Cruel Vows

MASSIMO

The casino is packed full of the usual politicians and rich business executives as we enter through the front.

Paisley is tense by my side. On edge, wondering when and where I might torture her with the vibrator shoved inside of her. Her bravado about telling me to fuck off was admirable, but unbelievable. She knows what happens if she disobeys me. The vibrator lodged in her pretty little cunt is going to go off on full power and cause a rather embarrassing scene.

I keep my hand on the small of her back and guide her further into the party, stopping when I see Caterina Russo approaching, a stern look on her face.

“Massimo, I hear congratulations are in order?” She scowls at Paisley in a way that angers me. “This must be Mrs. Morrone?”

I nod in response. “Indeed, this is my wife, Paisley.” I meet Paisley’s questioning gaze. “Paisley, this is Caterina, a family friend.”

Caterina smiles, but it’s acrid. “Pleasure to meet you.” She meets my gaze. “Where did you find this nobody?”

Paisley scoffs. “Excuse me?”

I tighten my grasp on her hip and squeeze. “Are you offending my wife, Caterina?”

Caterina holds a hand to her chest, shaking her head. “Of course not. I just wondered who your wife is, considering I’ve never heard of her.” She gives her a disdainful look before glancing back at me. “And you are Massimo Morrone.”

Paisley crosses her arms over her chest. “Well, I’ve never heard of you either, but you don’t hear me going around insinuating you’re just a jealous bitch who can’t get over the fact Massimo married someone else.”

Pride swells in my chest at Paisley’s tenacity, even though she’s speaking out of turn. At least she does it without shame, unlike Caterina’s thinly veiled insults.

Her eyes narrow, and she turns a deep shade of pink. “How dare you speak to me like that? And you would have heard of my father, Senator Federico Russo.”

Paisley smirks at her response. “Heard of him, yes, but that doesn’t make you somebody.” She glares at her. “Why don’t you run along to daddy?”

Caterina’s brow furrows as she scowls at her before glancing at me. “Bad choice, Massimo.”

I growl and glare at her. “Better choice than any other woman I could have picked.”

Paisley moves a little closer to me, and we watch as Caterina walks away. And then she looks up at me with an irritated expression. “Ex-lover?”

I scrunch up my nose and shake my head. “No fucking chance.”

Paisley arches a brow. “Then why was she acting like one?”

I exhale a shaky breath and pull my wife away from the entrance of the casino toward the bar. “Because my father always wanted me to marry Caterina Russo.” He shrugs. “She was on the top of the list.”

“List?” Paisley’s eyes widen. “What list?”

I push my hair away from my face. “My father put together a list of suitable women for me to marry.”

“What is this, the eighteenth fucking century?”

I laugh. “Right. Ridiculous isn’t it?”

“And you ignored his list and snatched a woman who doesn’t want you away from her life instead?” Paisley sets her hands on her hips.

“How many times do I have to remind you that you wanted me since the moment we met, princess?” I murmur, moving closer to her. “I made the decision that you were the only woman I wanted by my side.”

Paisley frowns at me, shaking her head. “I reckon you just wanted to piss your father off like a petulant child.”

“Careful now, Mrs. Morrone. Remember the power I have over you.”

Her jaw clenches. “You have no power over me. Turn the damn thing on and see if I care.” There’s a challenge blazing in her beautiful green eyes.

“As you wish.” I hit the button on the remote in my pocket, but this time, switch it to a higher setting.

She jolts forward at the shock of it, her mouth falling open, taking a few moments to recover and gather her composure, but to her credit, she manages it. “See, unaffected.” She turns her back to me and walks up to the bar.

I follow but watch her from a short distance, admiring the way she handles the torment in public.