Page 357 of A Vicious Love

“I will.”

“You fucking won’t, because you are mine.”

“Then I’ll make sure I do.” The tears came faster, but I spoke through them. “I’ll marry someone. I’ll give him heirs. Eventually I’ll love him.”

The last sentence destroyed something in the silence.

“Do not say that again.” his voice sounded less human.

“I will. Because you’re marrying my cousin.” My throat burned. “My cousin, Jamison. Every holiday. Every family event. Every retreat. I would have to see you with her. I would have to watch her wear your ring and carry your children while everyone pretends you didn’t ruin me first. I want out of Harlan before that happens. I want away from both of you.”

“Sienna.”

“No. Don’t soften your voice now.”

“I’m begging you to let me in.”

Jamison Crow, outside the Bellemere gates, said begging, as if he hated himself for needing the word and would use it anyway.

“Let me in,” he said. “Let me take that dead ring off your hand and put mine there. Be furious with me. Hit me. Scream at me. Do anything you need to do, but open the gates.”

My lip trembled.

I pressed it hard between my teeth until the pain helped.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No. Because if I see your face, I’ll want to believe you. And I can’t survive believing you again.”

“If you won’t let me in, I’ll come through everyone else. Your father. Adrian. Every councilman who touched those documents. Every lawyer. Every guard. Every man standing between me and you. Daddy will reach you, baby.”

“Don’t.”

“Then open the gates.”

“You’re not my dom, Jamison.” The words shook, but I made them clear. “You are nothing but my cousin’s fiancé, and I will never sign to marry you again.”

The silence after that was the worst one yet.

I heard him breathe.

Once.

Twice.

“You’ve forgotten who the fuck I am.”

“No. I remembered.”

“You think a line in a file makes you safe from me?”

“I think it keeps you outside.”

“For tonight.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.