Page 67 of Vow of Hate

Her eyes widen. “What?”

“Go, Sienna. Leave. Go back home to your mom.”

She holds herself perfectly still, probably waiting for me to trick her. But this isn’t a trick. It’s what needs to happen.

I have to let Sienna go.

It’s the only way I can be rid of her. It’s the only way I’ll find some peace. I can’t kill her so the next best thing is to let her go.

“I can… leave? Truly?”

I nod. “Go. Before I change my mind.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Just go, Sienna.”

She walks towards the door but stops at my side. “Dante…”

“Just go. I’m not doing this because I’m a good man. I’m doing this because you can’t be my weakness. And I can’t kill you, Sienna. So just go.”

She opens her mouth to speak but then thinks better of it and rushes out of the room. I hear her feet on the hardwood floor before she reaches the foyer. Then the front door opens and then it closes and then… nothing.

No more sound.

Sienna is gone.

Sienna

Questions filter through my mind as I run from Dante’s house. Is he really letting me go or is this all a game to him? Will he follow me once more? Try to hurt my mom again?

I’m not sure but I saw the expression on his face. The firm resoluteness. He is making up his mind. He is letting me go.

I don’t have it in me to question Dante. All I know is that this is my chance for true freedom, even if it causes a deep ache to form inside my body, knowing I’m leaving Dante behind. I might never see him again. That should make me happy but instead, it makes me bend over and cry.

A deep, heart wrenching sob. Why do I feel this way for that man? I should despise him. A part of me still does.

But another part craves him. Needs him.

And he just let me go.

I force myself to stand upright and keep walking. The only thing that matters is getting back home. To my mom.

Thankfully, this time I’m fully clothed. I walk with a purpose. No one looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m just a woman walking in an evening gown. I could be attending a party. I could be a normal person. But Dante has left me wrecked and ravaged.

It’s all his fault I’m this way. So why do I still want to be with him?

I shake my head. Get him out of your head, I tell myself. The focus is getting home. Home. Home. Home.

It takes me a few hours but I eventually make it to my mom’s house. The sight of the warm brick and white shutters makes me feel calm. I’ll be all right. I have to be.

I take a deep breath and walk up to the door.

Chapter Sixteen

Sienna

My mom doesn’t hesitate to pull me into her arms the second she opens the door. I don’t hesitate to cry the moment I feel the familiar, comforting sensation of her arms around me.