Page 20 of Ruthless Vow

“Fine. But I’m not cleaning it.”

“The cat?”

“The litter box. Vito’s going to have to do it. Or Joe.”

I close my eyes for a second, wondering how this became my life.

Then I glance at the desk and gesture at the wrapper of the burger Luca had for lunch. “You do know that burgers come from animals, right?”

Luca looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “Yeah, but I’m not the one who killed it.”

7

Nicole

I don’t knowhow long I wait for Leo’s return. It feels like hours. I sit on the stool, then I stand and stretch as best I can with the length of chain Leo left me. Then I sit on the stool again. I’m thirsty and I need to pee.

Finally, the door opens. Vito, one of Leo’s thugs steps inside.

Unlike Leo and his entire family, and even Luca, who is family-adjacent, Vito isn’t handsome. He has a face like a sledgehammer. A sledgehammer who’s recently sucked on an entire lemon.

“Is Joe with you?” I ask. They’re usually a matched pair. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one without the other.

Without saying a word, Vito unlocks the cuffs. He holds them up for a second, frowning at them, while I rub my newly freed wrists. Then he glances at the cart of torture implements against the far wall.

“Why’d he use these instead of those?” he asks with a jut of his chin toward the unpadded cuffs on the cart.

“Is that rhetorical? Or do you think I have an answer?” I ask.

He glares at me for a long moment then holds a blindfold out toward me.

“Put it on,” he instructs.

“No,” I say simply as I get to my feet.

He folds his arms and waits, blocking the door. I’m not short, and my cardio fitness is damn good from my five-mile runs, but I know I don’t have a chance in a hand-to-hand fight against a mountain of muscle like him.

I’ve known some girls who could flirt or charm their way out of any situation. I’m not one of those girls. And I never wanted to be. But now I see that a skill like that might come in handy.

Hell, maybe I should give it a try. What do I have to lose? Other than my pride.

“If I put this on, do you promise not to let me trip?” I say as smoothly as I can, adding a bashful smile, trying not to gag at how ridiculous I sound.

“Put the fucking blindfold on or you’re not leaving here. Those are the orders.”

Flirtation fail. I’ll take it and learn from it.

“Maybe I’ll stay here.”

“You’re not staying here. Boss’s orders.”

“I’m not leaving here? I’m not staying here? Which is it?” I ask sweetly.

He glares.

“Where are we?” I ask. “Still in Vegas? Outside the city?”

His expression doesn’t budge.

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