A Vow of Deception, A Vow of Revenge novel Chapter 24

Winona felt her heart skip a beat.

This guy really had a knack for bringing up the most awkward topics at the worst possible moments.

"About last night... I'm really sorry," Elvis said quietly.

Winona paused, then offered him a small smile. "Don't worry about it. Last night was... unusual. I don't blame you."

It had been awkward, sure, but she never once thought of holding him responsible. When it came down to it, he'd been a victim too.

"So, did you find out who was behind it?" she asked.

Elvis nodded. "Yeah. But you don't have to worry."

It turned out a rival of Rogers Corporation had secretly sent someone from the city. They'd found out where he'd be having dinner, bribed a waiter, and tampered with his drink. The plan was to wait until the drug took effect, then have someone take him away and set him up with a woman—enough to frame him for assault. Fortunately, he realized pretty quickly that something was wrong, and managed to leave before things could escalate.

He'd been the only one to drink the spiked liquor—everyone else's drinks were untouched. No one else got dragged into the mess.

And the drug itself hadn't left any lasting harm. Elvis was in good shape, and after having his stomach pumped and spending the night on IV fluids, he'd bounced back to normal.

He didn't go into all the details, and Winona didn't press for more. She just said softly, "I'm glad you're okay."

"There's something else," Elvis said, his gaze steady and full of complicated emotion. "Besides apologizing, I need to thank you properly. Last night, I really owe you."

Winona shook her head. "It's nothing. You've helped me before, too. And just now—you saved me. If you hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened..."

Her voice trailed off, her face paling. She didn't finish the thought.

Elvis's eyes flickered briefly to her right leg. He could guess what was on her mind, but he didn't say anything. He knew that was a wound she carried deep inside—a pain he had no wish to prod.

That only made people more curious, of course.

She'd never been, though. Between work and the rare moments she could rest, she'd never had time to seek out a breakfast spot off the beaten path.

Elvis opened the car door for her. The crisp scent of morning dew and mountain air greeted her as she stepped out. She looked up at the bistro's weathered stone façade, the sign above the door—"Pineview Eatery"—blurred by the mist, like a watercolor painting.

Before they could even step inside, a middle-aged man came out to greet them.

"Mr. Rogers, it's been a long time!" he said with a warm smile. "If I'm not mistaken, the last time you dined here was three years ago?"

"It has been a while," Elvis replied with a nod.

The man's gaze shifted to Winona, his brows lifting in surprise. "And this is...?"