Page 74 of Pure Vengeance

“You’re worse than Dante,” I muttered as I pulled the pan of leftover gnocchi from the fridge. “Always begging for table scraps.”

“You know what they say…” He grinned, reminding me of the man I’d once thought he was. “The way to a man’s heart?—”

“Is through the fourth and fifth ribs with an eight-inch carving knife.” I scooped a helping to a plate and put it in the microwave, leaving the gnocchi out for him to heat up his own. “Have you signed my divorce papers yet?”

“Are you going to quit refusing alimony?” he countered.

“No.”

The jackass had the nerve to smirk at me. “Then I’m not signing them.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“I know.” He warmed a plate for himself, then grated a generous amount of parmesan on top. “But I’m an asshole who truly wants to do right by you.”

I sighed and ate my food even though my appetite fled. Why the hell was I even fighting about this? It was like my subconscious was looking for ways to stay married to him.

Ugh. No, thank you.

Besides, letting him give me alimony didn’t mean I had to use it. I didn’t even have to keep it. Hiding a smile, I carried my plate to the sink.

“You win. Bring me the damned papers.”

“I never thought you’d give in,” he murmured as he crowded me at the sink.

His warm breath tickled the back of my neck and I shivered, hating that I wanted him to touch me. “Actually, you’re going to double your original offer.”

“I’m not complaining, but why?” He reached around me and took my plate, then rinsed it.

“I’m donating it to a women’s shelter.”

He stilled, making me dart out of reach before he lashed out. Instead of chasing me, his shoulders shook with laughter.

“Touché, Natasha.”

Lachlan

I laid our divorce agreement on the table in front of her before handing her a pen.

“Put in the amount you want and initial it,” I said.

Natasha’s hand didn’t shake—unlike when she signed our marriage certificate. I couldn’t decide if I was happy or not.

Win the battle, lose the war.

At least my sister would be happy.

Despite my best efforts, Natasha was just as antagonistic as she’d been when she moved in with Dante, and I still didn’t know how to fix us.

I truly fucking hated how she flinched whenever I broke her six-foot bubble of personal space. I would have given anything for a do-over so I could have ended her father twelve years ago.

For a moment, I wondered if I should tell her about the real wedding gift I’d arranged, but it wasn’t quite finished. Finn hadn’t been able to locate three of her father’s former guards, and I didn’t want to say anything until they were all dead.

“There you go.” She returned the pen and folded her arms over her chest. “Your turn.”

Hiding a grimace, I put my initials next to the change and signed the bottom. “I guess that’s it. You’re a free woman.”

“Thanks.” Rising to her feet, she added, “I’m moving out tomorrow.”

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