Page 13 of Violent Delights

“I understand that.” It’s not a lie; I completely get where she’s coming from. My life may only be starting, but my future path has been already paved for me. But she’s younger; there are choices for girls her age.

My father will never let me out of the family. Even though I wouldn’t walk away—my loyalty lies with the Montesano name—there are still things I wish I could do. Things I will never get to do because of who I am.

“You should get back to the party,” she says to me with a gesture of her chin. “You’re missing out on all the excitement.” There’s a slight bitterness to her tone, and I’m curious as to why. But I don’t ask. I don’t want to delve into the heartache of this girl.

“What is it you’d like to achieve in life?” I ask her, needing to know about her innermost thoughts. I find myself craving to know her soul, rather than her jilted mind.

She’s silent for a long moment. I can tell she’s trying to find the words to explain as best as she can. This girl is nothing like those I’ve met before. She’s intelligent, that much is clear, but I have a feeling she believes in those fairy tales she scoffed at earlier.

“I want people to remember me because of me, not because of my parents, or because of a name. I want to be me. And I hope one day I can create something that will allow anyone and everyone to recall my name with fondness.”

I smile then. I can’t help myself. I tend to brood a lot. More than my father likes me to do. But she’s got a genuine grin cracking on my face. “Art? Poems? Clothes?”

She shrugs. “I’m not sure.” This time when she looks at me, the blue of her eyes seems to sparkle like stars bursting in her irises.

“Then perhaps you should think about it more deeply.”

“Maybe.”

“Unless you’re too afraid to do so?” I challenge her, and that gets a fire sparking in her sky-blue eyes.

She steps up to me then. Her gaze draws me in like a flame and I’m a simple moth. “Don’t judge a girl before you know her.”

“Don’t judge anyone before you know them. Some people do things to survive, others do it because they enjoy it.” It’s a confession. I’m telling her exactly who I am. But she doesn’t step away. She also doesn’t seem to fear me.

“Everyone has a choice.”

“Nobody decides their own fate.” I can’t stop myself from throwing back challenges at her. There are things I’ve done and things I will do that will ensure I end up in hell when I die. And I’ve come to terms with it.

At first, I was convinced I was evil. I enjoyed my job in the clan. My father trained me from a young age to extract information and instead of running and hiding, I basked in the splatter of blood.

She turns her head away, but I can’t help myself and reach for her chin. Pinching it between my thumb and forefinger, I hold her steady so she can’t look away. Her lips part on a soft breath that smells like berries.

“Don’t hide,” I whisper along her mouth, inhaling the scent of her beauty. It’s as if her perfection has a life of its own. It’s an entity. It’s gripped me, and I doubt it’s going to let me go anytime soon.

“I never hide,” she responds with a murmur and I lean in to feather my lips against hers. “Should you be doing this?”

“Probably not,” I tell her honestly, my tone taking on a husky rumble, and I don’t hide it. The notion of doing this with anyone else is ridiculous. I’m not sure who this beauty is, but I’m addicted without ever having a taste. “But rules are meant to be broken.”

“Rules are there to be obeyed.”

Curiosity burns through me then. “Do you obey every rule?”

The corner of her mouth quirks. It’s not a smile, but it’s still as alluring as if she had given me the brightest of grins. “If I don’t, they’ll bury me six feet under.”

My chest tightens at the thought. My heart bangs against my ribs, and my mind, it tells me to steal her away and take her with me. Whoever she is, she’ll be safe with me.

But will she?

I can’t deny I’m not a good person. And as my life takes me deeper into the clan, I’ll take over from my father and I’ll do things worse than I’ve done before. So perhaps she won’t be safe with me. Maybe she’ll find some gentleman to marry her, give her a white picket fence, and allow her the fairy-tale ending all girls want.

“Are you going to kiss me?” she asks suddenly, surprising me with her candor.

I can’t help but smile. “Perhaps.”

Her lips turn to a pout and her cheeks darken with a soft pink. “I’ve never done that before.” Her admission makes my body ache to have more. I want her to tell me all her secrets. Everything she keeps to herself, those things she thinks about late at night while the moon is high and the stars dance in the inky blackness. That’s what I want to know.

“You shouldn’t be so bold and ask strangers to kiss you,” I tell her.

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