The Wife Breaker (Dark Vows Duet 1)

“That’s fucking it, Rain! You blew your last goddamn chance. Now you’ll wish you’d done what I’d asked of you. Because your life is about to get so. Much. Fucking. Worse.”

Chapter 4

HEATH

“She’s here.”

I raise my eyes to meet Liberato’s over my desk. He’s just walked into the office and he’s smirking at me now as if he knows something I don’t.

“The new girl,” he adds, as if I don’t know who he’s talking about. “But there’s something you should know about her.”

“What’s that?”

I lazily close the documents I’ve been browsing and lean back in my armchair. It’s been a long fucking day, but maybe the new girl arriving is exactly what I need to distract myself. My cock jumps with anticipation. By tonight, I’ll already be buried inside her. Her husband may not have been able to teach her any manners, but I sure as fuck can. Unlike other men, I don’t have a shred of mercy.

“I didn’t know this when I accepted her as a client,” Liberato mutters, avoiding my gaze. “Just found out today when she was brought in. You know I wouldn’t have agreed if I knew before.”

“Spit it out.”

“She’s...”

He swallows thickly, finally raising his eyes to meet mine.

“She’s Xavier Gunn’s wife. They’ve been married for quite a few years now.”

My jaw sets painfully, and my hands form fists on the table. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard my uncle’s name, even though his decisions have made me into the monster I am today.

“How did you not fucking know about this?” I demand. “I don’t want her here.”

“It’s too late,” Liberato admits. “Your uncle’s already paid, and added a handsome bonus. And the girl’s been brought in.”

“Where is she?” I ask, blood rushing through my veins at the thought of being close to somebody who knows my monstrous uncle. “I’ll deal with this myself.”

“Wait a goddamn second, Heath,” my friend mutters. “Don’t take all your frustrations out on this woman just because of who she married. It probably wasn’t even her choice.”

“Do I look like I give a shit?”

I push my chair back and stand by the window, admiring the view. My mind is racing and my blood has run cold. I’m desperate for something, anything, to take the edge off.

“Heath.”

My friend claps me on the back.

“We should’ve done a more extensive background check before agreeing to take her on. I’m sorry.”

“It’s too late for that now.”

I run my hand through my slicked back hair.

“She’ll just have to pay for associating with a bastard like Xavier.”

“Don’t take out your frustrations with your uncle on an innocent woman, Heath.”

“How about you stop telling me what the fuck to do?” I demand. “I’m the reason we have this job, L. So back off and let me do what I’m good at.”

“Fine,” he says in a clipped tone. “What are your instructions for the girl?”

“Keep her in her room,” I mutter. “Don’t feed her, just water.”

“You can’t be fucking serious.”

“I’m deadly fucking serious, L.”

His lips purse as we stare at one another, before he finally says, “The woman doesn’t deserve this.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” I add.

“What is her crime, Heath? Being forced to marry your uncle - which she probably was?”

“Probably,” I hiss. “But now that I finally have a link to that piece of shit, I fully intend on using its every advantage.”

“So you’re just going to hurt her for the sake of it,” Liberato says. “Because she’s one step away from the man you hate most.”

“Exactly,” I smirk. “I’m glad you’re finally getting it. Lock her up in our worst room. Let her wonder for a few days.”

“You want me to put her in solitary confinement?”

“Why not? It’ll give her a chance to think about why she’s here.”

“And you’re not even going to see her before I do that?”

I shake my head with a stony expression, saying, “This is the best way to teach her some manners. By the time I go see her, she’ll be broken in enough to do anything I say.”

“Not if the rumors are correct,” Liberato mutters. “They say Xavier Gunn has tried to break her for years. She’s been through some shit, Heath. I don’t know if she can handle much more.”

“Well,” I reply with a brilliant smile. “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”

3 days later

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, smoothing down my tie before cuffing my shirt sleeves. Tonight is the night. Tonight, I meet the woman my bastard uncle married.

I wonder what she’ll be like. A young, pretty little thing desperate for a real man to teach her some manners is my guess.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins, but it’s not enough. I reach into my pocket and bring out a small vial. Opening a drawer in my desk, I pull out a sterilized syringe and pull it out of its packet. I load up the injection and groan as I release the poison into my forearm.