Page 94 of Bound in Debt

“How do I get it off? I’m—I’m s-s-sorry, Dante. I?—”

“Don’t apologize to me, okay?” I order, finding the wires I need under the steering wheel to begin starting the car. “You’re doing great. I’m coming.”

“H-h-how far are you?”

Far.

I’m about twenty minutes from campus and I’m not even sure I’ll be able to get into her building—I did get fired for inappropriate conduct, after all. Liam has every reason to be near her and I can’t do shit.

“Is Ellie there?”

“N-no. I’m a-alone.” Her sob about breaks my fucking heart.

“Can you call her? Can she find someone to scare him off?”

“I-I-I thi-think so.”

“Do that, and call me right back, okay?” The car comes to life and I throw it into gear. “Promise me, princess. You have to call me back.”

“I-I will. I promise.”

“Hurry up now. You’ve got this. Call Ellie, then call me.”

“O-okay.”

She hangs up and I glance down at the chime of my messaging app.

ANGELO: My men said you got rid of the camera files. Good man.

ANGELO: You passed the test.

Fuck Lombardi and his games. I stomp on the gas pedal and drive like a maniac toward Thronewood. Toward my wife.

30

VICTORIA

Wednesday, September 18, 10:30 PM

Everything is a blur. I don’t know how to start bringing the world back into focus.

Liam scared the shit out of me tonight. His vile words, his horrific promises of what he planned to do to me still ring in my ears, underscored by the throbbing headache behind my eyes.

He’s pissed.

Pissed I didn’t marry him.

Pissed he lost his golden ticket.

Pissed I married his uncle instead.

When you list it out like that, it definitely sounds shitty. Except that I broke up with Liam before I realized how much Liam was depending on my money. It’s not my fault Liam couldn’t read the room or accept my no. Not that I would have stuck by him just to bail him out of his dad’s debt.

Needless to say, his frenzied effort to lay hands on me tonight only confirms that he’s desperate and more than ready to do something unforgiveable. I’m terrified. Tonight felt like a scene out of The Shining and I have no idea what Liam will try next. School isn’t safe anymore, even though it’s always been my refuge. A way to escape my parents and build my own life. Thronewood University represented hope to me, the chance to achieve something for myself that I could be proud of.

Liam doesn’t trust his uncle, and it’s clear he still sees my trust fund as the answer to his little mob problem.

I’m the key to all the money he needs.