Page 4 of Vow to Corrupt You
Suddenly, our spacious living room seems so small—too small to accommodate his commanding presence. The wooden table in the middle of the room doesn’t seem to be enough of a barrier between us. I want to run away, but at the same time, I cannot move, as if his gaze alone is holding me captive.
“Mr. Romano,” the sound of my father clearing his throat makes me twitch. He speaks hesitantly, knowing he’s treading on the thinnest of ice. “My wife and I agreed that our oldest daughter, Valeria, would be the best match for you. Valeria agrees, too. She’s eager to—”
“I want her.”
Nikos’ stern tone slices through mid-sentence like a sharp blade through soft flesh. His deadly brown eyes still on me, making me tremble.
Caterina gasps, Papà’s breath seems to halt, and Nikos… he doesn’t even flinch. He’s as still as stone, not even a flicker of movement crossing his body. I’m not even sure he’s breathing. Perhaps the rumors are true. He’s dead, and the Dark Lord himself possesses his corpse.Oh, the things people whisper about him.But experiencing his presence firsthand... that’s not even funny. I’m inclined to believe every word of it.
A sense of panic surges through me. I finally break out of the invisible chains of his stony, piercing gaze and glance at my father, whose face drains of color.
“Mr. Romano, Serena is my youngest.” Papà’s nostrils move heavily with each of his ragged breaths. “She only turned twenty-one this year, and Valeria—”
“That’s the thing, I make the rules everywhere. I want her, or you can forget about the deal—and say goodbye to Salvatore.”
