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“If you want to return to him, you are free to go.” She looked shocked. “I’ll release you because I understand why you did what you did. I would have done the same. But if I ever see you again, knowing that you work for him, I will kill you, Sienna. I don’tgive second chances often, but I’d be willing to give you one. I definitelydon’tgive third chances—not even to you.”
Sienna nodded slowly, tucking one of her legs beneath her.
“I can’t go back,” she finally said, nodding as if making a final decision. “If he learns that I’m pregnant, he’ll carve the baby from my womb. If he learns that I willingly let you live, he will kill me.”
I knew it to be true. Giving me an heir and expanding my bloodline would never be something Valentino would overlook. And if he laid a finger on her or my heir…
I wouldn’t consider it. Not yet. I had enough other plans for Valentino, and adding to those plans would do nothing but elevate the situation.
“What if he gave you another chance?” I asked.
“He wouldn’t,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ve seen how he treats employees who make mistakes, and he would never let me get away with either of those things. And even if he did, I wouldn’t ever be able to trust him after this. But Dante, it’s not just my distrust of him that makes me want to stay with you. I want to be hereforyou. I want to build a life in a place that I can respect. I want to trust the man I build a life with.”
“And you trust me?”
“I do,” she said without hesitation. “Have you ever lied to me?”
“I don’t need to lie.”
“That’s why I trust you more than I could ever trust Valentino.” She moved forward on the couch, grabbing my cheek lightly. “I trust you, Dante. You might be the first person I’ve ever fully trusted. Because even when I was a stranger to you—even when I was being held captive in your home—you never lied to or degraded me the way Valentino has done my entire life.”
She leaned forward and pressed her lips gently onto mine. My hand involuntarily moved around the back of her neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She moaned against my mouth, and I immediately tightened my grip on her, moving forward a bit more.
“I have business I need to settle with Valentino, though,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be right now, but I need to see him again.”
“I plan on killing him,” I told her. “And I plan on making my move as soon as possible.”
“Let me help you, then.”
I raised my brows. “You want to be a part of your stepfather's death?”
She took a deep breath. “I want to know the truth of what happened, and if that means I need to be there, I’m okay with that.”
“Do you think he knows the truth?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But there’s only one way to find out.”
27
Sienna
Bringing me into the training gym the following morning was the last thing I’d expected.
The smell of harsh cleaners and leather preservers took me back to the days when I’d spent hours in a gym just like this one.
“I have our best trainer in to help you today,” Dante said. “When he sets a basis for what you need, I’ll take over from there.”
I looked at him with raised brows before turning to the muscular trainer. The man had certainly put in a substantial amount of gym time to look like that over the years, but I doubted he’d put in as much time as me. But as I continued looking at him, I clenched my mouth shut in recognition. He’d been with Dante the day we’d met, but I’d never gotten a name.
“Dante, do you remember all I told you about my past?” I asked, pursing my lips.
“A little additional training never hurts, especially when you’re going to go up against Valentino alongside me.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think you understand. The only training that would be beneficial to me isn’t exactly pregnancy-safe.”
“I gave Marquis specific instructions to keep all maneuvers safe for you and the baby.”
Hereallydidn’t understand, and I couldn’t fault him for it. I hadn’t exactly allowed him to see my skills or training since we’d been together. Instead of arguing further, I strode to the mat and shook the instructor’s hand. He gave me a small nod, and I returned it courteously as I stepped back.
