by Briana Cole
“What are we going to do?” Adria asked helplessly. She lifted black, tearstained eyes to me.
“They have guns,” I said. “And Jamaal. We can’t fight them. Tyree killed Tina.”
Adria gasped at the news. “Damn, really?”
I nodded. “Right there in front of me. I can’t risk that happening to you or my son. So we’re going to have to cooperate.” The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, and Adria kept watching intently as I mulled on it a bit longer. “Leo said something about a plan. I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I’m going to insist he let you go. And you get the police here as soon as you can.”
“He took my phone,” she said.
“Mine too.” I thought a bit more, bearing against my throbbing headache. “I was following my GPS on my phone, but there was a spa and a clothing store next door. And maybe some restaurants up the street. I know Keon and my mama have probably called the police by now, so I’m sure they’re already searching for us. You get them back here as soon as you can.”
“What if I can’t remember how to get back?” she asked. “He had me blindfolded. Shit, Kimmy. I don’t even know where we are.”
I didn’t either. I tried to remember the address Tyree had texted me and then the one I had repeated back to Leo to get here.
“Your car,” Adria said suddenly. “Did you drive here?”
“Yeah.”
“It has GPS tracking, right?”
I smiled for the first time in days. “Damn sure does.”
“Okay, that will lead them back.”
“And I’m going to ask that they let Jamaal go with you. Please, just take care of my baby, Adria.”
She frowned. “What are you going to do?”
I sighed. Try to stay alive, though I didn’t know how likely that was anymore. It was evident Tyree wanted me dead. And if that had to happen in order for my friend and my son to live . . .
We waited in silence a while longer. On the other side of that door, it was just as quiet. I wondered if they had left us here to die. My gaze landed on the scattered paper plates and cups at my feet, half-eaten food causing sprinkles of ants to crawl across the wet floor.
They hadn’t been back in today. Neither one of them. I couldn’t tell what time it was, as I could only catch snatches of sleep that had my body aching more. The cuffs had rubbed my wrist completely raw and now the flesh was red and burned to the touch. I felt like the death I knew I was coming.
“Tyree killed Daddy,” I murmured, the fresh realization causing another bout of tears to cake around my eyes. “This is all my fault, Adria. If I hadn’t—if we—”
The sound of a door slamming had us both jumping. All that could be heard was our shuddering breaths in unison as we waited. Footsteps approached the door, quicker than usual.
Instinctively, I climbed to my knees. I wished like hell I had a weapon or something. The locks clicked out of place, and the door opened.
Leo stepped in and, walking over, kneeled down in front of me. He cupped either side of my face and kissed me, hard and firm on the lips. I snatched back in shock.
“Leo, what the hell—”
“It’s going to all be okay, my love. I promise.” He was smiling, and his eyes seemed to twinkle with some hidden excitement.
I relaxed. A little. “Are you—Is he—”
“It’s going to all be okay. I took care of it.”
He kissed me again, this time more passionately. The needle prick was so tiny, I didn’t even know he had stuck me until my vision wavered, showing black around the edges. My body felt light and weak, and I crumpled to the floor. I couldn’t even muster the strength to stop Leo as he turned toward Adria, and her eyes rounded in fear. Then everything went black.
Chapter 30
“But what if she doesn’t?”
“She will.”
“And if not?”
“Then we will do what we need to do.”
I felt like I was floating in the sunken place. I heard talking, but it would fade in and out with so much ambiguity that I couldn’t tell which part was a dream and which was reality.
I lifted my lids, struggled to bring my vision into focus. Immediately, I knew I wasn’t in the storage closet anymore but a plush bed with soft cushions and pillows that smelled of ocean-fresh Gain.
A quick survey of the room revealed I was in a gorgeous huge master bedroom, empty except for the bed I was now lying across. Off to one side was a set of double doors that opened to an en suite bathroom.
I felt groggy and filthy as I rose to a sitting position, the days-old t-shirt and jeans I wore stiff with dirt, grime, and dried blood. I held my wrists into view, noticing I wasn’t cuffed anymore. I lifted my body from the bed, trying my best to steady my weakened legs. Where was I? Where was Adria?
Judging by the look of the room I was alone. I stumbled toward the closed curtains and pulled them back, separating the blinds to peer out.
Nothing but acres of land sweeping out under the night sky. Not another house in sight. I groaned, dragging myself to the bedroom door. It was locked, and my fingers paused over the lock on the doorknob. Did I want to know what was on the other side of that door? Shit, what if it was Tyree? But what if it was someone else’s house? Someone who could help?
I flipped the lock, vaguely surprised when the knob didn’t budge. Then, without thinking, I hit my palm against the white wood. “Help,” I screamed, continuing to bang the door. “Please help me!”
Someone came bounding up the stairs, and I stood back as they unlocked the door and swung it open.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Leo entered the room, shutting it behind him.
“What’s wrong?” I echoed angrily. “You keep me in a storage closet for I don’t know how fucking long. Then you drug me and drag me here in the middle of nowhere. Everything is wrong.” I looked around, wishing for something to throw, but he damn sure did good by putting me here, because there was nothing in sight other than the fucking pillows. Which angered me even more. “Where is Adria?” I snapped.
Leo raised his hands. “Sit down and let’s talk,” he said calmly. I sized him up. He didn’t look armed. But I was weak from hunger and exhaustion. And mostly fear. I wasn’t sure if I could take him in my fragile state.
I remained in place. “I don’t want to sit,” I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest. “So how about you tell me what the hell is going on.”
“I thought you would be happy you’re out of the closet,” he said, gesturing to the massive bedroom. “And not in the handcuffs anymore. I saved you.”
“Well, if I’m free, why am I here still locked up? Let me go home.”
He sighed. “I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because being with me is the only thing keeping you and your friend alive.”
That iced my blood, and his attentive stare let me know he was completely serious. I waited for him to elaborate.
“Tye has done a lot to prove his love for me—”
“Is that what you call it? Killing my father and kidnapping me, my friend, and my son?”
Leo held up a steady hand. “Let me finish. It’s his love for me that is keeping you alive. He wants you dead and gone, but he knows I love you and he knows it would hurt me if he did that. So he won’t touch you anymore as long as I say so.” He paused as if he were expecting some kind of ass-backwards gratitude for him loving me. As if his love for me wasn’t what got me here in the first place.
“And Adria?”
“She’s still in the storage closet back at the property.”
“Let her go,” I demanded, balling my fists. I would probably die trying to fight this dude. Leo had never been small, and I remembered how he used to slap me around before to let me know he wasn’t about to let me get any kind of advantage. But still, I would sure as hell get some good licks in.
I took a step closer, and Leo didn’t budge, instead keeping his hands up in mock surrender. “
I will let her go,” he said. “If, and only if, you agree to something.”
My heart quickened. I didn’t like this ultimatum. “What?”
“Marry me,” he said casually. “For real this time.”
“You’re crazy as hell,” I snapped, turning to the window. Shit, I would rather take my chances with the window and shimmying down the fire escape.
“My wife, my legal wife,” he quickly corrected, “is dead. It would be official. The wedding you’ve always wanted.”
“No, it wouldn’t, because you’re not the man I want.”
My words hurt. It was all over his face, but I honestly didn’t care. After everything that had happened, how could he believe I would actually want to be with him?
“I love you,” Leo said. “And with time, you’ll learn to love me like you used to.”
I didn’t dare say I never loved him. Now was not the time for that.
“You know I can spoil you like the queen you are,” he said, coming up behind me. “Like you deserve.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, and I tightened under his touch. Dare I say I wasn’t the same woman, no, girl, I used to be? That money didn’t matter anymore? I just wanted to be loved by the one I loved and do all that other happily ever after shit. Was that too much to ask?
“Why?” I said, sniffing back tears. I couldn’t break down. I just couldn’t. “Why do you want me? You said yourself Tyree has proven he loves you. And you love him. Can’t you two just go be together?”
Leo’s hands slipped from my shoulders. “I love you both,” he said. “I need you both in my life. And you have my son. How could I live without him?” He took a breath and continued. “Besides, my dad would never allow it. If he ever found out that I was—I am . . .”
“Gay?” I spat. “Down low? In love with a man?”
Leo pursed his lips against my snide remarks. “He would completely disown me. I’ve lived in the luxury of my father’s money all my life. What will I do on my own?”
“Get a job like the rest of us,” I said, throwing up my hands in emphasis. “Be grown. Do like us normal adults do, Leo. At least you’ll be happy.”
“There is more,” Leo said. “My dad is in with some very, very dangerous people. Like Ivory Coast cartel. I have been protected for so long just because of my family name. No one would harm an Owusu. But if he disowns me, I won’t be protected anymore.” He paused again, letting his words sink in. “So you see. It’s not just my money at stake. It’s also my life.”
I felt like Alice, sinking deeper and deeper into this Wonderland that was more like a horror show. “So,”—I took a shaky breath—“what are you saying?”
“I’m saying marry me. Let me love you like you deserve. It will make me happy. And it will make my father happy. He always did like you over my other wives.”
“And Jamaal?”
Leo smiled. “He’s my son. I want him with me. With us.”
“But people will be searching for me, Leo,” I whined. Certainly he hadn’t thought of everything. Would it really be this easy to just kidnap me?
“Already got all that taken care of,” Leo assured me. “Different identities, different location for all of us. No one will ever know.”
That was what I was afraid of. “And Adria?”
“I will send the police to where she is as soon as we board the plane. Otherwise . . .” He trailed off, and I nodded my understanding. Otherwise she’ll stay trapped in that closet for God knows how long. Had they moved my truck? Maybe I could call in a tip to the police so they could track her down. Then how the hell would I get my son back?
“I want to see Jamaal,” I demanded. “Now.”
“He is already where we are headed,” Leo said. “I promise you he is safe. And you’ll see him soon enough. Just come with me to our forever.”
“And Tyree?” I said. “Am I just to expect he’s okay with all of this and just disappear?”
Leo shook his head. “No, he’ll still be around. He loves me. And I do love him at the end of the day. So it’ll be the best of both worlds.”
I turned up my nose in disgust. “So you’ll have your cake and eat it too?”
Leo smirked. “What can I say? I’m used to getting everything I want.” He lifted his hand to my face, and I slapped it away. Just the mere thought of his skin touching mine repulsed me.
“Just think about it,” Leo said, heading to the door. “Take a bath, clean up, and think on everything I’ve said. Remember I’m keeping you, your friend, and your son alive. For the moment.”
He closed the door on his words, and I buried my face in my hands. Because dammit if he wasn’t right.
Leo’s words swirled and swirled around in my head as I ran myself a bath. I filled the Jacuzzi tub to the brim and submerged my naked body until I was neck deep. The scalding water stung my sore flesh, and I wondered what would happen if I just slid down until the water was over my head. The thought was welcoming, the water filling my lungs until I drowned and my dead body floated back to the surface. Then where would Leo be? Hurt? Good. Pissed. Great. Depressed. I sure as hell hoped so. But then where would Adria be? And my son? Hell, I didn’t even know how much time had passed since we had been trapped in the closet, and then again, how long had I been here? Adria needed medical attention. I just couldn’t let him leave her there.
And not to mention my son flown away to some undisclosed location. Was he being mistreated? Leo insisted he was safe, but that lying bastard had assured me of a lot of things. His little vows were as useful as shit on the sidewalk. But still, I knew what I had to do.
I washed myself as best I could, but my joints ached and my bones were on fire. So when I felt like I was about to pass out from the pain, I rose from the water, now stained a deep red from my blood, and stepped from the tub.
I patted myself dry and crossed to the closet. A single ivory sundress was the only article of clothing hanging inside. How ironic. But I didn’t want to put back on the dirty clothes I had just peeled off, so I yanked the dress from the hanger and put it on.
I looked at myself in the vanity mirror. I had lost weight, considering the size six hung big in certain areas. My face, though clean, was hollow, my cheekbones now prominent. The huge knot that had decorated my temple was still evident. I used my trembling fingers to brush my little bangs to the other side in a weak attempt to hide it. Well, most of it. I sighed and walked back to the bedroom door. Looked like I had another wedding to plan.
Leo opened the door before I had even knocked, as if he were waiting for me. His eyes scanned my figure in the ivory dress, and his lips turned up into a wide smile.
I didn’t smile back. Inside I was crying. Inside I was dead, just like Lena. Just like Tina. I wanted to throw up every ounce of my insides right then and there. But instead, I took a breath, opened my mouth and said, “I’m ready.”
It was a sacrifice, I knew. Even as I followed Leo down the winding staircase, my feet shuffling as if propelled forward by forces beyond my control, I knew I was giving up everything. I was out of options. And I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anyone else suffered for my foolish mistakes. I would just have to deal with my choices. And live with the consequences. For now.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE VOWS WE BREAK
Briana Cole
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions are included to enhance your group’s reading of Briana Cole’s The Vows We Break.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What did you like best about this book? What did you like least?
2. Share your favorite pivotal moment in this book. Why did this scene stand out?
3. How did the title The Vows We Break relate to the book’s content?
4. What underlying themes did you detect in the story? What were the main points you think the author was trying to make?
5. What were the dynamics of power between the characters? How did that play a factor in their interactions?
6. How did the characters change throughout the story? How did your opinion of them change?
7. How did you experience the book? Were you immediately drawn in, or did it take time?
8. In what ways were you able to identify with the characters?
9. Does the book remind you of any other novels you’ve read?
10. Were you satisfied or disappointed with how the story ended? Why or why not?
Meet Kimmy for the first time in The Wives We Play
Available wherever books are sold.
Chapter 1
Something told me tonight was going to be special.
I could hardly contain my excitement as I followed the host through the maze of linen-draped tables, each topped with a single candle and surrounded by overdressed patrons. The ambiance was certainly set for romance and luxury, and I blended right in with my Tom Ford copper-toned sequined dress, which hugged each and every petite curve of mine. A gift from my man, of course. Lord knows I couldn’t afford a $6,000 dress like this if I had to make the money myself.
Another thing I couldn’t help but notice was my brown face was one of only a few in the entire restaurant. A crowd of crystal blue eyes against porcelain-white skin turned curious gazes in my direction, no doubt wondering who the hell I had to screw to even be allowed in the building. I had become used to the questioning looks when alongside Leo. He was a man of power and great wealth, and me, well, I was just the arm candy. The trophy. And that was just fine with me. Especially considering my boyfriend already had a wife. Just let me look good and spend his money, and I was content with keeping my face made up, my body in the gym, and my legs spread in exchange.
The host showed me through a sheer curtain to a round booth. It was dimly lit and entirely too large for a party of two, but I knew Leo didn’t mind paying extra for privacy and comfort.
“My love.” He rose to greet me and, as customary, I held out my hand. Leo turned it over and planted a gentle kiss on my palm. I loved when he did that. His eyes swiped over my body with an approving nod. “You look like a masterpiece.”