Page 63 of Vengeful Lies

Eli squeezes my hand, pulling me back to him as if aware of where my thoughts have flooded.

Everyone focuses on Eli as he stands, perfectly dressed and poised, and I wonder, truly wonder, why he hasn’t already found a wife. Why has he dragged me into his games? These might not necessarily be good people. The majority of them are killers, not that I can talk. But even I can tell this family is special.

If he wanted to sleep around, I’m sure Michelle would have let him, as long as it meant she got to become Mrs. Eli Monti. He could have any obedient wife, so was he truly opposed to being weighed down in commitment like me? Is that why he thinks I’m the perfect fit? Because we’re both so disposable to one another?

He nods his head, and everyone claps. Eli smiles at his father, and I’m hesitant to let him bring my hand to his lips as he looks down at me adoringly. I know that look has to be fake. His light eyes emit something into me that I choose to accept as bravery as I stand on weak legs to join him.

I shouldn’t be here.

This isn’t my place to stay.

After sticking to the shadows for so long, it feels strange to be in the spotlight.

Especially beside a man like Eli Monti.

“We’ll make you all proud. I look forward to owning New York.” He salutes his father, and his mother looks extremely proud. I notice Dutton take a large gulp of his drink as if swallowing his revulsion, and it’s then that I truly agree he might be the only smart one at the table.

Then Eli’s gaze shifts to me. “To a happy marriage.” He salutes again, and I offer a tight smile, wishing for the world to swallow me whole.

“To a happy marriage,” I repeat, and the sinister smile on his perfect fucking lips widens.

I have a feeling I may not make it out of this alive.

CHAPTER 32

Eli

“Where’s your ring?” I ask furiously as we leave my parents’ home.

“Can we just focus on the fact that you’ve just told your entire family we’re marrying within a month, and how fucking crazy that is?” she hisses in reply.

I encroach into her space, pushing her back against the car.

“I’m the one running the show here, and you better learn to fall in line,” I growl. “Why were you late tonight?” I demand because that’s what pissed me off the most.

She looks away. “I’m not some dog that jumps just because you said so.”

“Oh, but you’ll happily let me fuck you like a dog.”

Her scornful gaze meets mine. “You’re such a fucking asshole.”

I smile at her now, the urge to snap her neck strong. “You humiliated me in there. You were not only late, but then you walked in to meet my parents without wearing your engagement ring?”

She tries to shove me, but I crowd her even more now that we’re out of sight of any onlookers. “I never asked for any of this!” she shouts.

“We have an agreement, and if you want to see your father’s fucking guns again, you’ll do as you’retold.”

I’m livid because I know she’s hiding things from me, even though I accepted that fact when I chose to blackmail her into this situation. Despite that, I still can’t help but want to break her into submission.

“Your such an ass,” she says defiantly. And that’s when I see it, the glisten in her eyes. My heart falls to my stomach, and my brow furrows in confusion because I can’t even understand it myself.

I go to touch her cheek, but she slaps my hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

My rage morphs into something else. It turns itself on me. For as fierce as this woman is, there’s still something precious inside her to break.

I take a step back, confused by my swirling emotions. “Get in the car,” I say quietly as I open the door. She shoves past me, and I slam the door behind her.

I’m so angry.

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