Page 3 of Bound in Promise
And yet he’s not the one acting like a psychopath right now.
I know Dante has a past, a violent one, but I’ve seen sides of him that Liam never will. He fought to protect as many of my dreams as he could, paying my tuition at Thronewood and giving me the time and space to study. I’ve laid next to him in bed and listened to him sleep as he held me close. He’s been vulnerable with me even while the outside world has labeled him as broody and withdrawn.
I trust him.
“You’re missing the point, Liam. We can work together.”
He shakes his head back and forth in denial. “I’m not working with anyone. I’m taking your money and, if you’re a good girl and promise to suck my dick every night, I’ll take you with me.”
I lean away from him in disgust, turning my head to the side. “You’re a pig, Liam.”
“And you’re a tease, Vee. But if you wanna act like you’re too good for me, fine. Honestly, if I sell you to Angelo, I’ll make so much fucking money to go with that damn trust that it won’t fucking matter?—”
I snap my eyes back to his, unable to stop the next words out of my mouth. “Then why aren’t you taking me to him? You’re going the wrong way if you want to deal with Angelo.” Liam rolls his eyes, and that little maneuver tells me the real reason I’m not in Lombardi’s hands. “You’re scared of him.”
“I’m not scared of him.”
“You are,” I taunt, tired of Liam’s threats. “And you said it first, he’ll always want something from you. Maybe he’d just take me and not pay you a dime. Maybe he’ll say I cover part of the debt. But you’re not willing to risk it. You need to get out of here because you’re so damn stubborn?—”
“I’ll fucking kill you if you don’t shut up,” Liam barks out. “You entitled bitch. You’re not better than me, and I know what I’m doing.”
“You don’t. You’re just some scared piece of shit that—” Liam’s fist crashes into the side of my face, and my cheek immediately throbs with pain.
My hair is in my face, but I don’t dare push it out of my eyes. I’m too shocked that he hit me to do anything about it.
“Listen to me, bitch,” Liam warns, his head lowering as his voice drips venom. “When that money drops in your account, you’re going to withdraw it. And we’re gonna check every single day to make sure you don’t try any stupid shit.”
“You broke my phone.”
“I’ve got one, dumbass. You’ll check it on mine so I can see what you’re doing.”
“And once you get the money? Then what?” I challenge.
“Then I’ll figure it out.”
I could say he’s not going to get away with this.
But I have a funny feeling he just might.
2
DANTE
Thursday, September 26, 6:00 AM
I should’ve known.
My nephew has clearly lost his shit and this time he’s gone too far. His attack at the dorm should’ve been the end of it. I should’ve kept Victoria safe with me, in my sight at all times. But no, I couldn’t take away her beloved culinary classes. I was too fucking soft. Her classes could have waited until I had things under control. Isn’t that the sort of thing leave of absences are for?
At the very least, I never should have let her go to Graham without me there. I should have waited in the hallways, made sure she was safe while she worked toward her dream.
Now she’s fuck knows where and I am losing my mind. I need a clue, some hint at where Liam is taking her. To that end, I broke into my dead brother’s mansion. Well, calling it a break-in is being generous. Apparently, no one thought to change the locks or security code after I moved out.
And now I have my brother’s widow in a chokehold.
I’ll keep her here until she fucking tells me where Victoria is.
“I’m losing my patience,” I growl. I’m more angry at myself than Marissa. My job was to protect Victoria, and I failed her. “Hurry the fuck up?—”
