Page 18 of Jealous Vows

Despite my urge to rush to her, I stop at the end of the hall, staying out of view but within listening range of most of the showroom.

My blood boils as the two younger attendants’ gossip carries clearly throughout the shop despite their quiet voices.

“—wearing that?She doesn’t belong here.It’s damaging the shop’s reputation.”

“I wonder what tricks she pulled to bag him, though.”

“I know, right?She’s not exactly pretty, and obviously she isn’t clean.Maybe she—”

I stalk forward.The women freeze as I stride into view.Sienna stares at me like cornered prey as I approach her, but she doesn’t fight when I grab her wrist and lift her hand.I pry open her fist and slide my black card onto her palm.

“Put them in their place,bambolina,” I demand.

She swallows before shaking her head.

“No, it’s not worth—”

“Either you do it or I will, and I won’t use a card or a pen.Capisci?”

Her pupils dilate as she recalls how I stopped the altercation with the bikers in San Francisco.We both know I didn’t scare them away by clicking a pen.

I don’t fully understand the cold rage icing my veins but decide to ignore the confusing emotions and place it in the same arena as my revenge.

I’m the only one allowed to put that lost, hurt expression on Sienna Luciano’s face.

She closes her fingers over the card and nods.I move beside her, lean against the wall by the front door, and cross my arms over my chest.

After a deep breath, she rolls her shoulders back and glides to the desk.When both women step forward, eager to help her with me in the room, she holds up a hand in the universal sign for stop.

With impressive patience, Sienna lets the silence continue.She wields her power with utmost control, her body language neutral yet unwavering.The two women behind the counter look at each other.One tries to engage Sienna again but shrinks back without uttering a word.

Sienna’s reflection in the shiny display behind the counter tells me why.There’s no anger in her expression, just pure resolution.

Seconds expand into minutes, but still she holds them hostage with her silence.

The attendant who showed us back to the room emerges with the items we selected boxed and bagged on a fancy cart.Sienna waits with the same expression as the woman rushes forward.

“Yes, ma’am.How may I help you?”the attendant asks.

“Terminate their employment and blacklist them both from the entire industry or lose my patronage forever.”

With one ultimatum, she shatters the girls’ dreams and ruins their future.The industrymeans so many things when you land a job at a high-profile business like this one.Fashion, tailoring, customer service, hell, every nation-wide retailer; no one will hire them again.

They sputter and argue, but the only sane saleswoman in the joint lifts her hand to them in the same movement Sienna performed not long ago.

“You’re both fired.Place your uniforms and name tags in your lockers.Take all your belongings.You are no longer welcome here,” she announces.

Pride flows through me.Sienna doesn’t gloat, mock, or celebrate in any way.Instead, she looks down her nose at them as though she has every right to destroy their lives.

She does.She’s mine.All mine.

The possessive thought nearly consumes my control, but I shove the sense of rightness away and scowl at the wailing former employees.

Sienna Luciano is my revenge, not my woman.My toy, not my treasure.My plaything, not my pride.

She’s nothing more than a vessel for my revenge.I’ll have fun stripping her of her haughty act.

And her dignity.