Page 16 of Vow of Hate

The floorboard creaks under my weight. I stop, holding my breath, waiting for Dante to come out and stop me. But nothing happens.

I’m not sure which bedroom is his and I have no intention in finding that out but if I knew, it would help me plan better. Prepare better.

I need a weapon, I realize. Since I’ve been locked away in Dante’s strange room and the guest room for the past twenty-four hours, I haven’t had time to explore the house but I did spot the kitchen on the way to the back door. The kitchen will have knives. It’s better than having nothing.

I keep my footsteps light as I make my way to the kitchen. Right on the counter is a butcher block filled with knives. I grab the largest one. If Dante finds me with this, there’s a good chance he’ll still overpower me but I have to try to fight. I can’t just give up. My mother would be disappointed in me otherwise.

My mom. Is she even alive? I have no idea and until I know, I won’t stop fighting.

My legs are aching as I tiptoe to the front door. The tension in my body is enough to knock anyone over but I’m holding strong. Dante left the door unlocked. I’m not sure if it was an accident or a test but either way, I’m taking this chance. I don’t have time to find my clothes that Dante took from me. Fully naked but that doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is escape.

This time, I notice the lock on the front door. In my desperation last time, I didn’t see it, which prevented me from opening it and escaping.

I turn the lock. The sound is a lot louder than I want it to be in the large, echoey foyer. I hold still, waiting, but Dante doesn’t show up.

I ease the door open and step outside. The moment I do, I drop to my knees and let out a quiet sob. Am I really free?

It can’t be this easy but I’m not going to question it. I need to get back to my mom. I have no money. No phone. Nothing to call for help. Not a taxi. It’s the middle of the night so no one is awake. The last thing I want is to go to Dante’s neighbor. What if they know what Dante does and will lead me right back to him? What if he hears me knocking on their door?

No. I need to get far away from Dante’s house and fast.

Despite being barefoot, I run down the street, putting distance between me and Dante. Surely I can disappear into darkness. I don’t stop running for what feels like minutes. I was never one for doing much running. My preferred form of workout was always Pilates. Now I’m regretting not doing more cardio. My lungs are burning.

Eventually, I have to stop and catch my breath. Looking around, I see that I’m still in the same neighborhood. I just need to get to a phone, call my mom, and tell her I’m all right. Then hopefully someone will come save me.

Will Gabriel? He wanted to marry me off to Dante to begin with but Dante deliberately went against that and kidnapped me instead. Luciana will surely send someone. Her husband, perhaps. That’s who I need. Someone to keep me safe.

I start jogging again – pushing my body to not stop – until I reach the outskirts of the city. Businesses all closed up for the night. But one of them will have a phone I can use.

I need the police. Breaking into a store will call them if that store has security. Being in jail would be better than being with Dante.

As soon as I think that, I’m hit with the memory of him using that vibrator on me. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I can still feel the tingles in my body.

Pushing that memory aside, I approach a jewelry store. They’ll definitely have security in place to call for the police. I pick up a rock from a flowerbed outside the store and smash it into the window. It instantly breaks and the loud, piercing sound of an alarm sounds out.

I wait outside. The police. Please come.

And they do. A few minutes later, a police car drives up to the store. He slowly gets out, eying me over.

“Put your weapon down,” he orders.

It’s then that I remember I have a knife in my hand. I set it on the ground and raise my hands in surrender.

“Please,” I gasp. “I need help. I needed to call the police. I was kidnapped. Please. I need help.”

His eyes sweep over my naked body in a way I don’t like. It’s part disgust on his face and part… lust? I’ve seen enough movies to know what that look is. And right now, this man feels just as dangerous as Dante.

“I’m going to need to arrest you for destruction of property,” he explains.

“I told you. I needed the police. I was kidnapped.”

He tilts his head to the side as he slowly approaches. I take a step back. “Are you on drugs?”

All the air leaves my body. I look like a crazy woman, naked with my knife, rambling on about being kidnapped. And I did just commit a crime by throwing a rock through the window of a jewelry store.

“No,” I say. “Please. Just help me. Take me to the police station. I need a phone call. I need help.”

“I’ll take you to the police station after I arrest you. After you do something for me first.”