Page 11 of Vow to Corrupt You
A vague, grateful smile tugs at my lips as I release another sigh, reaching for my phone and dialing Claudio.
Even though this is so dangerous, in that moment, nothing could possibly stop me. Call it my personal act of protest.
“Hey, baby,” Claudio’s voice on the other end of the line sends a jolt of adrenaline through me. A few hours ago, he was my boyfriend. Now, he is someone forbidden. “I was worried. You haven’t answered my calls or texts the entire day, and I h—”
“I need to see you,” I whisper, as if scared that if I say the words any louder, the world around me could crumble, not letting him finish. “Tonight.”
CHAPTER 6
Serena
“Do you need anything else before sleep, signorina Serena?” Ottavia asks, preparing my bed for sleep.
If I’m honest, I could never understand why my Papà was so hell-bent on hiring a maid. My father isn’t one of “the big men,” and my family isn’t part of the elite, far from it. Back in Cefalù, we used to be an ordinary family—well, as ordinary as someone involved in the mafia can—living paycheck to paycheck like so many others in our neighborhood.
About fifteen years ago, everything changed. We moved to Palermo because Papà became close friends with Dimitris, who, at that time, had moved from Greece to Italy after his nephew was orphaned. Then, two years ago, my father swore the Omertà Oath, which meant he climbed the mafia hierarchy and committed to their code of silence and absolute loyalty. After that, he became the caporegime of one of the Romano’s operating units. This position afforded him a new lifestyle that I believe Papà has grown too fond of. Or perhaps, a lifestyle Caterina has always wanted. A lifestyle he can afford only because of his ties with the Romanos, because of the dirty money made on corruption and blood.
“No, thank you, Ottavia. Have a good night,” I dismiss her.
“Thank you, signorina. Sleep well.” Ottavia nods and leaves.
As soon as the faint thud of the door closing fills the room, Gianna peeks through the partially open door of my en-suite bathroom.
“Did she leave yet?” Gianna whispers, her eyes wide as she looks at me with excitement, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
“Yes, it’s safe now. You can come out.” I giggle.
Gianna comes out of the bathroom and walks closer. “Have you talked to Lorenzo? Did he agree to drive you to meet Claudio?”
I nod. “Yes. Though it wasn’t easy to persuade him. He thought it was too dangerous, but eventually, he relented.”
Lorenzo has been working as an errand boy for my father for about four years now. I was seventeen at the time, while Lorenzo was eighteen. He got involved with the Mafia after his father was shot and killed during one of their operations. Lorenzo took over his father’s responsibilities and became the man of the house. I know he’s done the best he could to provide and care for his mother and younger siblings. We found common ground pretty fast, bonding and becoming friends almost instantly. This is why he agreed to help me meet Claudio despite the risks involved. Lorenzo truly has a heart of gold.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this, Serena?” Gianna’s concerned tone snaps me out of my reverie.
I take a deep breath. “I need to meet with Claudio. I want closure, and I think he deserves it, too. We were both robbed of a chance to be together. We deserve this one last meeting.” My forehead narrows as I grasp Gianna’s hands and hold them tightly. “Besides, I want to make my own choices for once, Gianna. If I marry Nikos, I may never get to decide for myself again.”
Gianna nods faintly before she smiles broadly, squeezing my hands now, too. “Well, then. Let’s make you the sexiest you’ve ever been.”
“Thank you, G.” I pull my stepsister in for a tight hug.
For the next half hour, Gianna quickly applies my makeup, highlighting my eyes with sleek cat-eye liner and mascara. My lips—which I usually only brush with a nude gloss—are now painted a deep shade of red. I leave my hair loose, falling down my shoulders. I slip into a tight, black leather dress, wrapped over one shoulder, with a daring V-cut neckline and a slender belt with silver accents cinched around my waist.
“Where did you get that dress from?” I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The dress hugs my body in all the right places.
“I might’ve borrowed it from Valeria’s closet,” Gianna says in a dodging tone, and my brow raises. “Without her knowing about it.” She shrugs, making a funny face, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Now go. Enjoy your night.”
She offers me a reassuring hug before I saunter over to the window and open it. Lorenzo is already there, waiting for me. With his help, I climb out of the window, and he gently assists me down to the ground. Thankfully, our house is only one story, making things much easier. He leads the way to his car, which he left outside our property to avoid making any noise that might draw attention.
I settle into the back seat of Lorenzo’s black Alfa Romeo with my nerves coiled tight like springs. Lorenzo starts the engine and eases onto the pavement, gradually accelerating as we enter the main road.
“Are you sure about this, Serena?”
Though I keep staring out at the passing landscape, I sense his glances in the rearview mirror.
“We can still turn back.”
I adjust myself in the seat and try to steady my trembling voice. “I need to see Claudio. This one last time.”
