Page 111 of My Solemn Vow

“So, do you want to come for him? Give this sick, dying asshole one last look at how glorious a woman looks when she comes, or do you want something just for you?” I offer her, wondering how she’ll make that decision.

Silent for a minute, Antonella chews it over. I can almost see the flashes of thought pass in her eyes as the gears in her brain work through her choices.

“Exactly how sassy do I need to be to get that taste of your belt you promised?”

“Fuck.” I look over to Fred.

He’s bleeding out, and it’s slow enough that Icould give her what she asks for and fuck her until she comes. But the last time I gave her pain, the emotions flowed freely with it. She was already a little soft at dinner.

No one sees our mate vulnerable.My wolf agrees.Skip to ending his life. There will be plenty of opportunities to have fun with problem people.My wolf urges me to kill faster. A welcome but unusual development since he also enjoys the bloodshed.

“I’ll have to fuck you in front of a victim another time, princess,” I tell her at the same time Fred releases a gurgle as blood escapes into his lungs. Antonella almost moves her head within the grasp of my hand. “Don’t look, darling. Eyes on me.”

She does as I say, following the light pressure I keep on her neck as I walk backward, leading her out of the hidden passage into the main portion of the house.

My hand feels cold when I pull it away from Antonella’s warm skin.

I leave her, hoping she won’t follow as I head back into the room with Fred. I don’t let him suffer alone in the dark. Instead, I end his life quickly by slitting his throat the rest of the way, and he slumps forward in the chair.

After a quick text to Gavin asking for a cleanup, I toss the flash papers into the burn bin. The match flares hot in my fingers, and when I toss it in the can, the records go up in a ball of flames in less than two seconds.

There are too many suspects who could be behind this latest hit job. But one thing is for sure — Eduardo and Gregorio D’Medici don’t have graying hair. They have black hair. I speculate it’s dyed, but it does rule them and Berto out as primary suspects behind whatever is going on.

Antonella is where I left her, waiting for me when I come out of my lair, and she lets me interlace our fingers as I lead her in silence out of the basement and into the main living area.

It’s so tempting to bend her over the couch, the counter,and hell, even right on the stairs, and get a look at her sexy, barely clad ass. But I behave. And it isn’t until we’re finally in our bedroom that I take back the controlling tone that gets a rise out of her.

“Strip.”

Antonella cocks her head. “Make me.”

Oh, the mate is so fierce.My wolf is almost condescending with that, but we like the challenge.

I step forward and quickly grab the bottom hem of her shirt. Tearing it, the fabric rips easily, and she leans back as if to get away from me. It’s halfhearted at best. The scent of her arousal overrides every sense of logic in my brain.

“Take your bra off before I rip it off,” I snarl at her, letting the wolf inside rise to the surface.

Seductively, Antonella unclasps the garment, slides it over her shoulders, and drops it to the floor. With her gorgeous tits on display for me, I reach for her underwear. It’s a practical piece. Not delicate lace or the like that, apparently, she has stocked in her wardrobe. I have no qualms about tearing it to shreds, ripping it from her body, as I drag her closer to me.

She gasps, but it’s from surprise because not a hint of fear comes off her body nor does the desire fall from her eyes.

“Do you really think you can handle my belt?” It’s the only chance she’s going to get to tell me no.

My uncertainty is ever growing.What if she can’t handle me?

Then we’ll give her a wolf, and then she will. But you’ve so little faith in our mate.My wolf encourages me.Look at how she’s looking at us.

“I want to.” Her answer isn’t a yes or a no. Antonella leans toward me. “Let me try?”

“If it’s too much, say stop, and this time I’ll stop. In the future, I might not be so nice.” I lean into her and press my lips against hers.

She kisses me back, and it’s chaste at first, but in anotherheartbeat, it gets more intense. I wait, kissing her until she reaches toward me.

I capture her wrist and spin her around, bringing her hand behind her back.

“Fuck,” she gasps on a ragged breath.

But I don’t stop moving because she didn’t say stop.