, I could feel it—his rage.

A shiver cut down my spine.

“Surprised I made it home?” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady as I rose to my feet. My fists clenched at my sides, hiding their tremble.