Page 14 of Vow of Vengeance

We leave the apartment, stepping out into the crisp night. I’m hoping for a moment of peace, but even the two flights of stairs don’t slow her down. She has more questions—too many—and she asks them freely.

“Why were they invited to the Villa in the first place?” She peeks over her shoulder at me. “Do they know about our arrangement?”

I shift the strap of the duffle higher up on my shoulder. How much should I tell her? I decide to give her the basic outline.

“Last night, your family received a call inviting them to the Villa tonight for a big announcement about your education,” I explain.

“Ah,” she says, turning the corner to descend the next flight of stairs. “My mom mentioned something about the invitation and dinner this morning when I was clearing up breakfast.”

“Tonight, over Wagyu steaks and wine, Emilia is charming them, and Liam is telling them that you’ve won a Bachman-sponsored scholarship for international travel and that you’ll be studying abroad next semester.”

She piles on the questions. “Wouldn’t I have been at the dinner too? Don’t they expect me to be home when they return? They’ll wonder where I am.”

“The Bachman Foundation for Higher Education does exist, and each year chooses a student to sponsor to study abroad. We’d never pick one from a school as affluent as yours.” Weighed down by the bags, she’s getting ahead of me. I don’t want her more than an arm’s reach away. “Slow down.”

She eases her stride. “So why wouldn’t I have been invited to this fancy dinner?”

“Parents are brought to a dinner whenever a gift is announced, and a professional film crew surprises the student alone in their home. They pack their bag, then they’re immediately whisked away,” I explain.

“Thank goodness you didn’t bring a film crew. Would have been X-rated,” she quips.

We reach the exit door and step outside. She takes a few focused breaths as I struggle to catch mine.

Stalling with sneakers planted on the sidewalk, she peers up at me. “What about the money my mom owes you? Didn’t you say you were going to punish her? Make her pay? Are you ever going to tell her you’ve kidnapped me for payment?”

“I will when the time is right,” I admit.

She throws her hands on her hips, eyeing me. “Making sure I’m marriage material first?”

Liam wanted it this way—not me. I would have rather broken down the door and ripped Ophelia from Leah’s arms for what she did to me. I have no idea why he asked me to take this slow.

It wasn’t my choice, but I need the air of control, so I say, “I’m biding my time.”

“You’ll have to tell my grandma the truth.” She shakes her head. “I feel sorry for you when that time comes. You’ll need your full security on board.”

“Let’s focus on the present,” I say, ready to be in the car.

She’s eyeing the door to the stairs behind her. She’s stalling, trying to find an escape route, she asks, “Why me, though?”

“Don’t even think of running,” I say. “I may be out of breath from those stairs, but I promise—I will catch you.”

“I wasn’t thinking of running,” she lies. “I just want to ask a few questions before I hop in a stranger’s car.”

“Like what?” I snap.

She shrugs, lifting her brows in an attempt to look innocent. “Tons of people have crossed the Bachman family, I’m sure. Couldn’t you choose from one of them? I mean—you all are millionaires, for goodness’ sake. There’s got to be some golddiggers out there eyeing you guys.” She takes a step away from me.

“Billionaires, actually,” I correct her, stepping forward and closing the gap between us.

Taking another step back, she says, “I’m sure there are women falling over themselves to marry a Bachman billionaire. You know—it’s not too late. You all could send me on a little trip, and at the end of the semester, I magically pop back up. What my mom did wasn’t that bad.”

Not that bad?

I step closer.

Heat and rage boil inside me. I tell myself to calm down—she’s young and naïve. She has no idea about these things.

What her mother did to me…

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