Page 23 of Solemn Vow

Slowly, I do as he says. He digs his fingernails into my ass, and I groan.

“You don’t understand, Marlena, do you? I’m done playing nice. I want answers.” He pulls his hand away and delivers more lashes to each cheek with the end of the looped belt.

Tears burn beneath my eyelids.

“Fine!” I cry out when another sharp lash crosses the underside of my ass. “I’ll answer you.”

“Good.” He drops the belt onto my back and runs his palm over my hot, aching ass. “What is your history with Jimmy?”

I turn my head, pressing my forehead into the cool surface of the table.

“Yes, I used to work with him. We worked for Michael,” I say. “It was years ago. I don’t work with either of them anymore,” I add.

“What sort of work did you do?” He slides one finger beneath the string of my thong.

“Cars. I helped him steal cars.” I’m vaguely aware of the material of my panties being moved to the side but am sharply aware of his fingertip sliding between my ass cheeks.

“You stole cars?” He moves further down, pushing away my thong as he reaches my sex. My wet sex.

My cheeks burn. He’ll see my body’s reaction. I won’t be able to hide it now.

“Yeah.” I squeeze my thighs together, which only earns me a smack of his hand across my thigh.

“Open your legs for me,moy sladkiy voin. You’ve lost all privileges of hiding.” His hand easily works between my thighs before I relent.

There’s no stopping him now. His fingers are on me, gliding easily through my wet folds.

I bite my tongue to keep a moan from escaping when the thick pad of his fingertip finds my clit and gently rubs it in a circle.

“You don’t hate me as much as you say,” he says as he continues to massage my clit.

“It’s not my fault,” I groan, fisting my hands. Mind over matter, isn’t that what I was told growing up? My body isn’tlistening to anything my mind is telling it. Just another lie I was told.

“The cars, how many did you help him steal?” He continues his questions while increasing the pressure on my clit.

“I don’t know. Thirty? Maybe more.” It’s the truth, I don’t know the exact number. My job wasn’t to keep tally.

“Did you work for anyone other than Michael Agosti? When Jimmy went to prison maybe?” His finger leaves my clit, gliding to my entrance. “Now would be the wrong time to stay silent,moy sladkiy voin.”

“No. When Jimmy went to prison, I got out. I was eighteen by then.” I push my ass toward him, toward his finger, toward the pleasure he’s holding just outside my grasp.

“Why were you meeting Jimmy yesterday morning, then?” He eases the tip of his finger inside. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. It was nothing.” I can’t tell him; I won’t get him involved in my mess.

“Lying again?” He pulls his finger out, leaving me feeling empty and wanting. “You weren’t talking about pulling more jobs?”

“No. I swear it. I was telling him that I wouldn’t.” It’s enough of the truth.

“He wanted you to, though? He still wants you to join his crew?”

“Yes.” I look over my shoulder at him, surprised to find his eyes fixed on me.

“Did he mention Kraze?”

“No. He’s working again, but I don’t know where or what. I said I wanted nothing to do with him.”

He stares at me for a long moment. “And the lie last night? To cover going to Michael’s house?”

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