Page 31 of Vow to Corrupt You
CHAPTER 15
Nikos
Serena Romano. My wife. Her name complements mine so perfectly. She was destined to be mine.
I feel a swell of pride as I watch her, knowing that she belongs to me. I see the way she’s drawing the gazes of every man in the room. They look at her with admiration and desire, their eyes drinking in the sight of her as if she’s a goddess herself.
And she is. To them and to me.
Innocent. Beautiful. Even in that black dress she’s wearing, she radiates a light that contrasts with the darkness I carry within me—the darkness of every man in this room. Her innocence is untainted by the corruption of our world, making her all the more alluring.
They can look all they want, but they will never have her.
She is mine.
Mine to corrupt.
“We should conduct the initiation first,” I announce.
The members nod and gather in a circle around Serena and me. Servants bring a glass vessel and place it before us on a round table.
Serena looks at me, terror painting her face, but I nod before joining the circle. Usually, I would conduct the initiation, but because she is related to me—whether by blood or other ties—the second-most important member of the society will perform the ritual.
So today, it’s Barry Thorne, a Mafia Don from Las Vegas. He walks through the back entrance of the room. His face is hidden beneath the skull mask, brought in by the servants on silver trays. Each one of us puts one on as well. We like to add a mythic flair to our society. After all, we’re the Gods. We reject the ordinary.
Jamal stands to one side, Aric on the other, though their faces are also hidden beneath the masks.
Barry turns to Aric, who passes him a knife. Serena’s eyes widen as she watches the blade gleaming in the flickering light.
“You are about to swear absolute loyalty to our society. Make a blood oath marking you as one of us. Should you break any of the code rules, you will be sentenced to death. Do you understand?”
Serena visibly swallows, her throat constricting, but she nods firmly. “Yes. I understand.”
Vold grabs Serena’s arm, extending it over the vessel. Thorne makes a small incision on her palm, and a few drops of her blood drip into the glass, staining the clear vodka.
“You will now recite the oath,” Barry tilts his head.
“I vow upon the blood that runs through my veins to keep the code of silence with absolute loyalty until death. I will never speak of what I hear within these walls, and I will never reveal the secrets of society. Any betrayal shall be the end of me.”
She recites the oath, and then Barry makes a slight cut on his hand, mixing his blood with hers and the alcohol.
“Drink,” Thorne hands the cup to Serena.
She glances at me nervously but lifts it to her lips and takes a sip. She winces at the sharp, metallic taste that will linger with her for the rest of her days. I should know, as I’ve performed this same ritual.
“Our strength is your strength. Your enemies are our enemies,” Thorne states, and each of us reiterates.
“We are bound together by blood. From now on, you are one of us, Serena Romano.”
Barry bows and retreats to another room, followed by Jamal and Aric, while servants collect the masks. I approach Serena and take her hand in mine, planting a kiss on her cut.
“Am I a member of the society now, too?” she asks, and I nod. “Like you? Will I have the UV-reactive ink as well?”
“Not quite like me, not yet, at least not in the full meaning of the word.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you can join me at social events, but can’t participate in business meetings or make decisions. That privilege is reserved for chief members like me, the Mafia Dons or Donnas.”
