Page 57 of Crushed Vow

Then, with a sharp exhale, he stood. His fingers curled into fists like he was holding something back.

“You’re lucky the bratva still needs him alive,” he muttered, turning sharply on his heel.

I stayed hunched over Ethan, shielding him even after Luca left. My arms were trembling. My breath shallow.

There was no signal now. No voice on the other end. No promise of help.

Just the sound of Ethan breathing—faint, ragged, like each inhale was a battle.

Hours passed and Ethan hadn’t moved—his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, his face waxy, skin clammy.

I stayed curled beside him, arm draped over his middle like I could protect him with my own body.

There hadn’t been food or water since the bullet was dug out of Ethan’s back—and that had been at least four or five agonizing hours ago.

My body was numb, but not from pain. From waiting. From fear.

Cassian... where are you?

I hated myself for thinking of him now. For needing him. I’d filed for divorce. Left him behind. Slammed the door on his face, shattered his heart in my own trembling hands. And yet... here I was.

Still hoping.

Still praying he’d come.

At some point, I must have drifted off. Half-asleep, half-alive, my head pressed against Ethan’s shoulder, my body giving in to exhaustion.

And then—I heard it.

The door.

It burst open.

I jolted upright, disoriented. The light flared behind the silhouette of a man. Tall and rigid. .

Vincent.

My heart thundered, rage replacing the sleep still clinging to my lashes.

“You,” I breathed. “Get the hell out—”

“There’s no time for that,” he snapped, stepping inside, panic flashing across his face. “We need to leave. Now.”

“What?” I blinked. “Why?”

“It’s war,” he said, tone clipped, urgent. “Cassian just broke the neutrality pact his father signed with the Bratva. It’s happening—warehouses are burning. Ships, trucks, ports... All of it. He’s leveling the playing field.”

My chest twisted violently. “He... he declared war?”

Vincent nodded. “And this house isn’t safe. I expect this whole wing will be hit next. We need to get out now.”

He did it... for me?

Even though I divorced him? Even though I told him I couldn’t forgive him?

It cracked something inside me.

No. No, I couldn’t let myself feel that.