Page 51 of Ruthless Oath

I got up from the floor and knocked the empty vodka bottle off the desk, sending the family heirloom crashing against the hardwood. The shards of glass scattered across the room, and the delicate bottle wasn’t the only thing that was shattered tonight.

My confidence in myself had been shaken. Could I save our falling empire?

I stared up at the sound of Lissia’s feet pacing the room above me.

Taking this out on her would be easy—to blame her for my father’s disappointment in me. If she hadn’t sought me out, I wouldn’t be in this mess. But instead, I was stuck here dealing with a spoiled princess who didn’t know what kind of danger she was in.

She thought being here was some kind of game. And she had chosen me because she believed I was the lesser of two evils. She didn’t want to marry Collins, so she betrayed her father and ran to me.

Stupid girl.

I put one foot in front of the other, taking each deliberate step up the stairs. My head told me to leave her in her room. I could have Ricardo deal with her tonight. I needed to get my head on straight and figure out the best way to help my family.

My steps were more determined as my strides got longer. I didn’t want to leave her alone. The monster inside me craved her fire. She was the match to my gasoline.

I reached for the door handle of her room. Once I crossed the threshold, there would be no extinguishing this clusterfuck of a blaze I was about to ignite.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I opened the door, preparing for the impending explosion that was us.

She barely raised her gaze as I entered the room. Clothes and empty boxes were strewn all over the place.

I motioned to her still half-naked body. “You haven’t done what I told you to do.”

“I like the underwear.” She dumped a bag of clothes onto the bed and picked through them, inspecting the price tags. “Whoever picked these out has impeccable, very expensive taste.”

“Are you impressed?”

“Considering money is no problem for you, I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She put a few items in the dresser by the window. “What do you want?”

“Something only you can give me.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ve caused me nothing but aggravation since we came here.”

“You cause your own aggravation.”

When she adjusted the shorts that had wedged into her ass, I couldn’t stop staring. And my cock couldn’t take it anymore. Fucking her might not be on the table at this moment, but that wasn’t my only option.

“That might be so, but now you’re going to relieve some of that stress.” I slammed the door, causing her to jump. “Get on your knees.”

Twelve

Lissia

As temptingas Marchello’s offer was, I wouldn’t give in so easily this time. He viewed me as a traitor, but he didn’t know anything about me. Well, he was going to learn a thing or two right now.

“No.” I continued to fold and put away the clothes he had gifted me. “I’m not dropping to my knees for you.”

“Why not?”

“Because the last time I did that, it didn’t go so well.”

“So you’re not as innocent as you claim to be?”

“I am a virgin. I didn’t lie about that.”

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