Page 29 of Vow of Desire

“Then don’t act like one.”

“Please,” I sob. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Please.”

He grips my chin and brings our foreheads together. “There’s the real you. You should show it more often.” He lets me go and stands back. “You’ll stay here and think about everything. If youwant to continue seeing me as the villain, then we can play this song and dance. It’s exciting.”

“You’re a bad man.”

“And you’re going to break eventually, Luciana. Whether of your own accord or by my hand. But you will break. I don’t desire the perfect wife. I just desire the perfect wife for me. You’ll see this would all be easier if you just gave in instead of fighting everything.”

“Why can’t you see how tough this is all for me? Of course I’m afraid of you. You’ve given me every reason to be afraid.”

“I promised to protect you and I will. You just have to learn to see that.” He leaves the room without a backwards glance.

I fight and tug against my binds but it only tightens them. This is my worst nightmare come true. Discovering just how evil my husband is.

But in this moment, I only feel more like a failure. I should have let him have my body. I should have been the perfect wife who doesn’t crack.

I showed my cracks when I pushed him away. And now I’m being punished for it.

A sob escapes me and there’s nothing I can do about the tears that run down my face. It’s impossible to wipe them away when my hands are bound above my head.

I don’t know how I’m going to survive being married to Matteo. That’s when an idea hits me.

I don’t have to be married to Matteo. I could be free of him. If he were dead. Then I’d be a widow like Alexandra is. Miserable and alone but at least I’d have my own freedom.

My father would kill Matteo if I asked him to. I know it. But that would put my father in danger. Unless he could make Matteo’s death look like an accident. Then we’d still be at peace with Matteo’s other men.

I shudder at my thoughts. Killing people? That’s not the kind of person I am but it’s the kind of person the mafia makes you become.

The last thing I want is to become a bad person like my husband.

Chapter Eight

Luciana

After a few hours, Matteo finally returns to the bedroom. My arms are aching and my wrists are sore from where I tried tugging at the silk ties.

Without a word, he unties me and I don’t hesitate to jump to my feet.

“How could you do this to me?” I ask. “You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”

The look he gives me is cold. No emotion. “Did I hurt you? I’m trying to teach you a lesson, Luciana. I don’t want to be married to a wife who sees me as a monster but if that’s the only way it’s going to take to break you, then so be it.”

“Break me how?”

He towers over me. “Break you into showing me your real self. I’ve seen glimpses of it. You’re the perfect little wife and yet, you’re so tense. I fucking hate it.”

His curse word makes me startle. There’s something so passionate about it. I see a tiny flicker of emotion in his eyes. Anger or passion. I’m not sure which.

“I married you for peace,” he continues. “I’m not going to kill you. So stop seeing me as a monster.”

“You just tied me to the bed for hours. I’ll only ever see you as a monster.”

“Answer me this, Luciana. Did you like our kiss?”

“What?”

His smirk makes me both angry and excited at the same time. “You kissed me back earlier. So tell me, did you like it? And be honest for once.”