Page 33 of Cruel Vows

For a moment, I stand there, shell-shocked to see feisty Ellie standing in front of me.

She spent the rest of her second week here acting like an angel, and now she’s back to being demon Ellie.

I didn’t know how much I was looking forward to her snarky tone until it was gone. She brings an energy to the house that’s been missing for a long time.

Dad never allowed anyone to talk back, cutting out tongues several times for anyone who dared to get a little too brave.

It’s one of the things I want to change the moment I get my hands on the mafia.

Ellie cocks a hip, planting one hand on it while the other waves the spatula in my direction. “I just worked a fifteen-hour shift and I’m not in the mood to gag on anything belonging to you.”

The corner of my mouth tips upward as I sit down at the island. “You sure about that?”

Her cheeks flush slightly as she turns her back to me. “I should go back to work, so I don’t have to deal with this.”

“You’re the one who didn’t want me going out and fucking other women. That means that you get to sit here and deal with this.”

She gives me the coldest glare known to man while scooping waffles onto a plate and sliding it over to me. “Sleep with other women all you want. I get to sleep with other men. I’ll have a much better time gagging.”

I nearly choke on the bite of waffle I just took.

Ellie laughs, the sound light and musical. It’s the first time I think I’ve heard her truly laugh since moving in. Most of the time she’s been here, she either spends her days working double shifts or reading books on the dock.

We have as little to do with each other as possible and it’s working for us.

I cough up the waffle trying to kill me, taking a large gulp from the glass of water in front of me. “You’re not going to sleep with any other men. We made that clear.”

Her eyes narrow. “I seem to remember you talking at me but never really asking how I felt about the matter.”

“I didn’t need to know how you felt about the matter.” I shove the food away from me, standing up and grabbing a shirt from the basket of laundry sitting on the couch.

Aiden told me to try getting along with her.

It would be a good idea to play nice, especially while suspecting that she’s going to try to escape.

“What are you doing with the rest of your day?” I pull on the shirt, glad that my jeans keep my stiff cock compressed.

It would be lying to say that the talk about her gagging didn’t have me picturing her on her knees while I drive my cock down her throat.

She’d beg for more too.

Ellie shrugs, pushing a slice of strawberry around her plate. “I’m off today, so I’m probably going to sleep and then spend some time by the pool reading.”

When she looks at me, there’s confusion shining in her eyes. This is unfamiliar territory for both of us and it’s uncomfortable as hell.

I nod, clearing my throat and sitting down to eat a little more of the food she made. “This is delicious. Thank you.”

Her lips part slightly, eyes narrowing. “I was thinking of lighting the library on fire after that.”

I pull out my wallet, taking the credit card I got for her. “Well, if you’re going to do that, then at least use this to buy whatever books you want to replace them.”

She glances down at the card. “Ellie Andino? I don’t know who that is, but it’s not me.”

“You’d be wrong about that.” I grab the can of whipped cream, spraying some on top of the stack. “Your name was changed the day we were married. It was on those documents we had to sign.”

Her eyebrows pull together. “I didn’t sign any documents.”

“Jade is good at forging your signature. Aiden told her it was the only way to keep you safe, so she did it.”

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