Page 44 of Vow of Hate

I love that even now my mom is protecting me but I know she’s wrong. I didn’t need to sit on that chair with that dildo strapped to it and find my own release. Dante didn’t make me. I chose it.

I stopped fighting for my survival and started searching for my own pleasure and I found it with Dante. What does that say about me?

“Go,” Mom orders, glaring at Dante. “Go.”

“Not without Sienna.”

It’s a shock to see my mom move fast given how she can barely stand upright. She lunges for the gun she keeps on the coffee table.

I watch as Dante raises his gun and points it at her. I know he’s crazy enough to kill her.

Without hesitating, I put myself directly in front of his gun. If he shoots, there’s no way he’d miss me. My mom will be safe.

Dante’s eye twitches. Is he surprised by my selfless act? Or did he expect it?

“You promised,” I say. “You promised to not hurt her. How can you ask me to come to you willingly when you threaten my mom’s life?”

“Sienna, get out of the way,” Mom orders. I glance over my shoulder to see her with the gun in her hands. Her cane is on the floor. She’s breathing heavy. It’s taking all of her strength to stay upright given she was just in surgery less than a week ago.

“I will not let him kill you, Mom.” I turn back to Dante and look him dead in the eye. “If he wants to shoot you, he’ll have to kill me first.”

“You’re willing to die for her?” Dante asks in a soft voice.

I don’t hesitate to answer. “Yes. I am. So there goes your plan, Dante. Kill me or don’t but you leave my mom alone.”

“If I leave your mom alone, you’ll always fight to get back to her.”

“Then let me go.”

He huffs. “Not going to happen.”

“Why do you want me so much, Dante? You have no heart. No soul. Why do you want me?”

“I’m a possessive man. And I don’t like being told what to do.”

“You hate what I stand for: Gabriel’s control. So you’re controlling me instead. But it’s not right.”

“Do I look like the man who cares about right and wrong?”

“No,” I admit.

His little smirk makes me want to slap him and kiss him at the same time. “Exactly. I am getting what I want.”

“But you’ll never fully get what you want if you kill my mom. Because I will never let you touch me. I can tell it bothers you that you’ve gotten my body used to your sex toys. I can tell you want to be the one to actually touch me but you’ve held back. You’ll never get to touch me if you kill my mom. Remember that.”

“You would truly die for her?”

“I already said yes. Just because you would never die for your parents, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t. I would die for my mom again and again if it meant she was safe. Not everyone is a monster like you. You told me about your parents. The horrible thing your mother did to you.”

His eyes narrow. “How do you know I wasn’t lying?”

“I could tell. You told me the truth about your mom and your father. Some of us have a good relationship with our parents. We’re not all monsters. You say you don’t want any weaknesses but that’s a weakness, Dante.”

“How so?” His hand doesn’t waver on the gun. It’s still pointed right at my head.

“You’re alone. You don’t have anyone you truly love. You delight in hurting people. But you must be lonely at times.”

“Don’t psychoanalyze me.”