Page 22 of Vow of Vengeance

“Bianca is returning to her place,” Nico says. “Ready to ride, sir?”

He pushes the button on the speaker to answer. “Yes. Thanks.”

I glance over as Haze leans forward, sliding a shiny black metal box from underneath the car's front passenger seat. He brings the box to his lap and sticks his hand in his pocket, but it comes up empty.

“Where is that damn key?” he asks himself, pushing his hand in his other pocket. What is he doing now?

My heart lurches to my throat. I back further away from him, pressing against the car door. Only a moment ago, he was holding my face in his hand, staring deep into my eyes. Now,I’m wondering what is in this box that he keeps easily accessible, yet under lock and key. How quickly the delicate feeling of trust between us dissipates.

Could he have a gun? Was he only keeping me calm up until now? Teasing me, toying with me, playing me?

Dangling me like a cat toying with a little mouse until he could get me onto Bachman property.

Does he mean for me to pay this debt…with my life?

He was waiting for me to misstep, giving him a reason to punish me for the final time. He told me to stay in the car—I didn’t. And now, he’s brought out this box.

My thoughts do a one-eighty. I’m being silly, ridiculous even. It’s not a gun. He won’t hurt me.

“I must have dropped the key on the floor.” He bends down, dragging his fingers over the mat and carpet before him.

What is in that case?

I take deep, steady breaths, trying to remain calm. He’s busy searching and not paying attention to me. My hand creeps toward the car door. I’m getting out of here. I will run.

Three, two, one!

Bracing myself for the lunge, I yank the door handle.

Nothing happens.

Did you think the door would open, Ophelia?Would this pristine sedan with bulletproof-looking glassnothave child locks? He did call himself “daddy” after all.

Sitting up straight, he turns to face me, brow knit tightly. “What are you doing?”

“What’s in the box?” I counter.

“I found the key.” That sexy, cocky smile spreads over his handsome face. How is it that I’m terrified the man is going to kill me, yet I’m getting all wet and slippery down there? “I was just going to show you.”

His deft fingers move swiftly, inserting a small silver key into the lock. He turns it with a click, and I brace myself. The latch pops open.

Staring at the box, I wait for him to lift the lid.

He begins to open it and then pauses, looking at me. “Wait—what did you think it was?” he asks.

I tell the truth. “A gun.”

“I’d never hurt you,” he says. “I told you that.”

I clear my throat. “How quickly you forget what you did to me earlier.”

“You mean…” He leans over me, his lips so close to my ear that my skin tickles as he speaks. “When I put you over my lap and spanked you like the naughty girl you are?”

I gulp, pulling away.

He stares at me, making me wetter just by running the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip as I watch. “I’ll punish you when you’re bad, but I’ll never hurt you. Not like that.”

I’m struggling to see the difference, but now isn’t the time to ask for clarity.

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