Vow of Atonement

by Emma Renshaw

  “Would it be hard for you to relocate to Texas?”

  “No, Sugar. I’d move here in an instant. Just the say the word. It wouldn’t be hard at all.”

  We lapse back into silence, enjoying the breeze playing over our skin.

  “I think a small wedding like Savannah and Liam’s would be perfect.”

  “I think I’d want to go to the courthouse. I’m not sure I could handle walking down the aisle without my dad.” I let the tears fall, curling into Roman’s body.

  He kisses the top of my head. “He would be so proud of you. Sadie and your mom, too. God, they would love to see your shop.”

  I nod, unable to speak.

  “Anywhere you want, baby. Courthouse, a beach, anything. Just as long as you promise to say I do.” He shrugs. “Though if you don’t, I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth until you agree to be mine.”

  I laugh, wiping away the last of the tears. “You might be hard to explain to my future husband.”

  Roman tickles my sides, bringing me even closer to him. He stops tickling me, running his hands up and down my side.

  “Harper,” he breathes, his eyes roaming over my face. “I’m not letting tonight end without you agreeing to take this one day at a time.”

  “Roman,” I begin, but he cuts me off.

  “I fucking love you, Harper. I never stopped loving you. I’ll love you every single day of my life. I will do anything you need me to do in order to finally, truly forgive me. Every single damn day I’ll prove that I’m the only man who will treat you as well as I will. Anything you want, Sugar, I’ll give it to you. I know I need to earn your trust, and I will. I swear to you. I’ll earn it and keep fucking earning it. I don’t expect anything back except for you to agree to take this one day at a time with me. I want those one days to add up to a lifetime together.”

  Tears burn my eyes as I stare into his earnest ones, silently begging me to agree.

  “Roman.”

  He cuts me off again. “Fuck. You’re going to say no. I vow to you, I will be the man you need me to be. Want me to build you a house that’s mostly just a huge closet to keep all your clothes and shoes? I’ll do it with my own hands. Want me to slay an army? I’ll do it. Want me to move to Texas? Done. I’ll only go back to Tennessee to get your ring.”

  “Roman, stop.”

  “Fuck,” he mutters, staring at me. The gold flecks in his eyes are shining brightly.

  “I don’t want to take this one day at a time.”

  “Harper—”

  I cut him off with a kiss to his lips. “I want a lifetime. I love you, Roman Marx. I’ve loved you since you ran into that locker staring at me when you didn’t think I saw you. I saw you. I’ve always seen you.”

  Roman’s hands tangle in my hair, bringing my face down to his, kissing me passionately and filling me with ten years of lost love, and the promise of a lifetime.

  34

  Harper

  “I’m going to sit in the back, holler if you need me,” James says, walking away quickly and closing my office door behind him. I laugh at his retreat. All morning, women have been throwing themselves at him. Older women, girls who probably aren’t even legal, every single one who has walked in so far.

  After the last customer left, he turned to me with a red, blushing face, muttering quietly. “I’ve never had my ass grabbed so many times.”

  When the bell jingles, I turn from my closed office door and move back toward the front with a smile to greet the new customer. The petite blonde walks right up to me. “How can I help you? Are you shopping for a special occasion?” I ask, ready to match a new customer with the perfect outfit.

  “Are you Harper Maxwell?”

  “Yes,” I say, still smiling.

  She sticks a manila envelope in my hands. “You’ve been served.”

  “Wh––what? Wait,” I call after her.

  She doesn’t stop, walking out without another word. I stare down at the envelope in my shaking hands. I don’t know what’s in here but I’m terrified to open it and find out. I feel as if my entire life is hanging in the balance. Right now, I can only guess the ways my world could come crashing down. If I open this, it could make my nightmares a reality.

  “Harper,” a deep voice says in front of me.

  Startled, I look up, shocked to find a face I recognize but haven’t seen in a long time. I didn’t hear the bell on the door chime, so lost in my thoughts.

  “Daniel?”

  He smiles. “Yeah.”

  “Oh, my god,” I say, rushing toward him, throwing my arms around his neck. “It’s so good to see you.”

  He hugs me back tightly, slightly lifting me off the ground.

  I hear a throat clear behind my back. I step out of Daniel’s embrace and see the angry eyes of James. He’s glaring at Daniel and me, and disappointment adds to his anger.

  “James,” I say, laying a hand on his bicep. “This is an old friend, Daniel. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

  James doesn’t speak, only continues to glare at Daniel.

  Daniel takes a tiny step back, putting more distance between him and James. I hate to break it to Daniel, but that inch of extra room wouldn’t save him from James.

  Daniel sticks out his hand for James to shake. James looks down at the hand in disgust, barking out his question. “What’re you doing here?”

  “I came to say hello to an old friend,” Daniel says, slowly looking between James and me.

  “James,” I say quietly. “It’s okay.”

  Daniel is still looking between James and me, not saying anything. “It’s good to see you, Daniel. Are you passing through or do you live in Austin?”

  “Passing through. I’m back in Dallas. I heard you opened a shop here, though, thought I would stop by and say hi.”

  “I’m glad you did. You kind of just disappeared back then.”

  “Sorry about that,” Daniel says, looking down at his shoes. “I didn’t know how to say bye with everything you were going through.”

  We lapse into an awkward silence, neither of us sure of what to say. James is still standing behind me, watching the both of us with guarded eyes.

  “I need to run,” Daniel says. “It was good to see you, Harper. I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”

  “Don’t trust him,” James says when Daniel walks out the door.

  I turn toward James, rolling my eyes. “You don’t trust anyone.”

  He shrugs. “Other customer gone?” James looks over his shoulder as if he expects a woman to come up and grab his ass.

  “Wasn’t a customer,” I grumble.

  James cocks an eyebrow, waiting for me to explain further.

  “I got served,” I say holding up the envelope.

  “What the fuck,” he says, taking it from me. “For what?”

  “I haven’t opened it yet.”

  James rips open the top, taking out the documents in inside. My stomach sinks as I watch his neutral expression turn into a scowl.

  “James,” I whisper, tears already welling in my eyes. “What is it?”

  James takes his phone out of his pocket, hitting dial. He watches me with a grim expression, keeping the papers tucked under his arm, out of my reach.

  “Get your ass to your girl’s store. Now,” James growls into the phone, hanging up.

  “Please tell me, James.”

  “We’re waiting for Roman.”

  James walks to the front of the store, flipping the lock and switching the sign to closed. Panic starts to rise in my chest and my breathing turns shallow. James’ arm comes around my shoulder as he passes me, turning me and walking me to the office. I beg him over and over to tell me what’s happening. I argue it’s my life so I have a right to know.

  James sits staring at the wall, not saying a word, keeping the papers firmly in his arm, away from my reach. I give up pleading with him and dissolve into tears. Just then Roman walks into my office, looking around manically.
When he spots me curled in my chair, he rushes over to me, running his hands over my hand, looking me over.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” Roman asks softly, cupping my cheek.

  “Ask him,” I sneer, tilting my head toward James.

  I roll my eyes and huff when James hands over the papers to Roman. Roman’s roars and cursing startle me. I look between James and Roman. James is watching me with sorrow in eyes.

  “That motherfucker,” Roman spits out. “I’ll kill him.”

  “What’s happening? Please tell me. James wouldn’t show me.”

  Roman looks at James and nods his head. “I owe you.”

  James nods, still not speaking. Roman lays the papers on my desk in front of me. It’s a notice for eviction. A three-day notice for violating the terms of the lease. A thick cardstock note is paper-clipped to the top with an envelope behind it. Now I understand why James waited for Roman. A sob leaves my chest. I look at James across my desk, hoping he knows I’m not mad at him.

  “Hate this for you, Harp,” James frowns, looking down at me.

  The note makes me afraid to touch the envelope, but Roman pulls it free, tucking it in his pocket. The clean, perfect cursive from Rafael completely turned my life upside down.

  Give me what I want.

  First, I will destroy your life.

  Then I will destroy his.

  If that is not enough, you will end up like your thief of a father.

  Poor bastard who got his family killed.

  You should have been with them when they died.

  He did not have to die but he would not stop stealing.

  Do not believe me?

  The proof is in the envelope. Your money hungry father betrayed the cartel that gave him his life.

  His debt is now yours.

  See you soon, muñeca.

  35

  Roman

  Watching Harper tearfully leave her store for what she says is the last time completely guts me. Only last night I swore to make her the happiest woman on the planet and that I would do anything for her. Here I am on the first day of her being mine, and I’m failing miserably. I wasn’t here when she was served with bullshit papers for a charge that isn’t true.

  Rafael has city officials all over the capital in his pocket. I still told her we could fight back and make sure she stays here. She said no, he’ll still own and control it. Fuck. She’s right. This is a losing situation.

  Watching her brokenhearted face look back at her store one last time fills me with rage. “We’ll get your car later, Sugar. Going to follow us, James?”

  “Yeah,” he says, laying a hand on Harper’s shoulder as he walks to his SUV.

  I guide Harper to the passenger side of the minivan, helping her in. She hasn’t brought up her dad yet, but I know it’s causing her even more pain than losing the store.

  When I hop in behind the wheel, she throws her arms in the air, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. “Oh, God, how am I going to empty the store in three days? Where am I going to put it all? I’m basically fucking homeless.”

  I drag her body over the console, putting her in my lap, hugging her to my chest. “Don’t worry about cleaning the store and handling the storage. I’ll handle that. I promise, I’ll get it done for you, Sugar.”

  She cries into my chest, shaking with each sob she releases. My chest constricts, feeling every ounce of pain she is feeling. I want to take it all and hold her burdens.

  “You’re not homeless,” I say softly. “You still have your apartment.”

  “I only packed two pairs of underwear. I don’t even feel safe enough going back there for underwear. Safe to say, I won’t live there anymore. So yeah, I’m homeless.”

  “We’ll find a new place. An apartment, house, loft, whatever you want.”

  She cries harder, fisting her hand in my shirt. “He’s taking everything from me. Why? Is––is it because of my dad? God. Is it true?”

  I close my eyes. I haven’t looked in the envelope yet, but Rafael doesn’t seem the type to give evidence where he has none. This was a knife to her gut, just as I knew it would be. “I don’t know. Kiernan is on his way to the house, so is James. We’re going to figure this out.”

  She nods, her tears slowing down. Harper climbs off me, moving into the passenger seat. “Let’s go,” she says dejectedly, staring straight forward with slow tears falling down her perfect cheeks.

  Kiernan scrubs a hand over his face listening to James speak with his arms crossed over his chest. Their heads turn toward us when I pull in front of the entryway. The heavy door creaks open as Harper slips out straight into Kiernan’s waiting arms. His worried eyes meet mine over her head, his jaw tight. James catches the keys I toss his way, opening the door for us, allowing a murmuring Kiernan and Harper to walk through.

  I watch her walk straight to the bedroom and shut the door. “Meet me in the office,” I say to James and Kiernan, leaving them to go to Harper.

  She’s curled on the bed, facing the window. I sit next to her, rubbing my hand along her side. “I’ll be in the office with them. We’re going to get everything taken care of.”

  She nods but doesn’t respond or look at me.

  “I’m sorry I already failed you, baby. So sorry.”

  She looks at me with new tears filling her eyes. “This isn’t your fault. It’s his.”

  I don’t know if she means Rafael, Santiago, or her father, and I don’t ask her to elaborate. “I love you, Harper.”

  “I love you, too,” she whispers.

  “I’ll be back soon. I’m in the office if you need anything.”

  I stand in the doorway for a few moments, watching her. I will tear Rafael apart for making her shed even one tear. He won’t get away with hurting her this way. And, if I could, I’d call her father and demand he pay for hurting her. Fuck. Her father was her fucking hero. I hope this doesn’t destroy her.

  James and Kiernan are silent when I walk into the room, settling down on the brown leather sofa. I reach over to the side table and pour myself a shot of whiskey. After I sling it back, I pour another—and one for each of the men in front of me.

  “How is she?” Kiernan asks.

  “Not good,” I respond, pulling another gulp in my mouth, relishing the burn at the back of my throat. “I’ll be out of touch the rest of the day. I’m going to hire movers and find a storage facility for her store.”

  “Does she have a website?” Kiernan asks.

  “Yeah, but I don’t think she sells off it.”

  “I’ll get it hooked up for a shop, turn it into an online store for now.”

  “Thanks,” I say appreciating that my best friend has taken on Harper as part of his family.

  “Have you looked in the envelope?” James asks.

  I pull the envelope from my back pocket, throwing it on the coffee table. “Not yet.”

  “This is fucked up, man,” Kiernan voices.

  “Kier, I need you to find her father’s and Santiago’s old accounts. The money she got in the will doesn’t add up. Rafael’s asking for something of his. He never says money but I wonder if this is about money. Find where their fortunes went.”

  Kiernan nods. “Anything else?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t think so. This takes precedence over the rat today.”

  “Agreed,” Kiernan says.

  “James, find his location.”

  “Consider it done.”

  I nod, all of us falling back into silence, staring at the envelope on the table. James picks up the envelope, opening it to pull out several sheets of paper.

  “Looks like copies of her father’s books and bank statements for businesses. These are probably their fronts for the cartel, where they launder their money. Fuck,” he breathes looking up at me.

  “What?” I ask.

  “Just glancing at this page, he scraped at least a million.”

  “Dammit,” I seethe.

  “If Rafael took over for his fath
er,” Kiernan says, rubbing his jawline. “Wouldn’t he be bringing in this same type of cash? Even more because no one is scraping from the top? Would he really be going through this trouble and harassing Harper for something that happened ten years ago?”

  “Rafael passed the debt to Harper,” James states.

  “Fuck this,” I yell, throwing my glass against the wall. “It’s about more than that. We’re fucking missing something. We need to find it. The debt is ten years old. Rafael probably would have been a teenager or early twenties, why the fuck would he care about it? Harper’s entire family was gunned down for this. Their lives paid the debt.”

  “My guy said Rafael showed up shortly before his old man died,” James says. “That was after Harper’s family, right?”

  “Yeah,” I answer. “Almost two years. So again, why would Rafael care if he wasn’t even here for it?”

  “Why now?” Kiernan asks. “Why bring you up in the note? What do you have to do with this?”

  “Harper and I were together back then, I was close with her family and Santiago. Maybe he thinks I know something.”

  “I’ll keep digging,” James states.

  “We’re missing something, we need find out what it is before he hurts my girl even more. Find him, James. I’m going to fucking end him.”

  36

  Harper

  Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. How could this be my father? A thief? Betraying Santiago? I’m mad at my father for betraying the cartel! What has my life come to? How can the greatest man I’ve ever known also be someone that I can’t understand and can’t forgive? I can’t––I squeeze my eyes shut. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.

  No matter how hard I try, it’s the only thing I can think about. My father. My store. Did my mom know what my dad was involved in? Every privilege I was granted as a child was dirty money. My store was opened with dirty money.