Cruel Vows

PAISLEY

“You are way too good for my brother,” Mia says, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry about what he’s doing to you.” Her brow furrows. “It’s not like him at all.”

I tilt my head. “I assumed it was, since he runs a sex-trafficking ring.”

“Father runs it.” She sips on her drink. “Massimo was always quietly uncomfortable with the trade.” She shrugs. “Although he’s become more accepting of it since he got older.” Her shoulders slump slightly. “I hate what they do, but no one listens to women in this world.”

Mia is the opposite of what I’d expected and I’ve got to admit I like her. She’s probably Massimo’s only redeeming quality. The rest of his family, I’m not convinced about.

“You’ve got another sister, Massimo said?”

Mia’s face lights up. “Yes, Camilla. She’s at the Syndicate Academy for her final year.”

“Never heard of it.”

“You wouldn’t have. It’s an exclusive school only for people like us.”

“Criminals?” I ask, realizing my mistake when she winces.

“If that’s how you want to put it.” She grabs her glass of wine and downs it in one. “I’m so glad I can finally drink. I’ve been twenty-one all of one week.”

I sip my wine, smirking. “I shouldn’t even drink, but I need it.”

Her brow raises. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen,” I say.

Her eyes widen. “No way. I was sure you were older.”

I grab my glass and knock the rest back. “Fuck the rules. Surely, since you guys don’t exactly follow the law, you could drink whenever you wanted?”

Mia shakes her head. “Father has always been very strict about it.” Her attention moves to the older, handsome man sitting at the head of the table. He’s talking to Lorenzo, his consigliere, which means right-hand man. At least, that’s what I gathered from Mia’s explanation.

I can’t deny that I’m thankful to her for pulling me away from the man who kidnapped me. Ever since I’ve sat down at the table, I’ve made it my mission not to look at him. Although I’ve felt his gaze on me more than once.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I say, glancing at Mia. “Where is it?”

She points toward the back, and I nod.

“I’ll be back in a moment.” I stand and rush toward the door in the corner. Once through it, I walk into the ladies’ bathroom and lock myself in a cubicle.

The past twenty-four hours have been completely insane.

I can hardly believe I’m sat having dinner with one of the most notorious crime families in North America, being paraded around as Massimo’s fiance, not by choice. My heart pounds unevenly in my chest as I take in my surroundings, noticing there’s a window above the toilet.

And that’s when an idea crosses my mind.

Escape.

If I can get out of the window and onto the street, I can take a cab to the Devil’s Alpha bar and get Rick to pay the fare. Then, I’ll flee the city, hell I’d even flee the country if it means it gets me out of this shit. I put down the toilet lid and stand on top of it, reaching for the catch on the window. To my surprise, it opens easily.

Massimo will get suspicious if I’m too long, so I move quickly and crawl up onto the ledge, swinging my legs around to dangle them out of the window. It’s too small for me to see what’s below, but I take a leap of faith and jump off the ledge and out.

I groan as I land in a huge trash receptacle. The scent of rotten food makes me gag.

Quickly, I drag myself out and brush my dress off, hardly able to believe I’ve actually made it outside.

“Are you lost, princess?” Massimo asks, that deep, dark voice sending a tremor right down my spine.

I turn around to find him standing in my path, arms crossed over his chest. “How did you—”

“I’m not an idiot. I saw you go into the bathroom and knew you’d try it.” He tilts his head. “Now, come here.”

He holds a hand out to me and I glance in the opposite direction, wondering if I could outrun him. I was pretty good at track in high-school, but his strides are probably double mine.

“Don’t even think about it.”

I glance back at him. “Think about what?” I ask.

His eyes narrow. “Running. I’ll catch you before you take two fucking steps.”

Out of spite, rather than the actual belief I can outrun him, I do exactly that and sprint in the opposite direction, thankful I picked the flats to wear with this dress.

Massimo growls, and then I hear his heavy footsteps thudding on the concrete after me.

I get almost to the end of the alleyway at the back of the restaurant when he grabs my wrist and yanks me to a stop.

“Bad choice.” He forces me to turn around and then grabs my hips, pulling me against him. “What did I tell you about resistance?”

I shudder, looking into those dark eyes. “I don’t know.”

“You know, princess.” He grabs my palm and presses it against his hard erection in his pants. “When you fight, it makes me hard.”

I try to pull my hand away, but he holds firm.

“Squeeze it for me.”