A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

It’s moments like this I wish I had my knife. Narrowing my eyes, I switch tactics and shove my other elbow into his gut. He chokes a laugh, but releases me, stepping back to leave just enough room for me to squeeze through.

We stare at each other in hatred for a few seconds, and then his gaze shifts behind me as Dino approaches. “Kardinal. A word.”

Dino gives him a murderous look but then gives Kristian what he wants. He goes outside the office where Kristian is. I stare at them from inside the doorway as they talk in hushed voices. Dino is either a really good actor and is well practiced at pretending to like his brother, or he’s never going to betray him.

Whereas, he’s betrayed me before.

He drugged me.

I take a breath and shake my head to clear it. Kristian doesn’t scare me. Dino double crossing me does.

“I’ll see you later, petal,” Kristian suddenly says to me, and disappears down the corridor leaving Dino to come back.

“You’re not sleeping alone,” Dino says, pulling me into his arms.

I flick my eyes heavenward. Save me from boys who think they are men.

“I can handle myself,” I snort, pushing him away, locking the office and inserting the key in my bra next to the drive. I’m shaking again because the anger is back.

Fuck, I am paranoid. I need to get a grip, or I’ll lose it like I did when I attacked Dante. Lorcan’s words are the only thing keeping me sane right now, convincing me that Dino isn’t the enemy.

“He’s got it into his head that he owes you. That he needs to fully ingratiate himself into his family for you. To get you back.”

I breathe in and out, and tuck that little concern of mine deep down somewhere I can deal with it later.

Dino’s words come back into focus. “Viola, are you listening?”

“What were you saying?”

“I was saying you don’t know Kristian. He’s messed in the head when it comes to women.”

I suck in another breath and let it out. My hand has stopped shaking. “Then let him try it. I’ll do what I’ve been wanting to do since he ran Lorcan off the road,” I say testing the waters. Fuck Dino and his wavering conscious.

Dino’s face hardens. “You’re going to kill him?”

“I told you I would.”

Dino looks at me like I’m a monster and he’s only just realized. “He’s my fucking brother,” he says after a pause. “Let me do it.”

“No.” It’s me who has to get blood on her hands. Not only do I enjoy it, I crave it. Lorcan was right, Dino shouldn’t have to carry that around with him.

If anyone should be paranoid, it should be the boys about me.

They’re not the monsters.

I am.