Page 2 of Beautiful Vows

“Keep walking.” Antonio’s voice is gravelly as he beckons me forward.

My eyes roam around the room as I continue to make small strides in the large office.

Despite its size, the room feels like a cell, reminding me of the magnitude of my failure. Maybe it’s the loaded bookshelves around the room, making it feel claustrophobic, but the walls seem to close in on me with every step I make deeper into the lion's den.

“You expected to rid the world of us tonight?” Antonio laughs. “Though, I dare say, I’m impressed with your gall.” His voice doesn’t have one ounce of disdain—it's more like he’s disappointed.

He knew I was coming tonight... but how?

I clench my fists, my knuckles turning white as anger and frustration bubble within me. How dare he belittle my purpose, my determination? I’m no pawn in his game. I’m the person equipped to outlay justice, the one who will bring retribution to those who killed my mother.

“But you let your guard down, Aurelia. You became too hungry... too desperate for this to end.” He continues. I flinch when he presses his gun on my back to move me forward.

I want to reply to him, but I’ll hold my secrets inside and let him do the talking.

Dominic takes a step in front of me, his gun pointed at my body. I don’t flinch.

He doesn’t speak, but his eyes gleam with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“You see, Aurelia, I knew this day would come. You came for revenge, but you let down your guard and lost your focus. You should have learned more first.”

My mind races, desperately seeking a glimmer of hope, as I try to reclaim control of this desperate situation. But as I stand here, staring at the gun pointing at my head, I realize the harsh truth—I failed.

Jove would say the same thing right now. “You lost your focus!”

And I did.

But it doesn't stop the flicker of defiance igniting within me.

“I’m not defeated.” My voice is steady despite the turmoil raging within. “You can kill me, but it won’t prevent you from being hunted.”

“Is that right?” Antonio chuckles, a sound devoid of any genuine mirth. “You always were a stubborn one, Aurelia. But stubbornness alone won’t save you now. What are you going to do now?”

He walks around me and stands beside Dominic.

I narrow my eyes at his assumption.

My father says I’m stubborn, and maybe I am—but he can’t say it.

“You don’t know me.” My voice is harsh as I hold his gaze, refusing to show any signs of weakness. He glances at my face as I grimace because the pain in my leg throbs relentlessly.

I try to hold it back, but he notices.

“Only someone stubborn would try to kill me in my home when she is still getting over being shot herself.”

My shoulders sag, I try not to look crushed, but deep down I know he has me cornered, for now. Hopefully, once he stops waving the gun in front of me, I’ll see my way out of here.

Unless they kill you.

I need to find a way to turn the tables once again.

Dominic laughs and the fire within me burns brighter than ever, fueling my desire to dismantle the Syndicate. Kill every man for what they did to my mother.

You have two guns pointing at your face—you failed.

And as I stare down the barrel of Antonio’s gun, I know I need to do something different, otherwise this will soon be over.

“Did you send an assassin to kill me or was it only Eduardo?” I ask Antonio as I press my fingers over my throbbing thigh.

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