Page 27 of Ruthless Oath

“I can see you’re going to need a lesson in manners.”

“You can’t force me to marry you. I won’t do it. I won’t say the words. I won’t even show up.” I waved my hands in the air. “You can’t make me marry you. No one gets married against their will.”

“As if you’ll have a choice in the matter. Once you get into my car, you’re not leaving your father’s house again. I’ll make sure of it.” He laughed, and my stomach churned.

“Then I won’t get into your car.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Again, like you have a choice.”

I glanced around the dimly lit area. “I’ll kick and scream. Someone is bound to hear me. Marchello is upstairs. There’s security all over this place.”

“Marchello won’t intervene.” Danny looked around the desolate lot. “Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

Coming here at night wasn’t my best idea, but I was under the impression that I’d be safe with Marchello. Maybe I should have agreed to the sex.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I pointed at him. “I’ll tell my father you’re abusive. He doesn’t like it when I’m mistreated. I’ll lie and tell him you hit me.”

“Keep it up and you’re not going to have to lie.” He grabbed my arm and tried to get me into the car.

If I got into his car, I’d never have a chance. I had to get to my mother and hope she would side with me.

“Get away from me!” I yelled.

“I told you to stay away from him,” Danny said. “Now you’re going to pay, you stupid bitch.”

“She isn’t the only one who is going to pay.”

I turned to find Marchello standing in front of me with his gun aimed at Danny. Six men stood with him.

Thank God!

“I can promise you that.” Marchello glanced at me before returning his attention back to the lunatic who thought I would marry him.

“What is this?” Danny released my arm. “Do you really think this is going to sit well with the other families?”

“The last time I checked, you aren’t affiliated with the families,” Marchello said. “You’re not even Italian.”

“You’re a dying breed. Even your father knows that. Isn’t that why he fled?”

Shit.

“Fuck you.” Marchello clutched my arm and brought me to him, shoving the gun in my side. His men all raised their weapons, holding Danny back.

“What are you doing?” Danny asked.

“Taking a hostage,” Marchello said.

“What?” I glanced over my shoulder and stared into his menacing eyes, but the hard metal of the gun was a little distracting, so I didn’t squirm.

“Are you insane?” Danny snarled, but the rage in his expression was aimed at me more than Marchello. “Do you see what you’ve done by coming here?”

This isn’t my fault. Well, maybe I could take some of the blame.

“I’ve been known to do some crazy shit.” Marchello tightened his grip on me. “Do you really want to try me? Someone could get hurt.”

“Let her go,” Danny said. “You can’t kidnap Gian’s daughter. You know the consequences for that.”

“Watch me,” Marchello said. “I don’t give a fuck about consequences.”

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