Page 15 of Vicious Vows

Her warm eyes softened my demeanor. “I appreciate that.”

What gutted me was, I knew what she wanted and I couldn’t give it to her. Not now. My father gave my mother the world. He loved her more than anything and look at how that ended for her.

“Are you sure we don’t have time to go upstairs?”

My phone buzzed with a text, so I took it from my pocket and glanced at the screen.

“As enticing as that sounds, I have a feeling you’re going to want to stay here.” I nodded toward the door. “I have a surprise for you that you’re not going to want to miss.”

“What kind of surprise?” Her whole expression lit up.

“I wanted to reward you. I know you’ve been trying these past few days,” I said. “Agreeing to my terms wasn’t easy for you, but you did it anyway.”

“I want to be with you.”

“I know.” I gently kissed her.

“So what is it?”

The doorbell chimed, and I took her hand and guided her to the door, hoping I didn’t regret this decision. I had to give her something as a show of good faith. She wasn’t the only one trying.

“Not what.” I reached for the door handle. “Who.”

FOUR

Lissia

Marchello opened the door,and I froze in disbelief.

Is this a dream? Even worse, is he giving me back?

“Lissia.” My mother stormed through the door and pulled me into a long, comforting embrace. “Dear God, baby girl! What were you thinking?”

“Mom.” I held onto her. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She let go of me and pushed her dark sunglasses to the top of her head to get a good look at me with her overly dramatic eyeliner eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I took her arm in mine. “What about you? I heard you moved back in with Dad.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She glared at Marchello. “I don’t know whether to thank you or smack you for summoning me here like a common criminal.”

“Rosalie.” Marchello kept his voice calm. “I realize not hearing from your daughter was stressful for you, but as you can see, she’s okay.”

“Okay?” My mom grabbed my chin and tilted my face. “Where did you get that bruise? Did he do this to you?”

I shook my head. “Marchello would never do that to me.”

As furious as I could make Marchello, he would never hurt me the way Danny did.

“I didn’t do that.” Marchello took my hand and brought me to his side. “The arms dealer your ex-husband promised your daughter to did.”

“I don’t know what Gian was thinking with all of that.” She turned her attention back to me. “What were you thinking?”

“Which time?” I asked. “When Marchello took me, or when Danny intercepted me, or when Marchello kidnapped me again?”

“I have a few errands to run.” Marchello motioned toward the sitting room. “Rosalie, why don’t you have a seat while I take a few minutes of your daughter’s time?”

“Don’t be long,” my mother said. “You’ve had her for weeks. It’s my turn now.”

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