Chapter 22

Vaughn’s Point of View

I shouldn’t have snapped.

But the moment Carla’s hand slid up my arm, something in me recoiled before I could stop it. My body went rigid, jaw tightening as I stepped back as if her touch burned.

“Don’t,” I said sharply.

She smiled as if she’d been waiting for that reaction.

“You used to like it when I touched you,” she murmured, tilting her head, her fingers brushing my sleeve again, deliberate this time, dragging just enough to make a point.

My patience snapped.

“I said don’t touch me,” I bit out, louder than I intended.

Her smile widened. “Still chasing after someone who won’t ever want you?”

I dragged my attention back to her, something cold settling into my chest. “Mind your fucking business.”

She laughed softly, crossing her arms like this was all entertainment to her. “Or you could stop pretending and come back to me.”

“There’s nothing to come back to.”

Her expression flickered, but only for a second. “We can make it work.”

“No.” The word came out final. “You lost that privilege the moment you betrayed me. And my family.”

Her eyes darkened, lips pressing into a thin line before she exhaled through her nose.

“You always did choose them over me.”

“You made that easy.” I shot back, already moving away from her.

“You don’t get to walk away like this,” she said, her voice dropping, something ugly creeping into it. “If you don’t come back to me, I will make your life difficult.”

“What the fuck did you call me here for? You said you had some information about Pasha,” I asked her, trying to shift the conversation, but her eyes were locked on.

“I do. But then, before I can…” she trailed off, her hand reaching for my collar. “Maybe just one last time?”

I grabbed her wrist, stopping her from going further. This is why I never wanted her anywhere near me.

“What? You know you still want me, Vaughn.”

“Take your hands off me!” I hissed, pushing her back, and she staggered before looking at me.

“You really like her?”

I didn’t respond, just looked towards the window. She called me, worried, and I cut her off. When Carla touched me, I told her, ‘Not now,’ I’m sure Orana thinks I meant that.

When I don’t respond, she doesn’t stop. “Should I get her out of the way?”

Everything inside me stilled.

“Orana, right?” Carla continued, watching me carefully now. “She looks fragile. I wonder how long that would last.”

I didn’t think.

My hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her throat before she could finish.

I shoved her back against the wall, the impact dull but enough to knock the breath from her. “Say her name again,”

My grip tightened, her pulse jumped against my palm, but she didn’t fight it; instead, she fucking smiled.

“Touch her,” I continued, my voice steady. “And I will kill you. Fuck the consequences.”

Her lips curved, even with my hand around her throat.

“You like her,” she rasped, her voice strained but laced with something I hated. I slipped, and she fucking saw it. “That’s really sad.”

“She doesn’t love you,” Carla added. “She’s too busy trying to win back her husband.”

Something sharp twisted in my chest, but I fucking ignored it. Orana deserved better than fucking Callahan.

“She wouldn’t accept you,” she went on, taunting. “Not the real you. Not what you are.”

My jaw clenched.

“Even if you pretend,” she whispered, “you’re still a monster. One look at you and she would be gone.”

My hand dropped from Carla’s throat.

She sucked in a breath, coughing before straightening, smoothing her clothes as if nothing had happened.

“She’s too delicate for you,” she said.

I just looked at her, something dark settling deeper in my chest. “Stay the fuck away from her.”

I turned and walked away before she could say anything else.

**

Shortly after I left Carla’s apartment, one of my men called to say that something had happened with the shipment we were expecting.

I spent hours having to clean up my brother’s mess, and by the time I got back to the hotel, I asked Edward where they were and lied that I wanted an update, and he told me Orana said she would be by the pool area.

When I got there, I saw her there, looking so perfect.

Orana sat near the edge, not in the water, just watching. Her arms rested on her knees, her gaze distant, like she was somewhere else.

I stopped and just watched her. She was something perfect. Like light in the dark. I don’t know when I started noticing her, but I fucking do, and it hurts to know I can never be with her.

My hands felt heavier than usual, and when I looked down at them, I could still feel Carla’s throat under my grip and the weight of what I just did before I came here.

My fingers curled slightly before I forced them still. Then I looked back at Orana. I was a monster, and she had no idea who I truly was.

She didn’t belong anywhere near that part of me. My hands itched to touch her whenever she was close, but right now, my hands felt heavy. Like I would stain her perfect skin.

Something tight pulled in my chest, and I knew it was time I walked away from her.