Page 11 of Hateful Vows
“Have a drink,” Dante offers as he hands us a flute each.
I ignore him and drape myself on the sofa, crossing my legs to hide the anxious tremor, and getting a kick out of seeing Dante follow the movement. I know what his eyes on the most hidden part of me feels like and I’d be a liar if I said it’s not thrilling.
“I’m not drinking until I know what’s going on.”
Our host’s face cracks into a grin, before he barks out a laugh and turns his attention to Aleksei. “You didn’t tell her?”
My brother’s jaw clenches, the only sign that he isn’t in a position of force. The rest of his posture seems relaxed enough with his hands in his pocket, but I know he’s prepared to strike at any moment. I’ve seen what he’s capable of when provoked. It’s occupied my worst nightmares.
“We’re forming a new alliance,” he says, voice strained and promising violence.
My mouth slackens for a second before I narrow my eyes at him. “Withhim? Are you out of your mind? Does your father know about this?”
“Oh, this is gonna be entertaining,” Dante quips before taking a seat in front of me.
“My progenitor doesn’t know. And he never will.”
“Because we’re gonna kill him,” Dante says with glee and an unhinged shine in his eyes. An excited puppy would probably look the same. “And who is that?”
As the question leaves his mouth, Perceval jumps on his lap and settles, asking for pets with a loud meow. Perceval doesn’t like people. Except Aleksei and me. He hisses at everything that comes close. I don’t like seeing him on Dante’s lap. I stand and take my cat with me but the little fiend steps out of my arms the moment I sit back down, going back to the infuriating dark-haired man, who regards me like he just won a battle I didn’t even know we were having.
“He likes me.”
“Did you give him food?” I ask, eyes narrowed on him.
“Nope. Animals just know best.” The smirk on his face needs to be eradicated.
I turn my attention back to my brother who regards the scene before him with a sort of apathy I’m all too familiar with. “Spill,Aleksei. What’s this about killing your father?”
The perspective sends both flutters through my stomach and a skitter of fear down my spine. The combination is heady. The promise of his blood splattered on the walls of his house is what my dreams are made of.
“Misha Petrov has decided our organisation should enter a new venture,” Aleksei says then Dante supplies the rest. “People.” I frown at how easily they finish each other's sentences and how in sync they seem to be. Once again, I’m the one in the dark.
“My father has agreed to this new income avenue. And you’re to be his best asset. He wants to ship you to Russia by the end of this week.”
“What?” I jump to my feet, scaring Percy who leaves Dante’s lap with a mewl of protest. “When did you find out?”
“Two weeks ago.”
As usual, Aleksei gives me nothing to go on. He’s the portrait of composure while I’m unraveling. I slap him as hard as I can, and his head whips to the side. “And you couldn’t fucking tell me?”
Aleksei cracks his neck before answering. “I’m telling you now. I won’t let it happen.”
“That’s fucking rich. What if he decided to take me now. I wouldn’t even know the danger I’m in.”
“I’ve always protected you, haven’t I?” he spits and I flinch.
“Don’t you fucking love to remind me.”
Without thought, my eyes are drawn to the scars on Aleksei’s severe face and my heart clenches.It’s my fault.I shut the thought down as quickly as it comes, burying it under the rage and hate I’ve cultivated like the most precious flower. Since I could never make my step-father pay for what he put us through, I sent all my emotions Aleksei’s way. And like always, he’s taking it in stride. “What doeshehave to do with it?” I gesture to Dante with my chin.
A muscle flexes in Aleksei’s jaw. It’s costing him to say it.
“Should I tell her?” Dante asks, revelling in the dramatics. Standing up, he prowls to me, raising a finger delicately to sift through the black strands of my hair. “I’m about to become your lawfully wedded husband,vipera. One big happy family.”
Shock ripples through me in waves. “Over my dead body, I’m not marrying this… this…”
“Yes,vipera. Give me that sweet venom.”
