Page 13 of Deadly Vows

I look away from him, standing to leave the room. I’ve heard nothing from my family between that day and now, and Luca no longer questions me about them. I barely speak, especially when he is the one who attempts to strike up a conversation. He hasn’t apologized for what he did to me that day. In his eyes, it was a punishment that was better than giving me death for what I attempted to do. Had anyone else been around when I did that, death would have been immediate. But for some reason, Luca has granted me mercy.

“You can’t keep ignoring me, Elise.” Luca’s voice carries behind me, but I ignore him. It’s the only form of retribution I’ve been able to grant myself. But instead of remaining in place like he usually does, Luca follows me.

“You’re acting like a child. It’s just hair. It will grow back,” he says.

I cry out when he grabs me by the arm, holding me firm as he looks at me. He smiles, gently pushing my hair behind my ear.

“You’re still beautiful without it,” he says.

I wrench my arm from his grip, narrowing my gaze. It’s the last bit of anger I can muster before fear takes over.

“I’m a child? You cut my hair, Luca. You cut it all off because—”

“You tried to kill me.” His expression is terrifying. He’s eerily calm as he watches me, waiting for my rebuttal.

“I didn’t try to kill you, I was only protecting myself, you... You were accusing me and saying horrible things to me!” I shout.

Luca smiles, stepping closer to me to pin me against the wall. I gasp when I feel his erection pressing against me.

“I’ve never seen this side of you, Elise. You’re turning me on with all your yelling,” he smiles.

My rage takes over, and my hand is flying toward his face before I can stop myself. He catches my hands before I can, the grin falling from his lips as his grip tightens.

“Never again,” he says in a low voice.

I flinch, trying to pull my wrist from his grasp, but he tightens it.

“I don’t want to hurt you because you can’t control yourself,” he adds.

We stand, silently glaring at each other in a challenge. I know I can’t win this fight, and he knows it as well. But we watch each other, expressing our emotions with a look, before he gently releases me. I look away, rubbing my wrist as I find the strength to remain stoic in his presence, even with his threatening demeanor.

I’m glad when he suddenly moves to the door, calling to me.

“Get dressed. We don’t want to be late.”

For the first time since I arrived, I am outside of our secluded home. It feels suffocating with Luca in the driver’s seat next to me, his hand on my thigh. It would be nice if he weren’t such a cruel man. It feels like he’s holding me, reminding me that I cannot escape this life.

We’ve been driving in silence for about forty minutes when Luca decides to speak.

“You know, when my father told me about the arrangement, I was livid,” he says, breaking the silence with words I didn’t realize I was dreading. I slowly look at him, but his attention remains focused on the road. Of course, over the years, I thought about Luca not wanting to marry me, but after our wedding, it felt like that wasn’t the case. Now, it makes sense why he never bothered to meet with me from our engagement until the wedding.

Luca laughs softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I actually told my father to go fuck himself. But eventually, I had to accept it. The arrangement was needed to mend broken bonds. Your father, the nuisance he is, was proving to be bad for business. So, my father figured to shut him up, we would accept his proposal.”

Luca’s smile drops and he looks at me.

“I wasn’t expecting to feel the way I did when I saw you for the first time. I always kept an eye on you. I even came to a few of your performances to get used to the idea of us. I realized when I spoke to you during our wedding weekend that I wanted this. I want you. I’ve never had this need for a woman before. To me, you are walking perfection. So pure and innocent. I only wish I could spare you from your father’s mistakes,” he says.

My stomach dips as Luca pulls off the main road onto a private drive. It leads to what looks like a warehouse.

“I’m telling you this because I want you to know my feelings. I want you to know that anyone who jeopardizes this marriage will not live to see another day. And anyone who puts your life on the line is threatening mine as well. And I won’t let them get away with it,” he says.

I don’t know what to say or if he expects me to say anything. But the more I think about it, the more I feel like this has something to do with my family. It has something to do with his interrogation. And as I look at the looming warehouse before us, I feel a sense of dread as I realize we more than likely aren’t here for a good reason. Luca is serious about this marriage, regardless of my actions. And I can’t shake the feeling that my father has done something to offend him.

Luca steps out of the car, walking to my side to open my door. I want to stay in the car, but I know that isn’t possible, especially now that Luca’s outstretched hand is expecting me. I place my hand in his, and he helps me out of the car, a smile on hislips as he looks at me. He pushes my hair away from my face, emphasizing his next sentence.

“What is all I ask?”

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