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Of course, he would make me look like the villain here.
“Then I suppose we’re at an impasse.”
My fingers tighten around the glass, as my father pulls on the back of the robe, allowing it to drop behind Evi. The hand holding her leash moves to grab her jaw, turning it away from me to reveal more of her neck. My father meets my gaze just before bending to press his lips to her skin.
I see red and have to force myself to draw inward as I try to remain calm.
“Lucien had the right idea,” Valentine says, snapping me back into focus as I look over at him. “He’s the one who put her in this corset, though he didn’t do a very good job of it.”
“What are you talking about?”
I haven’t seen Luci or Seven in over a week, but I’d assumed something would probably happen between them in that time. Seven isn’t known for being particularly patient with those who cross him, after all.
“I suppose there’s no point keeping secrets anymore,” my father says, his hand slipping lower to trace the contour of Evi’s bust. “Lucien has been working for me for quite some time now.”
I try not to react, not because this reveal about Luci is anything new, but because of the way Valentine’s hand is cupping Evi’s breast through the corset.
“I thought as much,” I answer, my voice tight. “What did you offer him?”
“Only what his heart most desired. Funny, isn’t it? What the broken hearted will do for a drop of hope. He was fine giving up whatyourheart most desires to get it.”
Valentine pulls back, and I’m given a momentary reprieve from the burning rage building within me. The relief comes too soon as Valentine suddenly presses his shoe to Evi’s back. She gasps in shock as he shoves her forward onto her hands and knees just before slipping his fingers through the laces of her corset and yanking back as hard as he can.
Evi’s small cry dies on her tongue as she’s soon struggling to breathe.
“You’re hurting her,” I snarl, the glass in my hand cracking as I fight everything in me not to throw myself at Valentine and steal her away from this place.
“She’ll survive,” he answers, dropping his foot as he jerks her back between his legs, the corset now so tight that she’s nearly bursting out of it with every small breath she takes. “See, worth it.”
I search Evi’s face, willing her to see the pain and frustration in my own, but she can’t or won’t look me in the eyes.
“Evi, I’m sorry,” I say, despite my better judgement, and she finally meets my gaze. “I—"
“Aw, isn’t that precious,” Valentine scoffs, clearly pleased with the reaction he’s gotten out of me. “What did I tell you, girl? He is in love with you.”
The glass cracks, bursting in my hand as whiskey explodes in droplets through the air and I rise, fuming, to my feet. I toss the shards to the floor, shaking the ones lodged in my palm from my hand as I glare down at my father.
“You had to do that didn’t you?”
“Do what?” he asks, completely unfazed by my reaction which only further infuriates me.
“Take away my chance to tell her …”
“Tell her what?”
“That I love her,” I roar, the room growing silent as everyone turns to look at me. I know full well this is exactly what he wants from me, but I’m unable to stop myself as I once again see red.
My lip curls up into a snarl as my hand slips into my pocket, and Valentine’s smile widens.
19
Evelyn
Iblink up at him through my blurring vision, forcing myself to take small, shallow breaths as I try to keep myself from passing out.
Did Dante really just say that or is this another one of my hallucinations?
He couldn’t possibly love me; we’ve barely known each other more than a week. And if he does, well, he has a poor way of showing it.
