Page 30 of Deadly Vows

“No. You can do whatever the fuck you want, but I want no part of this,” I say, standing, “It can’t be her.”

“Luca, sit down.” My father’s tone is filled with anger, but I ignore it. I’m not afraid of him. The Trovolis are wretches of the earth, stabbing their closest allies in the back for years to get where they are. It only makes sense that my father wants this arrangement to either placate Eli or uncover something. Either way, I won’t be used for it. I leave the room, ignoring Father’s shouts as I call back to him.

“Go fuck yourself.”

I smile to myself as I recall the look of shock on my father’s face that day. It was one of the rare times we disagreed. Eventually, I had to come to terms with the marriage, as my father wasn’t budging on his beliefs. Eli needed to be controlled. He was running his mouth on things that were supposed toremain a secret. Things that could stir up problems for our family. My father thought marrying Elise and bringing Eli partially to our level would make the man realize how lucky he was to be still breathing. But the taste of power only made him more greedy. He wanted everything, including his daughter’s death, if it meant his plans would be realized.

Unlucky for him, I never trusted him. It was all too easy to get the information I needed once Elise and I were married, and for my father to permit me to end his life. With that command came the shocking condition of Elise’s life as well. But by then, I had already fallen for her enough not to let her join her father in his grave. I could tell from how he treated her on her wedding day that she meant nothing to him. She meant nothing to anyone.

The scar on her temple is a brutal reminder of just how little she meant to her father.

She is all I have now. And the longer I watch her on the stage, the more I realize how much I need her in my life. I want her in a way I’ve never wanted a woman before. She doesn’t know it, but it’s her family who was behind my father’s death. They used a man heavily associated with their family to carry out the order. Her family is filled with dark secrets I’ve had the displeasure of unearthing over the past month. It’s made being near her difficult.

I want all of them to suffer—every last person who carries an ounce of that tainted bloodline.

But Elise has suffered enough. Her entire life has been filled with suffering, some parts of it no longer in her memory. I can’t let her suffer any longer for her family’s sins. Though we have been distant, my feelings toward her feel stronger than ever. Until I uncover the entire truth, I can only continue to do as I’ve been doing, hoping to track down the truth before it destroys her.

The song ends with a sultry note that Elise holds, captivating the audience. She then lowers her instrument, opening her eyes as the applause erupts. People stand, the cheers of excitement making her blush atop the stage. Pride swells in my chest from the response. When I got her an audition months ago, I knew people would love her. She has a gift.

After the concert, I stand in the entrance hall waiting for her. I silently watch others greet their family and friends who have come to watch. They seem at ease, living simple lives that become spectacular in small bursts of moments like these. Elise and I are different. We were born into a lifestyle that allows for nothing short of spectacular. If you fall behind, you’re useless and weak, proving to those waiting to steal your glory that you are vulnerable.

Elise finally exits with the director in tow. She looks stunning as she approaches. Her green gaze flits to me. I can’t help but smile as our eyes meet, pulling her in an embrace.

“You were amazing, Elise,” I say.

I immediately notice her increased heart rate beating against her chest as I pull away from her. Her skin is also flushed, as if she is nervous about something. Or rather, frightened. And the moment our eyes meet, she looks away, unable to hold my gaze. I fight the urge to ask her if there’s something wrong as I face the director.

“Mr. Pasquino. It’s been a pleasure working with your wife. She is quite the prodigy,” he says with a grin.

I smile, shaking his hand as I respond.

“I already knew that. Why do you think I pushed so hard for an audition?” I say, earning a laugh from the director. He launches into a conversation about his plans for the upcoming year and how he would love to have me as a donor. And I do my best to respond appropriately while trying to figure out my wife’sattitude shift. It isn’t until he excuses himself to speak to more possible donors that I can finally speak to Elise.

“Something wrong?” I ask.

She clears her throat, giving me a meek “no” while continuing to avoid eye contact with me. She’s a shit liar. But I don’t push the issue. It’ll come out eventually. I place my hand on the small of her back, leading her to the exit as a stranger approaches. I instinctively reach for my weapon the closer he gets, ready to defend us if need be.

“Wow. Your talent is just incredible. It was such a pleasure listening to you play tonight,” he says.

I feel irritation blooming in my chest as Elise smiles at the man, expressing her thanks. It’s more than she gave me when I complimented her performance, making me once again fight with my inner possessiveness. But I smile through the conversation and every following conversation that is had, watching with rising anger each smile and response she gives to strangers. By the time we reach the car, I’m fuming.

But I still don’t say anything. It’s my attempt at having a better relationship with Elise after everything we’ve been through. I know my anger shows in how I’m driving, because Elise’s timid voice breaks through my haze.

“Luca?” she asks.

I squeeze the wheel tighter, my eyes remaining focused on the road.

“Not tonight,” I growl. She grows silent next to me, and I can no longer hold in my irritation.

“I don’t understand you, Elise. You smile at these strangers as if their words are the gospel, yet when I—”

I’m cut off, the world moving in slow motion as something I never expected happens. Elise’s hands are coming towards the steering wheel, and she has a determined look on her face. The car pulls violently off the road, the sudden change in directionforcing it to go airborne as we both fly off the road. Glass shatters as the thunder of the car crushing explodes around me. The airbags burst, sending searing pain over me as we continue to flip, finally coming to a halt in a ditch. Blood pours from a wound in my head when it collided with the side of the car, partially blinding me in one eye, my head throbbing in pain.

My chest burns as the seatbelt digs into me, making it difficult to breathe. And when I try, blood comes up my throat.

“Fuck,” I choke out as I look through the haze of smoke and dirt.

Elise is next to me, disoriented. She coughs, her breathing frantic as she groans in pain, moving around the crumpled vehicle. My vision blurs as I watch her push through her pain to grab her violin case. When she opens it, there’s cash, knives, clothes, a burner phone, and handcuffs, which she swiftly pulls from the case to reach for my hands. I try to move away from her, but my brain won’t communicate with my hands. She easily cuffs me to the steering wheel.

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