Page 29 of Dangerous Vows

“Just stay calm; I’m sure Renalto can fix this,” I say, placating the villainous woman.

The door behind me swings wide. I can’t look, but a voice behind me says, “Vivian, you don’t have to do this."

Melanie, Abigail’s best friend, takes her place beside me.

Bianca doesn’t hesitate for a second after she steps inside. Her chiffon dress flows as she shifts subtly to block the door. Bianca moves like a shadow, silent and lethal, circling toward the woman’s back. In one swift motion, she rushes forward, grabs Vivian around the neck, and wrenches her to the ground, locking her into a chokehold. Theknife clatters away. Melanie gasps, then rushes forward to gather her friend in her arms.

I step in to assist my sister, but it’s not needed. Bianca tightens her grip on the assailant, Vivian, her voice steady as she calmly states, “You picked the wrong bride, bitch.”

The door bursts open as Matteo, Renalto, and Niccoló sweep in, weapons drawn. When they see Bianca casually keeping Vivian restrained, they pause.

Matteo lets out a low whistle. “Remind me never to piss you off, Bianca.”

Amusement dances in Renalto’s eyes despite the tension. He shakes his head. "Jesus, Bianca. Can you give me one ‘I saved the day’ moment?

Bianca smirks, wiping a stray hair from her face as she hauls Vivian to her feet. “Oh, come on, where’s the fun in that?”

Matteo gestures to the guards outside and barks, “Clean this up.”

Vivian is hauled away by the guard, who takes command of her as she continues to curse in Italian.

I turn to Abigail, who is shaken but not dissuaded as Renalto pulls her into his enormous chest.

“It’s all behind us now,” he murmurs, kissing her temple.

She nervously laughs, but I can tell she’s still catching her breath, and then she turns to my sister. “It was all so fast! Thank you, Bianca.” Then, she turns her heart-shaped face to Renalto. “It’s bad luck to see me in my dress before the wedding,” she says without missing a beat.

He smiles, and with his hands framing her face, he says, “I think we’re good. Besides, that’s just superstition. You’re mine. It’s time the entire world knows it.”

And with that, the wedding commences as war looms beyond the sacred walls.

This family rarely has a dull moment, but I love them and learned long ago to embrace the insanity.

Besides, I have my little war to attend to, and it involves a blue-eyed goddess who has no clue our spats at work will only end in one way.

And that’s with her beneath me, taking my nine-inch cock and screaming my name as she comes.

Whoever said work is boring?

AMARA

PAWN OR QUEEN?

With Pietro at the family wedding, I have an easy night ahead of me, so I seize the opportunity to meet with my father before work. It's better to give him this small victory than to anger him when he’s already pissed off. My disappearing act sent him over the edge because he’s used to knocking me around to get what he wants.

Men like my father are merciless and act like spoiled children. If he’s not immediately appeased, he resorts to violence. Ever since I was a little girl, I plotted to run away. I hated my father’s anger, and I hated living in fear even more.

I nervously rub the scar on my right arm and take a deep breath as I exit the subway tunnel. The air is cold, but the sun is warm. My life ceases to exist inside the familiar dark underworld.

Will I ever escape my family's untoward control over my life? I don't want to know the answer, honestly. I've been fighting against him and this life since I was a child, and it never ends in my favor, so why should today be any different?

I walk a few blocks and stop in front of the Italian restaurant that serves as a front. I push the door open and walk to the back. I nod to the guards as I approach his office door. Elio pats me down.

“It’s just a formality,” he murmurs, feeling my legs and patting mypockets. Then, he looks inside my purse, which I have slung diagonally over my shoulders to prevent muggers from ripping it off me.

“Satisfied?” I tersely mutter, but Elio is only doing his job as my father’s right-hand man, and I’m just angry.

“You’re good.” He nods to another guard who opens the office door, and I walk into the cave that was built on blood, tears, and death.

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