Page 86 of Vicious Vows

I’m the one who made sure of that.

I slammed the door, taking a few slow steps to the driver’s side, letting my anger simmer. I didn’t know if I was more upset over not being able to carry out my mission or by the fact that she was here.

Either way, my pending wrath wasn’t going to go well for her.

I got into the car and started the engine. Gripping the steering wheel as I stared out at the dirt path that would lead us to the street, I tried not to explode.

“I know you’re upset with me,” she said. “But I?—”

“Stay quiet,” I ordered in a low, steady voice as I threw the car into drive and made my way along the road.

“Marchello.”

I slammed my foot on the brake, causing her to jolt forward. Glaring at her, I pushed my finger against her lips, warning her not to speak.

She swallowed hard as she gazed into my eyes. Hers were wide and unsure.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me—or maybe you don’t want to listen to me—but I promise, if you defy me now, it’s only going to be worse for you later.” I kept my finger on her lips. “And I’m not talking about the way you’re used to me punishing you. Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“I should leave you here,” I said. “Maybe then you’ll realize how far you’ve taken this.”

I continued down the access road that led to the main highway. I had been so wrapped up in my plans this morning that it didn’t even occur to me to track her phone. Why would I? No one at the penthouse alerted me to an issue.

“How did you get past the guards to get here?” I asked.

“You’re not going to like it.”

“Do I ever like anything you do?”

“I can think of a few things you like.”

“How did you get by my team?” I raised my voice, not in the mood for her nonsense. “You didn’t walk out the front door so… Oh, fuck, are you crazy? You left from the fire escape.”

That was the only reasonable explanation for her disappearing act.

“Lissia?” I shouted.

“It wasn’t that bad.” She glanced down at her high-heeled boots. “I went slow. I only slipped twice.”

“Do you know how dangerous that was?”

“I didn’t give it much thought. I just did it.”

I twisted my fingers around the steering wheel in a death grip. My knuckles were white, and my forearms ached from the tense hold. It could be worse. It could be her neck.

“I called a rideshare,” she said. “I wasn’t gone long. I didn’t expect you to come for me.”

She would have gotten away with it if I hadn’t been here to kill her father. Talk about timing.

“Why wouldn’t I come for you?”I’ll always come for you. Why don’t you know that?

“I only meant that I wasn’t here that long, and since the guards didn’t know I was missing, I thought I could get back before you realized I was gone.”

“Were you going to climb back up the fire escape?”

“I didn’t think that far ahead.”

---