Cunning Vows: Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance (Lethal Vows Book 3)

“It seems strange you’re not forcing your mother to your god-awful restaurant,” I say as we pull up in front of what looks to be a popular Mexican restaurant. I wouldn’t know because I rotate between a select few that I already know I like.

“It doesn’t hurt to try different things, Anya. Besides, we ate there last night,” he says, rather smug. “You’re going to enjoy it.”

“Lucky me, because we all know how much I love margaritas.” I roll my eyes as we get out of the car. He locks it and places his hand on my lower back as the valet comes to take his keys.

“Let your hair down,” River orders.

I stop walking and look at him.

“This won’t work if you tell me what to do.”

“I love your hair down, and you always have it up. Put it down.”

“It takes a lot of effort to get it like this,” I say, pointing at the bun. It’s slicked back and got a lot of product in it.

“And while it’s beautiful, I prefer it down,” he growls, and it’s that tone that promises sweet, sweet pleasure. I bite my bottom lip.

“Don’t give me that look, Red,” he says, his voice gravelly. “We can at least say hi to my mother first.”

“And after that?” I ask innocently as I start to unpin my hair. He watches me intensely. I hate those eyes, how they stare into me, make me forget who I am, and get me to do whatever he wants. That is way too much power for my liking.

“After that, I’m going to break into your home and fill that sweet little cunt of yours. I’m going to tie each of your limbs to a bedpost and torture you into oblivion,” he says. My pussy throbs and floods at the visual. “Since you’re behaving like such a good girl.”

Once my hair is free, he places both of his hands at the back of my head and pulls me in for a kiss. We stand in the middle of the walkway, two people oblivious to anything around us. His tongue slides in my mouth and takes over. I moan into his mouth, and he pulls me closer. I can feel his hardness through his pants, proof of how badly he wants me.

I want him just as much.

“River.” He pulls back at the sound of his name, then stares at me and wipes my lips.

“I’ll just be a second, Mother,” he says, and he gives me his best charming smile. “I smudged your beautiful lips.” I let him try to fix it, but I can sense his mother’s stare on the back of my head. “Perfect,” he whispers, then steps back and grabs my hand as if he thinks I’ll run.

I may run.

I just haven’t decided where to yet.

“Mother, you remember Anya from the phone call?”

His mother, petite and blond, stares back at me.

“Yes, I do.” She nods, and River keeps a hold of my hand as he leans in and kisses his mother’s cheek.

“You took longer than I expected today. It was just me and the dogs. Where have you been? I come to visit, and you don’t even make time for me,” she accuses, and I know it’s because of me.

“I had work.”

“I’m sure you did,” she says, her gaze darting back to me.

She looks small, kind, and everything opposite to me. There is no judgment in her tone or gaze, but I feel it just the same.

“Shall we eat? I’m starved,” River says.

Again, I stay quiet as we walk into the restaurant. The hostess immediately escorts us to a table. River makes sure he takes the seat next to me, and grips my leg under the table. He starts massaging my bare thigh while his mother looks over the menu, and I can’t but help think how precarious this all is.

If she knew I was just selling sex for profit, would she be so inclined to enjoy a meal with me?

Then again, River mentioned his mother doesn’t know what he does for a living. I sell people, and he sells the tools that help kill them. Wouldn’t that just rock her world?

“Anya, was it?” she asks, and I realize I’d spaced out. I nod. “Do you have a preference for wine?”

“Anya doesn’t drink,” River interjects. “But order the red. I feel like red tonight.” As he says it, he squeezes my thigh.

“Oh, apologies. I didn’t know. Can I ask why?” she says sweetly.

Small talk. Great. Not my strong suit.

“One of my foster fathers was a drunk. That man was as bad as they come, in more ways than one. Every time he attempted to do bad things to me, he was drunk,” I say, no emotion in my tone. “So I just decided I wouldn’t let that happen to me. Nothing to inhibit my thoughts or impare my judgment.”

His mother goes quiet at my words and just stares at me with her mouth slightly open.

Small talk. Still not my forte.

“Anya is a very strong woman,” River says, and leans in to kiss my cheek.

“I can see that,” his mother replies and then calls the server over. “We’ll just have water, please.” I don’t say anything, but think she’s done it to somehow win me over. But isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? When the fuck did I start caring about what people think?

The server stops at the end of the table, pen and pad ready as she waits expectantly for the food order.

“Do you know what you’d like, Anya?” his mother asks. “I was here for ten minutes before you arrived, so I may have already decided, and I know River frequents this place for takeout.”

My eyebrows lift in surprise. The normality of this situation is so peculiar that I almost want to laugh. If Alek saw me right now, he would too.

“I’m not overly hungry,” I confess. “Can I try some of yours?” I ask River, knowing that if I don’t order something, he’ll force me to eat anyway. “I don’t usually have a big appetite,” I find myself saying. Why the fuck am I still talking?

River and his mother place their orders, and she offers me a smile. “So, Anya, tell me what you do for a living? You come across as very well put together and powerful.”

“Anya sells exotic jewelry,” River is quick to say. I hide my smirk.

“I didn’t realize you’d gotten into the habit of speaking for women,” his mother scolds.

Oooh, I like her.

“It’s as River says. I sell exotic jewels and such. My brother and I took over the family business from my foster mother.”

“Well, that’s most impressive. Do you get along well with your brother and foster mother? Is it the same home where the alcoholic gentleman lived?” she says.

“No, he’s definitely in the grave now. My brother and I are very close, twins actually. My foster mother and I have a very unique relationship, but I’m grateful for how she raised me.”

“Oh, wow, you have twins in your family as well? River has cousins who are twins. If you two were ever to have kids, it might be a possibility for you as well,” she says excitedly.

River’s hand stills on my leg. Before I can speak, he does. “Anya and I have no intention of having children. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” he asks, looking at me.

I fall for him a little harder. I never told him specifically about my surgery, but I made it known I will never birth a child into this world. “Yes.”

“Oh.” She seems disappointed but takes a sip of her water. “Well, lucky your niece keeps me young,” she says with a little laugh. I realize now that River really is her everything. I thought most women would want their children to be parents. That it would be another reason she would want to set me to the side, but instead, she accepts me because of him.

The server walks over and sets plates full of food on the table. Without words, River pushes a portion of his rice dish onto a small plate for me.

“I’ve been dying to try these enchiladas.” His mother squeals with excitement. “So how did you two meet?”

I take a sip of the lukewarm water. “Coincidently, River bought the house beside me, and well, we just hit it off, didn’t we?” I say, amused.

“So that’s why he wasn’t gone for long yesterday when he went to retrieve his car,” his mother says. “Sorry your phone call came through the speaker. I was nervous you actually did torch his car.” She laughs.

My mouth curves into a smirk, and River squeezes my thigh again.

“So you’ve seen his home. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she says proudly.

“Exquisite,” I reply, then take a forkful of the food. I’m surprised that I enjoy its flavor.

“It’s the dogs that make her smile, so I’ve been avoiding bringing her back until I can elicit the same reaction.”

“Dogs are a good judge of character,” his mother says pointedly.

My phone buzzes, and I look down to see Clay’s name. He knows where I am and would only call in an emergency. “Excuse me.” I slide out of the booth and walk to the front of the restaurant.

“Did something happen at the auction?” I ask immediately.

“No, miss. Meredith is here,” he says.

“At the auction house?” I look at my snake watch. “It’s over, and patrons should have left now. Why is she there?”

“She said she’s here to see you and she’s not moving until she does.”

I curse. What the fuck is the old bitch up to? “I’m on my way.”

“Vance is already on his way to pick you up.”

I hang up the phone and walk back into the restaurant.

River and his mother are laughing, and it feels intrusive to ruin what looks like a wholesome moment. I never had this growing up. I’ve never yearned for it either. It’s simply interesting to watch.

“Something came up at work,” I say.

“You have to go?” his mother asks.

“Yes.”

“I’ll drive you,” River says, wiping his mouth.

“Vance is already on his way to pick me up. He’ll be here any minute.”

“Then I’ll walk you out,” River says as he slides out of the booth.

“It was lovely meeting you. If you have time, I would love it if you could come to River’s while I’m still visiting,” his mother says earnestly.

Surprised, I offer a nod as a goodbye.

“Is everything okay?” he asks.

“It’s Meredith. She’s at the auction house. Looks like she and I need to have a discussion about boundaries.”

“Do you need anything?”

The question catches me off guard. “When would I ever need anything from anyone?”

He gives me a pointed look, and I sigh.

“Well, if you do, let me know. My mother likes you, by the way,” he says, surprising me.

“No, she does not. If you believe that, then poor judgment is hereditary, it seems.”

He leans in and kisses my cheek. “She likes you, and so do I.”

My car pulls up, and I see Vance in the driver’s seat.

“Ask her if she still likes me when she discovers what I really do,” I say with a haughty laugh.

“Should I tell your brother the explicit ways you crawl to me in the bedroom, sweetheart? Let’s agree that some secrets are best kept between us,” he taunts with a smug expression. He tries to grab me again, but I’m already climbing into the car and putting my hair back in a bun.

“I’ll see you later, River. Don’t be late tonight. I might even leave my window open,” I tease.