Page 44 of Venomous Vows

“I’m not going to go back on what I said. You saved my sister and I’m in your debt.”

“Do I have anything to worry about?”

Elena remains silent for a moment before replying, “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

Reaching for her, I silently test the woman who has always made me move when I didn’t wish to. I’ve protected Elena from the hell that could’ve been given to her if I didn’t keep her away from the men who frequented our childhood house. There have been plenty of times that I’ve punched guys in school for running their mouths about fucking her and then bragging about it later. Obviously, I still didn’t open up a can of kindness because why bother?

Elena had a friend; it was my brother, not me.

But she needed a protector, too, and that job landed on me without any of the benefits.

When my fingers lace through hers, Elena doesn’t move but continues to watch me through silence. Her eyes scan my expression, searching to see what I have planned and what I might be doing.

She has no idea what I have in store for us through this opportunity. And, if what I think might be true is, I may have what I want sooner than I think.

I just need to play the shit right, which shouldn’t be too hard. Elena will take the easier and freest way out of this arrangement.

While I move forward and carve a way for a wife who will give me what my kingdom needs.

“Are we gonna get to an answer, Elena, or do I need to pick one out for you?”

“I got it.” She tugs on her hand a bit, but not enough to get herself free. No, she’s enamored and curious about me while I’m slightly obsessed.

“Then what is it?” I ask evenly, rolling my thumb over her skin. “What role do I have you in?”

“If I choose wife, then you still get a mistress?”

“That depends on what kind of wife you’re going to be.”

Elena isn’t dumb. If she doesn’t meet my needs in the bedroom, I’ll find it elsewhere.

But, for her, I won’t stand for it. I’m not in the game of it being fair, but what I want it to be. And I’m fully conscious that it makes me an asshole to the highest degree.

I just don’t care.

Elena agreed to our arrangement, and I’d say I’ve been nothing but accommodating.

“You know what kind of wife I’ll be,” she delivers. “And it’s not the perfect one who’s madly in love with you.”

“Then I guess we’re picking the other option.”

She stares at me before her throat nervously bobs. I know her pride is playing a factor here, but she’s going to need to curb it a bit. “Are there rules?”

“There are always rules,piccola diavola.You come when I need you, and there are no excuses. And if there are, you better be on your deathbed.”

I see her inhale before asking, “How long?”

“For as long as I?—”

“I need an end date, Adrian,” she insists. “I need to see something on the horizon.”

I’m not a fan of giving it an end date. However, it’ll possibly keep Elena from running from me.

“Five years,” I deadpan, pressing my lips together from saying any more. Maybe it’ll get her sister to fuck off with more genius plans of fleeing.

“So come when you want me to?”

“Yes.”

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