Page 29 of Impure Vows

“Fair?” He scoffs, leaning closer, his lips brushing my ear. “Life isn’t fair. Get used to it.”

My heart pounds in my chest, each beat echoing the fear coursing through me. “And if I go with you, Sophia stays safe?”

“She’ll be as safe as you make her,” he replies, his eyes locking onto mine. “Your actions will determine her fate.”

I can’t wrap my head around the twisted logic he’s presenting. “You’re a monster.” I glare at him, every fiber of my being filled with rage and fear. "I don't even know your name," I spit out, my voice trembling but defiant.

His smirk widens, arrogance clouding his features. "The name's Dante, sweetheart."

Before he can say anything more, adrenaline surges through me. With a burst of energy, I push him to the side, making him growl in surprise. Rolling from under him, I scramble to my feet, my bare skin hitting the rough, shitty hotel carpet. I run for the door, heart pounding like a drum in my chest.

"Aliyah!" His voice is a dark, menacing roar behind me.

My fingertips graze the cold metal of the door handle, hope surging within me. But then, strong arms wrap around my waist, yanking me back. I crash against a wall of muscle, my back pressed to his chest. His grip tightens, fingers digging into my skin, and I gasp.

"Thought you could run?" His voice, low and dangerous, slithers into my ears, sending shivers down my spine. His breath is hot against my neck, and I can't help the tremor that runs through me.

"Let me go!" I thrash against him, but it's like trying to move a mountain. His arms are iron bars, unyielding and immovable. Panic surges, and I claw at his hands, desperate for freedom, but he doesn’t even flinch.

“You won’t get that chance again,” he whispers in my ear, each word laced with menace. His breath is hot, and the proximity makes my stomach churn with fear and something else I refuse to acknowledge.

“You’re sick,” I spit out, still struggling. My heart pounds, adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I can’t break free. He’s too strong, too relentless.

His laugh rumbles through the air, dark and amused, sending a chill down my spine. It’s a sound that makes my skin crawl, as if he finds my fear entertaining, a twisted game he’s eager to play.

I struggle against Dante, my strength ebbing with every futile attempt to break free. Tears stream down my face as the reality of my situation crashes over me. My body goes limp, the fight leaving me completely. Defeated. I hear Dante hum in approval, his grip on me tightening momentarily before he turns me around to face him.

The room’s shitty lighting casts eerie shadows across his face, accentuating his chiseled features. I take in the sharp jawline, the dark, piercing eyes, and the dangerous allure that twists his handsome face into something monstrous. It’s a jarring juxtaposition—his attractiveness marred by the sheer darkness of his soul.

Dante cups my face, his touch strangely gentle given the circumstances and the ultimatum hanging over us. My heart races, caught between confusion and defeat. His hands hold me delicately, forcing me to meet his gaze. Those dark eyes bore into mine, searching for something I can't fathom.

“Why are you doing this?” My voice trembles, but I manage to keep it steady enough to demand an answer.

He studies me, his thumb brushing against my cheek in a gesture that feels almost... tender. “Because you fascinate me, Aliyah.”

“Fascinate?” I repeat, incredulous. “Is that your justification for ruining my life?”

His lips curl into a smirk. “Ruining? I’d say I’m improving it.”

“By threatening my best friend? By stalking me?” I bite back, my fear momentarily giving way to anger. “You’re delusional.”

His grip tightens just enough to remind me of his strength. “Careful,” he warns, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t want to test my patience.”

My anger fizzles, replaced by a cold dread. “What do you want from me?” I whisper, my voice cracking.

His gaze softens slightly, but it’s more unsettling than comforting. “I want you to understand your place.”

I shake my head, tears threatening to spill. “I can’t... I won’t live like that.”

“You don’t have a choice,” he says simply, as if stating a fact. “Accept it, and things will be easier for you.”

A shiver runs through me at his words. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll suffer,” he replies, his tone devoid of any emotion. “And so will Sophia.”

The mention of Sophia twists the knife of fear deeper into my heart. “Please, just leave her out of this. She has nothing to do with it.”

His eyes narrow. “She has everything to do with it. You care about her, which makes her leverage.”

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