Page 65 of Venomous Vows

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ADRIAN

It comesas no surprise that Elena’s friend was easily conned into giving her up.

She can cry all she wants to, plead and beg for forgiveness that is nonexistent and unwarranted, and I’m seconds away from putting a bullet in her head for the thing she almost cost me.

Elena.

I don’t argue with the woman just to have her tortured and used as bait to get to me. I also didn’t freely give her space and freedom ofnotbeing my wife to not have her in my bed and underneath me.

I’ve been patient.

More so than anything I’ve ever done in my life, and that ticking time bomb is about to explode any minute or day now. Elena hasn’t learned that she’s undermycontrol and umbrella of power, and that means she can’t go on random trips without letting me know first. It’s not that I would’ve told her no.

It’s because she’s alone with no one here.

Except for three dead Disciples who I just put in the ground with a screaming Celine in tow about an hour ago.

Now, with the night sauntering by, I still have Elena to deal with.

And I can’t do that while she’s sleeping, which is currently what she’s doing now. I want nothing more than to wake her up and let her have every ounce of fury coursing through my veins right now.

I could’ve lost her.

Everything I’ve done thus far in my life when it comes to this woman with dark curls and burning blue eyes would’ve been for shit if I hadn’t figured out that Celine led some of The Disciples here.

I’ve had surveillance on her, too. Did a background check on her family, finances, and found a sum of twenty grand in her bank. The day before, she met up with some guy in a car, which was suspicious enough. But the twenty thousand Alexander Hamiltons that got dumped into her account tipped my suspicious forward.

And then, a few days later, Elena was gone.

Stripping my jacket off, I allow it to fall freely to the floor and stride toward the bed. I guess I should be thankful that Elena left the light on, but I’m not sure if it was meant for me or because of what she’s been through.

Regardless, I carefully get underneath the covers with her and feel a sense of tranquility from her presence. The scent of lavender and something sweet hits me like a heavenly cloud of peace and I permit my body to relax at her side.

She’s facing me, sleeping softly with her pink lips parted, and a strong surge of want courses through me like a lightning bolt.

Iwillown this woman one way or another.

There’s nothing more that I want in this world right now than for Elena to submit and desire me the way my body seems to want to do. I’ve lusted after her for years, wishing for nothing more than for her to give herself to me and stop fighting. Tolisten and heed my warnings, even though they probably didn’t come off in the best way.

She stirs, a slight moan escaping her throat and my cock twitches at the sound.

Elena is exquisite, hard-headed, and everything that calls to me in a woman. She might be the biggest current pain in my ass, but it doesn’t quench the hunger that lives deep and vigorous in my chest.

Everything that she is, I want.

“Adrian…” My gaze falls to her lips, waiting for her next words, but they never come. It only sparks the idea of her dreaming about me as I shift closer and rest my head more comfortably on the pillow beside her, when her fist slams forcefully into my gut.

I grunt from the coiling pain that just formed in my stomach as Elena’s blue eyes fly open, her frame scooting back from me before she puts two and two together and freezes.

Yes, it’s me, you fucking devil woman.

“Shit,” she mutters under her breath. “Adrian Bernardi, what in the fuckingworldare you doing in my bed?”

Honestly, that should be the least of her problems. And I’m a bit insulted that she thought someone would get into her room after I found her.

“Resting,” I deadpan, holding back the glower that wants to form on my face. “And getting fucking attacked.”

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