Page 42 of Vow to Hate You

“Things have changed. Damian’s father and yours have built an empire together. They have friends they didn’t have five years ago.”

I found myself in front of the library and pushed open the door as I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means if you leave, they’ll hire people to bring you back. The kind of people you don’t want to be associated with.”

My lips parted in shock. “You mean like criminals?”

She chuckled. “My naive daughter. You don’t grow as powerful as Jude Rutherford without getting your hands dirty. He may run a clean business, but some of his partners? Not so much.”

Did Damian know this? My mind spun as I set my coffee down, falling into the oversized reading chair.

“You chose to marry Damian,” she said, her voice slightly gentler. “You knew he was a Valentin. It was your decision, Talie. That’s your life now.”

“You left this life,” I stated, keeping my voice steady.

“Because my family has their own friends in the shadows. Back then, Jude didn’t have the power he has now.”

“Why didn’t you take me and Char with you?” I asked quietly.

The silence dragged on, and I wasn’t sure why I blurted out the question. Even when I was a child, she was never a mother to us. We had nannies who raised us.

“Maybe if you hadn’t married a Valentin, I could have helped you,” she finally answered. “It’s too late now. I’m sure the contracts you signed after the wedding ensure divorce is next to impossible.”

In all honesty, I’d barely looked over the paperwork I signed. A ball of dread filled my stomach. I had been so young and excited I found a way not to be stuck in an arranged marriage my father would have chosen.

“Text me the address. I’ll mail your things tomorrow,” she said curtly. “I have to go.”

She hung up without saying goodbye. I tossed my phone on the cushion next to me as I stared at the massive bookshelf in front of me. My one small hope of leaving again was fucking gone. I had a feeling that was the case, but knowing it was the truth made it worse.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed as I got lost in my thoughts. It wasn’t like Damian was a monster. But like me, he did what our parents expected. Did he know what was in our marriage contracts?

My eyes slowly drifted over the titles on the spines of the books. Damian loved to read, yet I hadn’t seen him in here since I moved in. Most books looked like they hadn’t been touched.

Except for two of the encyclopedias.

My curiosity heightened when I spotted a third one on another shelf that wasn’t aligned with the other books. I climbed back to my feet, padding across the plush carpet until I wasstanding in front of the shelf. I pulled an encyclopedia from the shelf only to freeze when I spied something behind it.

Bending over to get a closer look, I snatched two more of the heavy books, stacking them on the floor next to me. There was an entire second row of books behind the encyclopedias. Did he run out of room? I snagged one of the hidden books, my eyes widening in shock when I peered at the cover.

“What is this?” I muttered, flipping the book over to read the back.

It was a romance book. I had no idea he read these kinds of books. The cover was a man with no shirt on and abs for days. I moved to flip through the pages until I realized something was added. He had what looked like little tabs throughout the book. My curiosity was burning now. I hurriedly pulled a few more books from their hiding spot and took the entire stack back to the chaise. I had a feeling this would be a great way to get my mind off my mom’s phone call.

After making myself comfortable under the blanket, I picked a random book, opening it to where he’d marked one of the pages.

“Which do you want more? My tongue or cock?”

CHAPTER 18

talie

My jaw dropped. I slammed the book shut, staring at the cover in shock. This wasn’t some sweet romance. I quickly reached for another book that was tabbed. Like the previous one, it opened on a sex scene. Except this one was about a girl learning how to make lava cake—while she was tied on the kitchen counter. Then the guy invited his two friends to join to do a taste test by putting the food on her.

My fingers gripped the book as I read the entire chapter, the scene playing in my mind like a movie. My stomach fluttered, and I shifted on the chaise. I had no idea books could be so hot. I was in utter shock Damian read these. But I could see the appeal. I thumbed through the book, finding another tab. After reading it, I put the book down only to pick up another one.

The next chapter I read wasn’t about sex, but a woman trying to communicate her needs to an asshole guy who apparently didn’t know how to listen. I grabbed another book, not wasting any time going to the marked chapter. This one was about a woman getting spanked. With the man’s hand, then with a paddle. My cheeks flushed as my lower stomach flared with heat. I’d never been spanked, but reading this made me want to try it.

After a while, I put the stacks of books away, only to grab more. I settled back into my spot and continued to read. The scenes were all different. Some of them were about sex, while others were about relationships. He seemed to have every kind of romance. There were sweet ones and dark ones.