Page 65 of Vow of Hate

“Dante,” she whimpers.

I only laugh. “Tonight, you mean nothing to me, plaything.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

The rest of my guests laugh. “I guess she doesn’t know your true nature, huh?” Enzo asks.

“Oh, she knows. She’s just acting surprised.”

“Dante. Please,” Sienna begs.

“Be quiet, plaything,” I order.

Sienna flinches and for a moment, my stomach turns. But I push it aside. Sienna is mine to do with as I please. She is my prisoner. Not my wife. I will not let her control me.

“So harsh,” Jack murmurs. “You could be nicer to her, Dante.”

I stare Jack down. There’s an electricity to the air. “You don’t get to tell me what to do with my plaything, Jack.”

“She’s just so pretty. It’s a shame to keep her on her hands and knees all evening.”

“Oh? Well, then why don’t you help her up. I’ve seen you looking at her. I saw you looking at her before. At my last party. Do you want her, Jack?”

Jack meets my gaze, not backing down. Fucking American. “If you’re willing to share her, then sure. I would love a taste.”

“Then by all means.” I wave my hand towards Sienna. “Have a taste. Would you like that, my plaything? For Jack to touch you?”

“Dante,” she cries, squeezing her eyes shut but some tears still slip through. “Please.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “I think she would. You can touch her.” I remove my feet from her back as Jack kneels down beside her.

His hand presses into her back.

“I’m going to make you feel good, baby,” he says to her. She squeezes her eyes tighter. “I’m sure Dante has done things to you now. I’m sure he’s hurt you. Do you like that? To be hurt?” In one fast motion, he pushes onto Sienna’s back until she flops to the ground.

The sound of her cry makes me grit my teeth. I can’t care for her. I can’t love her. I’ve never loved anyone and I don’t plan on starting to now.

Jack laughs as he hits her spine again.

“Dante,” Sienna cries. “Please. Please!”

Jack’s laughter reaches a new height as he keeps hitting her back over and over again. She’ll bruise. Nothing more, I tell myself.

She means nothing to me. Nothing to me. Nothing.

Jack stands up. “Does she like to be kicked like a dog? She’s only an animal.” He raises his foot to kick her.

Just like Edward. The memory of Sienna lying in my foyer, covered in bruises and blood, still haunts me.

And I’m just going to let it happen to her again.

Fuck.

I surge to my feet and push Jack away from Sienna before he can kick her. She curls into a ball on the ground, crying her eyes out.

Guilia looks stunned. “I came here for a fun evening. I wanted to see you fuck her or something. I didn’t want to see the poor girl abused. I’m leaving.” She storms away, her high heels clacking on the hard ground.

“What the fuck?” Jack asks. “You gave me permission to touch her.”