Page 56 of Solemn Vow

“His friends were over, and they were watching the baseball game. His team lost and I guess he had money riding on it because he got really mad about it. His friends left and he told me to clean up the mess they’d left in the living room. Empty beer bottles and stuff. He’d had too much to drink.”

She looks away for a second. “I should have known to keep my mouth shut, but I didn’t.”

I’m regretting more than ever that this man isn’t alive. “What did he do?”

“I don’t remember what he said, but I muttered that it wasn’t my fault that he lost and not to take it out on me. Or something like that. It made it worse.”

“Marlena. How did you get all these cuts?” I trail my fingertip over a long one on her shoulder.

“He backhanded me pretty hard. I fell through the coffee table.” Tears shine in her eyes with the memory, but she blinks them away and looks up at the ceiling before they can fall.

“Fucking bastard.” I want to rip him from his grave so I can pummel him to hell.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” She tries to laugh. “If I hadn’t been wearing a tank top, I probably wouldn’t have been cut so much. But it was summer, and the AC wasn’t working.”

“Was he drunk a lot?”

She nods. “Yeah. I mean he’d stop every once in a while. But eventually, it would go back to the same.”

How much did my girl endure under her father’s roof?

“Last night when Pavel was drinking, you were getting nervous.” She’d practically been in my lap by the time we finished the game.

“An old habit.” She shrugs. “I still get anxious when I see men drinking. I can’t help it.”

Of course not. How many times did she sit and watch her asshole father drink himself stupid? Every sip must have been terrifying for her, knowing what came after he’d gotten himself good and drunk.

“Then I’ll be sure no one drinks too much when you’re with me,” I promise.

Most of the men wouldn’t get drunk with our women around anyway; they remain in control for themselves. But now and then someone can have one too many.

“You don’t have to do that.” She dips her shoulders beneath the water and leans her hair back.

“Of course I do.” I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her to me, pushing us to the deepest water where her feet won’t touch. She wraps her hands around my neck.

“You really don’t, Viktor. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can,moy sladkiy voin.” I kiss the scar on her shoulder.

I kiss her neck, just below her earlobe.

“What does that mean? That name you call me all the time?”

I lick the water from her chest. “Moy sladkiy voin? It means my sweet warrior.” I kiss the corner of her mouth.

“A warrior?” She pulls away with her eyes wide and a blush forming already on her cheeks.

“Yes. You are fierce, strong, and independent.” I bring us back to where her feet can touch and lean her against the wall.

Her eyebrows rise. “You think that about me?”

I shrug. “It’s who you are, Marlena.” I brush her hair away from her neck, and kiss her again, then lower and lower still until my tongue touches the tip of her nipple.

She rolls her shoulders back.

I slide my hands down her body, beneath the water until I find the small patch of curls. Threading my fingers through the short hair, I fist what I can and watch as her mouth drops open, her eyes widen, and the soft relief of pain washes over her.

“You said you wanted fun, let’s have fun.” I tighten my grip.

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