Page 72 of Bound in Promise

“Then why didn’t he come in here and tell me?”

Victoria cocks a brow. “Why wouldn’t I?” I open my mouth, ready to tell her I don’t want her seeing this kind of shit, but she beats me to the punch. “I think we’re past all this, don’t you?”

“Past what?”

“This world. What I’ve seen and what I’ve experienced already. Pretending I’m not aware of it.”

“I’m about to kill this man, princess. I don’t think you’re fully grasping what I’m capable of doing.”

“I never said you weren’t.” She waves a dismissive hand at me. “Go on.”

I gape at her, stunned that she’s so calm. Maybe I underestimated her mental state, how she may be feeling about all this. It could be she wants closure. It could be she’s in shock. Or it could be I’ve truly corrupted her and she’s beginning to grow numb to everything.

Regardless, I wish I had the time to make this hurt more for Angelo. I’d keep him alive for days, let him beg me for mercy while I worked out all my rage.

I can’t get past the fact that he was in the same room with Victoria. That he made up all kinds of sick fantasies about what he’d do to her while I was tied up in his fucking basement.

It’s driving me crazy.

She said nothing happened, but my mind won’t let it go, won’t accept that there’s nothing to worry about.

I won’t be there to save her if she needs it.

I’m giving her away when I don’t want to.

“Leave the room, Victoria,” I command evenly. “I don’t want you to see this.”

She inches closer, causing my skin to break out in a heap of goosebumps. She controls me, so completely that it seems impossible.

“Take me home, Dante. Enzo was adamant we leave right away.”

Home.

I’m not entirely sure where that is, not since our last house was invaded by Angelo’s men and stained with Liam’s blood.

However, it doesn’t matter where I take her, wherever we end up will feel like home because she’ll be there.

For now.

Extending my arm behind me, I blindly unload the rest of my clip into Angelo’s body before dropping my gun.

Victoria doesn’t bother looking either, but I hear the weight of the bastard’s body slumping to the hardwood floors. One of Enzo’s men can check to make sure he’s gone for good. I can’t bring myself to bother, not with Victoria looking at me like I’m the sun and all the stars in her universe.

“Alright,” I agree, stepping forward. “Let’s get going.”

She turns with me and allows me to guide her out of the room.

I just need to get her on a plane and tucked away somewhere safe.

That’s the rest of my job.

After that, I’m done.

I just need to bring myself to say goodbye.

23

DANTE