Page 80 of Vow of Vengeance

He came in, but he didn't move toward me.

He came in, but he didn't scream for help.

He came in, but what did he say?

"What the fuck?"

His voice echoes in my skull, a sound full of surprise. As if he didn't expect to walk in and see that.

Whatdidhe expect to see?

Why did it take him so long to get to me?

"Don't you fucking dare."

What an odd thing to say. It's not the sort of thing you say to a stranger, especially not when they've busted into your house with a gun and are in the process of trying to rape your wife. Wouldn't most men try to plead? Say they've called the police? Grab the nearest lamp and shatter it over the attacker's head?

Something about the words he chose feels wrong, too casual, too... easy. Like he thought those words would be enough to stop whatever had been set into motion. Whateverheset into motion.

"I was never supposed to get hurt?" I clarify, searching his eyes for what I know I'll find there. And it's right on the surface. He doesn't even try to hide the guilt.

"No, baby. Not like that."

The target was always me.

The attack wasn't random or impulsive.

It wasn't a robbery.

"What was supposed to happen?"

I sound frighteningly calm for how furious I am. And Iamfurious.

And devastated.

And betrayed.

And sick to my fucking stomach, because now I understand what it was that was wrong that night. The fact that my husband helped orchestrate it.

Vin opens his mouth like he's going to answer, but he pauses. "What do you mean? I-"

"What was meant to happen, Vincent?"

He blinks at me in surprise, no doubt because I pulled out his entire first name. I haven't used that on him except in jest, teasing him early on when things between us had still been playful, before he started to make it known that using that name pissed him off.

"What?"

"You planned it." I say. "I know you did. What I don't know iswhy. You said I wasn't supposed to get hurt 'like that'."

Vin freezes, appraising me as he realizes that he's been caught.

"How was I supposed to get hurt?"

Did he only mean for me to be beaten? Just thrown around a bit to rattle my nerves? Or did he plan for me to die? Was it for money? An insurance policy? Some sick fucking kink he didn't bother consulting me about because he wanted it to feel real?

He laughs now, but it's more of a snort than anything as he gives up the act. "Fine. I planned it. But it went wrong because you were supposed to fall asleep like you always do."

Like you always do.