Redemption (The Vault Book 1) Read online

Page 8


  “You, too,” she offers, her soft, floral scent engulfing me, taking me prisoner in all the ways I wish I could take her.

  Her gaze is anxious and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear by the way she peered up at me, she’s squirming in her seat.

  That can’t be right, though. She’s made it clear she isn’t interested.

  I have to let her go, but fuck if I know how to do that.

  By the time Sunday night rolls around, I’m ravenous for her, my thoughts consumed with every detail I’d been trying so desperately to push away.

  The sound of rain beating against the windows somehow soothes me, lending itself to the storm that seems to be going on inside my head. I lean back against the leather cushions of my couch, sipping on my drink in another feeble attempt to drown her from my thoughts.

  The rain is so loud and I’ve had just enough to drink that I’m sure I’ve imagined it at first, but as I lift myself and move toward the bar, I hear the tapping on my door once more.

  Aside from my uncle who’s on bedrest, no one knows where I live. I’m convinced it’s the doorman until I pull the door open and am engulfed by her familiar, floral scent.

  “Isabella?” I start, taking her in. “What are you doing…?”

  “Oh, my God,” she closes her eyes, raking her palms over her face before turning away from me. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Wait,” I call out to her as she hits the button on the elevator.

  “I’m sorry,” she shakes her head, although her feet come to a stop immediately. “This was a mistake.”

  “What was?” I ask, stepping between her and the doors, forcing her eyes to mine as I gently pull her hands away from her face. She’s soaked from the rain, her cheeks streaked with the rain still dripping from her hair. The emotion in her eyes stabs at me, the thought that something could have happened to her making my chest seize in ways I’ve never experienced. The emotional realization only further cements the thoughts I’ve had all week. “Isabella, what’s wrong? Are you al-”

  “I’m sorry. I tried to do the right thing,” she blurts, staring back at me. “But I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Can’t do what?” I ask, still searching her for any signs of harm before my eyes return to her. That’s when I see it, the same desperate need in her eyes that’s been staring back at me all week. “Isabella,” I husk as my adrenaline pumps wildly in my chest and I take a step closer to her. “I need you to say it.”

  “Tell me what I have to do,” she pants. “If your offer is still on the table, I’m in.”

  For more of Adam and Isabella’s story, be sure to follow The Vault authors on social media.

  If you’d like more of Drake Mitchell than you got over drinks, his story can be found in

  The Promise Series.

  More From Kate

  The Promise Series

  The Promise

  The Choice

  The Secret

  The Commitment

  The Compromise

  The Sacrifice

  The Confession

  Ignite Series

  Ignite

  Smolder

  The Callie Leveaux Series

  Escort / SAVAGE

  The Callie Leveaux Novella Boxed Set

  Traitor

  The Frenemy Series

  frigid

  sprung

  Stand Alone

  Beyond the Pine

  The Vault Anthology: A Sinfully Sexy Collection

  The Vault Anthology: A Sinfully Sexy Collection

  Redemption

  About the Author

  Kate Benson was raised in Texas and currently resides in central Florida with her husband and their growing army of fur minions.

  She learned to read at the age of four and has been hooked ever since. She credits her passion for literature to her mother, her love of story-telling to her father and her unwavering faith in happily-ever-after’s to her husband, Sean.

  Some of her favorite things include rainy days, loud music, superhero movies, hot tea and of course, lazy afternoons with a great book.

  To find out more about Kate, her work or to just say hello, she loves hearing from her readers and can be found on social media.

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