Page 281 of By His Vow

“Kingston,” he warns.

“Fuck. Miles. What do you want me to say here?”

“That you care,” he fires back.

“Of course I fucking care. She’s Tatum. Your little sister.”

“So you’re telling me that you look this wrecked,” he says, waving his hand in front of my face to highlight whatever it is he’s witnessing right now, “because she’s my little sister. You’ve always been a really shitty liar, KC. How about you man the fuck up and tell me the truth.”

My mouth opens and closes as I try to find some words that will pacify him. But I fear that the only ones that will work aren’t ones I’m willing to admit to myself yet, let alone out loud to Tatum’s brother.

“Miles,” I finally sigh.

“No. I’m not playing this fucking game, King. You want her, you feel something for her, then you fucking own it. Tate deserves to have a man who’s willing to fight for her, not a pussy who isn’t strong enough to own his feelings for her.”

I stare dumbstruck at my best friend, unable to form words as I consider the possibility that there was some kind of admission within his statement that he’s okay with this thing between me and Tatum as long as I own it.

But can I?

Have I fallen for her?

Fuck. Why am I even asking myself that question?

I know the fucking answer. I have for a while.

Miles is right. I’m just too much of a pussy to admit it.

Reaching up, I rub the back of my neck, the words I need to say getting stuck in my throat.

Looking up again, I find his eyes. I never realized how similar they are to Tatum’s until recently. They’re just a shade darker.

Swallowing down my apprehension, I hold his stare and confess the truth.

“I’ve fallen for her.”

I’ve no idea what I expected him to do. Punch me again, I guess. But smiling is not where my imagination went.

“What?” I snap, still bracing myself for the hit that should have followed my statement.

His smile grows.

“You’re a fucking idiot. Come on,” he says, grabbing my upper arm and dragging me across the room.

I let him lead, but only because I’m so fucking confused.

“Let’s go and get your girl.”

With my heart in my throat, I take back control of my legs and walk out of the apartment with the intention of ripping the entire city apart until we find her.

Miles is right; she can’t have gone far. Not that halfway across the world would be too far for me to find her.

She has to know that, too.

She’s significantly underestimated me if she thinks I’m going to take this lying down. If she thinks her leaving isn’t going to affect every single thing about my life.

You fucked up here, Tatum Callahan.

And the second I find you, I have every intention of showing you just how much of a brat you’ve been this time.