Page 53 of Bound in Promise

“Get on with it,” Victoria chides, offering herself up as a distraction. “I just want to get away from you.”

“Don’t get too excited, bella,” he cautions, lifting an eyebrow as he lets his gaze skim down her body. “You’re not going to your new owner just yet.” Before he can boast more about what he intends to do, our little huddle is interrupted.

“How much for the man?”

I can’t tell which asshole is asking, not with Angelo and Victoria blocking my view of the table.

Not that it matters.

“He’s not for sale,” Angelo answers stiffly.

“He’s the one you’ve been talking about?” the man presses on. “The one that belonged to the Portofino Giordanos?”

Angelo snaps his neck toward the table. “What do you want with him?”

“I have a few people I’d like handled. I could use?—”

“He’s not for sale.” Angelo yanks Victoria with him as he stalks back to his guests. “I have my own plans for the prick.”

“I have two million saying you don’t.”

Angelo freezes and a sliver of hope glimmers on the horizon. If Victoria and I are sold together, at least I’ll know where she is. I’ll have a chance at getting us both to safety.

“Perhaps another time,” Angelo allows, sounding calmer than he did a second ago. “I’m not done with him yet.”

Whatever the fuck that means.

All I know for sure is that my woman is about to be taken somewhere else—without me.

17

DANTE

I can’t feel my hands anymore. It’s been hours and I’ve still had no luck freeing myself.

My ass is killing me after sitting in this wooden chair for so long.

It’s been fucking awful trying to keep my mind on a leash. To stop myself from imagining what Angelo is doing to Victoria so that I have a shot at focusing and finding a way out of this mess.

A slim window near the ceiling is the only glimpse I have of the world beyond my prison. The sun has fully set, blanketing the world in darkness, but I’m wide awake despite the hour. I won’t be able to rest, will never find peace, until I can get out of here and find my wife.

The man at the door hasn’t moved from his post, unconcerned with my efforts to escape my restraints. He hasn’t even bothered telling me to stop.

He has a point.

It’s futile. The asshole bound me so tightly there’s not a chance in hell of me getting lose.

The curse words filling my head are endless, but they come to a screeching halt when the door swings open to reveal the motherfucker who sold my wife.

He doesn’t seem at all happy to see me.

The feeling is mutual.

All of this could’ve been avoided if he had stayed in his lane. I’m not sure what his plans are—at this point they could be anything, he has all the power after all—but all I want is to know what happened to Victoria. Whether she’s still in the house or if he’s already had her moved.

“Where’s my wife?” I snarl, furious that he’s responsible for this whole shitshow.

He’s the reason I’m not lying in bed with my wife safe in my arms.