Page 92 of Forgotten Vows

Get on your high horse and bitch and nag.

It is what it is.

You’re still dead either way you look at it.

“My punishment,” he roared. “A punishment you have dared to avoid and skirt for years while you brought that bastard into the world.”

He rained hits on me, bringing that rod on my skin. If I endured this without a broken bone, it would be a miracle. But I didn’t falter. I stood my ground as he tried to circle me. He could talk like a monster and prey on me, but he was no predator. I was. He’d made me this mad. He’d forced me to hate him with every fiber of my being.

And past practice told me that he would stay this mad and incensed until he felt he’d degraded me enough. Until he could get all his malicious words out and accuse me of being a whore, a slut, a worthless thing, a fool to sleep with someone from the family he envied and loathed. I would have to wait and stay standing.

Like this, when he relished hearing himself talk, he was too unpredictable and unhinged.

But if I could wait out his tirade, until he tired himself, I would have every opportunity to get him down and end him.

“You will give me that bastard. I will never allow another to claim him as their heir.”

Another strike.

“You will lure your filthy scum of a lover to me so I can end his life.”

Another hit.

“And you will go to the Romanians and marry into their family as I planned and prepared for since you were born.”

I laughed once, incredulous that he could still be so deluded to think he would win.

“You whore! Stop laughing!”

Another hit. And another.

“Stop laughing at me!”

Spittle flew from his mouth as he swung at me, nearly bashing the poker against the side of my head.

“You will pay for your sins!”

He jabbed the poker at me and made me trip.

As I rolled over to face him, glaring right back, I lost patience and counted down the seconds to finish his pathetic game.

Please find me, Ivan. Please come to me.

I’d run to him once. And it was his time to run to me.

Because as I let my rage bottle up and brew, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to resemble the woman I wanted to be after I took a walk on the dark side to murder my father.

37

IVAN

Emil and I led the way. Luka rode with us, but it was different for him to be on the front lines like this with us. He cared. He always did. But he usually trusted us to handle these problems.

I didn’t know if it was because this was my future that was up in the air, and he cared that much about me, or what.

Emil had to be wondering the same thing. “What, are you so bored for action that you want to come with us for the hell of it?” he asked.

I knew he was joking to lighten the mood on the ride. But it was far too late for that. I was locked in and locked down. This was time to kill and time to find my woman so I could keep her forever.