Page 34 of Vow of Hate

“Ed. Eddy. Edward. So many names for one man. But you’re a sad, pathetic man who doesn’t deserve to have that honor. You beat the shit out of a woman. Why?”

“She insulted me,” he hisses. The venom in his voice is clear. “She deserved it. And she’s your prisoner. I thought it would be fine.”

“If you thought it would be fine, why didn’t you stay after you were done? Why run?”

“I don’t know. I just did.”

“Ah. I see.” I pat his back a few times. “Well, Edward. I’m the only one who gets to touch Sienna. Not you. Remember that.”

He lets out a sigh. “Is that all? I can do that. I didn’t realize.”

I smirk and leave Edward behind as I walk out of the club. I get into my car and wait.

It takes him an hour before he leaves. Fucking asshole wasting my time.

The moment he gets into his car, I get out of mine and walk up to him. That’s when I pull out my gun and shoot him in the head. With my silencer, it doesn’t draw any attention.

Edward slumps onto the steering wheel. I call one of my other men to come clean the body up and destroy any evidence.

Then I walk away and drive back home to Sienna. Like it’s another day at the office.

I check on her in her room to find that she’s awake. Her eyes widen when she sees me. “How… how are you feeling?”

“I hurt,” she croaks.

“I figured. Well, you should know that I killed Edward for you. So you won’t need to worry about him anymore. Sound good?”

She blinks. “Huh… I don’t know what to say to that.”

“Russo said you didn’t suffer any serious injuries. It was a miracle. I guess God intervened, huh?”

She looks even more confused. “I guess?”

“Get some rest. You need it. Your body needs to heal.” I turn to leave when she speaks.

“Dante?” It’s the first time she’s ever really said my name. “Thank you.”

I let her gratitude wash over me. It makes my heart feel funny again. The urge to kiss her is strong but I hold it back.

“I said you were mine,” I respond. “And I meant it.” I leave before I reveal anything I shouldn’t to her.

Chapter Nine

Sienna

Dante killed Edward for me and I said thank you.

A part of me is shocked to the core by this. The last thing I should be doing is thanking the man who kidnapped me for killing the man who beat me but it happened and I don’t feel any regret for it.

My body is covered with bruises from how hard Edward kept kicking me. It really is a miracle I wasn’t hurt worse.

I lay in bed all day, sleeping the pain away. Dante only returns to give me food and then leaves. That’s all right with me. I need time to think about how I feel for him. My relationship with him.

I’ve let him use sex toys on me. I let him use a dildo on me in front of other people. It was the most intimidating moment of my life but I also secretly liked it. The thrill of it. My entire life growing up was sheltered. Constrained by God. My father wanted one thing for me and deep down, a part of me always wanted something else. I was raised to want to wait for marriage. I was told to believe in it.

But now I’m not so sure I want to believe in it.

This darkness that Dante is bringing out in me is terrifying. I killed that cop without regret. I don’t feel any guilt over Dante killing Edward. Is there something seriously wrong with me? I’m not sure. Probably.