Page 29 of Deceptive Vows

“It means exactly what I said.”

“Did you kill him?” I stutter. Tears prick the backs of my eyes as I imagine him taking pleasure in telling me he has.

“Not yet, Malyshka.”

“Is he in Mexico still?”

“Yes.”

At least he’s answering my questions.

“Is he going to stay there?”

“No.”

“When will he come here?”

“That’s enough questions about the old man,” he cuts me off, and I catch myself when curiosity flickers deeper in his eyes.

Although it’s infuriating, I see why he thought José and I were involved. It goes back to that fact that I’m showing more emotion over him than Raul—my supposed father.

I need to be Adriana again and think the way she would in this situation.

“What about my father’s body? What did you do with it?” I ask in a fake breathy tone.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he taunts.

“Of course, I do. He was my father. Did you burn him like you did my fiancé?”

At the wordfiancé, he gives me a look of indignation.

“Yes, I did. I burned your bastard father’s body the same way I burned your beloved fiancé. I wished I’d hacked his head off, the same way I cut off Felipe’s. I should have fed their heads to the dogs before I left.”

“You monster,” I gasp.

Before I can say another word, his hand snaps out and clamp around my throat. He squeezes so hard I see stars and my breath cuts off completely.

“I’m a monster? Really? I guess that’s what I look like to you, princess. Did you know what your father and fiancé were like? Do tell me. Did you know?”

If I say no, it would be another lie he’ll be able to spot from a mile away.

Everybody knew what Raul and Felipe were like.

I don’t think he’s assumed me to be some naïve princess locked away in a tower. He would have heard the rumors about Adriana. The whispers were either about her beauty or her evil. In fact, I’d say there was a good mixture of those rumors, so I can’t say no.

“Yes,” I choke out, and the moment I do, I regret it because now he looks like he’s going to kill me.

“Did you love Felipe?” he demands.

Again, I have to give an answer I know Adriana would have to say. It’s unfortunately, another answer that will infuriate him.

“Yes.”

“Then you’re just as much of a monster as him and your fucking father. You are just as fucking evil. Your fiancé shot my mother right in front of me. Shot her right in the head with a rifle. She had no hope. Then he sold my sister to sex slavers who abused her until she begged them for death. That’s what your fiancé did to my family. At your father’s orders. Those are the men you love, Adriana Alvarez. People who steal lives and kill souls.”

I wish I could tell him I understand exactly what he means, but I can’t.

I wish I could tell him I hate Raul and Felipe more than he does, but I can’t.