Page 46 of Vow of Hate

Dante’s eyes widen for a second. It’s a short time but I see it – the vulnerability in them. What is he thinking exactly? “Why would I be kind to my prisoner? Sienna, let’s go.”

I keep the blanket wrapped around me as I follow Dante out of the house, leaving my mother behind. She rushes as fast she can to the front door. Our eyes never leave each other’s, not even when I’m in Dante’s car and he’s driving away.

It’s only once we’re out of my mom’s sight that I look at Dante.

And I see something surprising: an expression on his face. I’m not even sure if he knows I notice it.

But it’s an expression of guilt. Or maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part.

Dante brings me back to the guest room and locks me inside without a word. That’s the last I see of him for the night. I would give anything to get inside his mind.

For once, my body isn’t desperate to be touched. To be filled. Instead, the ache that was between my legs moves up to my heart. The image of my mom fills my mind and I spend the entire night crying.

Sleep eventually takes me and when I wake up, I see a bag on the nightstand table. A shopping bag.

Dante isn’t in the room. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or upset about that.

With a look into the bag reveals… clothes. A bra and underwear. A simple summer dress that ends above the knees with straps for sleeves. That’s it.

But it’s clothes.

I quickly change into the garment. For once, it’s nice not to be naked. The clothes hide my bruises. The bruises Edward gave me who then Dante killed. Why did Dante kill Edward exactly? Was it for himself? He didn’t want another man touching his property?

Or was it for me?

I try the doorknob and am shocked to find it unlocked. Slowly, I peel the door open. Dante isn’t in sight. I can’t make another run for it. My mom needs time to heal. The last thing I should do is put her in a position where she could be hurt again.

I find Dante in the kitchen, sipping on coffee and reading something on his phone like it’s a normal day. I guess for him it is. A normal day of keeping a woman imprisoned in his home.

“Why did you give me this?” I ask, pointing at my dress.

His eyes flick to mine and back to his phone. “A normal thank you is appreciated.”

“I’m not going to thank you for a basic human decency. Why did you give me this?”

“You ask a lot of questions sometimes.”

“Why did you leave the door unlocked? Are you hoping I’ll run again? Is this all just a game to you? Well, I have decided I won’t run again. I will not put my mom in danger. So maybe the key is the bore you until you let me go. I refuse to make your life fun anymore.”

“I think it’s cute you believe that,” he responds. His tone is cold. The one thing I’ll give to Dante is this: he’s normally full of passion. But this morning, there’s a cold, numbness to him that’s shocking. “I have work. Stay here. I locked the door to my sex room so you can’t use it. Have fun today.” He doesn’t look at me as he stands up and walks past.

I flinch. Instead of the passionate, scary Dante I’ve known, this new Dante is withdrawn.

“What happened?” I ask before he can leave the room.

His back tenses. “Nothing happened.” He leaves before I can ask anything more.

Dante

It’s all a lie. Everything happened.

I saw Sienna selflessly save her mother’s life. Never have I seen such a selfless act before. It only makes me want to kiss Sienna more and that’s a problem. She’s becoming my weakness. I feel myself starting to… care for her.

Before I met Sienna, I wouldn’t have hesitated to kill someone in her position. Both Sienna and her mom should be dead. Sienna was right about one thing: if she’s dead, Gabriel can’t use her against me. I should just kill her and get it over with but I couldn’t seem to get my finger to pull the trigger last night.

Sienna keeps surprising me. It’s exciting but it’s also exasperating because I don’t know how to predict Sienna’s next move. I’m the surprising one. She isn’t supposed to be and yet Sienna keeps showing me just how wrong I am.

It only makes me want to kiss her more.