Page 37 of Deceptive Vows

Sensing he’s about to go ape shit on me, I stand, too, but back a few paces away to put some distance between us.

He’s too big. Too tall and formidable. I’m sure he wouldn’t hesitate to crush me in one move before I could think to get away.

“What did you just call me?” he demands, balling his hand into a tight fist.

“What is the matter with you?” I snap, answering his question with a question. Surely, his behavior isn’t normal by anybody’s standards. It’s not by mine, and I can’t believe what he’s implying. He implied the same thing back in Mexico, but I was so worried that I couldn’t fully address the matter. “How does asking for a man who’s like a father to me make me look like some kind of whore?”

“What. Did. You. Just. Call me?”

“You heard what I said, and I gave you an answer.”

“Lady, I call it like I see it. If you look like you want to be the old man’s whore, then that’s not on me. It’s on you. Fuck, maybe the doctor got it wrong, and you’ve been fucking the old man this whole time.”

“Fuck you, you fucking asshole. How dare you say that to me!” The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them. Every one of them.

Jesus, who told me to say that?

Why did I snap back like that?

I don’t get to think any more because it takes a split second for him to lunge for me, and I swear I see my life flash before my eyes. Everything rushes me, the good and the bad

When he grabs my arms, I scream and do the only thing I can think of to break free. I send one hard kick to his knee.

I was aiming for his balls. I just never reached.

I make an impact, though, and he loosens his grip on me in an instant.

However, I think the only reason he lets go is because I catch him off guard. I shock myself, too.

I don’t, however, waste time mulling over it.

I run.

11

Natalia

My heart leaps into my throat, and I summon all the strength I can gather to run away from him. But Mikhail is only paces behind me, cursing me in English and Russian.

I dash through the door as fast as I can and bolt down the hallway without knowing where I’m going or what the fuck I’m doing.

God, I fucked up.

I fucked everything up, and now I don’t know what the hell Mikhail is going to do to me when he catches me.

I reach a dead end and it’s game over. It would have been anyway because who am I kidding? Did I really think I was going to run away from him in his own house?

One strong arm secures my middle and lifts me off the ground while I’m mid-flight.

My screams and pleas to let me go ricochet off the walls and carry down the hall. It’s to no avail, but I do notice that no one comes to my aid. Not even to check what the commotion is about.

I know the maids at the very least can hear me, but all I hear is myself whimpering.

“I’m going to teach you a lesson you will never forget,” Mikhail growls, flipping me around so he can toss me over his shoulder caveman style.

I’m little more than a rag doll to him, or maybe less than that.

Uncaring and more than the monstrous man he was yesterday, he carries me kicking and screaming back down the hall and into a room with double wooden doors. It’s one of the libraries.